Buildings and contents, sorted before completion

Buildings insurance is a condition of every mortgage and it must be in place from the day you exchange. Contents cover is optional, and almost always worth having.

Book a callback Call 07788 580 360

The difference

Buildings is the structure, contents is everything you would take with you

Buildings insurance covers the fabric of the property: walls, roof, floors, fitted kitchens and bathrooms, and usually garages, drives and boundary walls. Your lender requires it and will check it is in place.

Contents covers your possessions. The usual test is that if you turned the house upside down, anything that fell out is contents. Most households significantly underestimate what that is worth.

Book a callback

A British brick house frontage with a white wooden door

Getting it right

Where home insurance goes wrong

Home insurance is cheap and easy to buy badly. These are the four things that matter.

Rebuild cost, not market value

Buildings cover is based on what it would cost to rebuild, which is usually well below the market value. Over-insuring wastes money.

Contents sum insured

Walk each room and add it up. Most people guess low, and under-insurance can mean claims are scaled down proportionally.

Cover away from home

Bikes, laptops, phones and jewellery outside the house need personal possessions cover, which is usually an optional extra.

Exchange, not completion

Responsibility for the building usually passes at exchange. Cover has to start then, not on the day you move in.

Watch for

Things that quietly invalidate cover

Insurers ask these questions for a reason, and answering carelessly causes real problems at claim.

Unoccupied periodsMost policies restrict cover if the property is empty beyond 30 to 60 days. Relevant during a renovation or a probate sale.
Flood and subsidence historyDeclare any history honestly. Flood Re exists specifically to keep high risk homes insurable, and we can point you at it.
Non-standard constructionThatch, timber frame, flat roofs over a certain proportion and listed status all need a specialist insurer, not a comparison site.
Business use and lodgersWorking from home is usually fine, but stock, client visits or a lodger changes the risk and needs declaring.

A bright British living room with a dining table

How it works

Three steps, no jargon

Step 01

A proper first conversation

Tell us where you are and where you want to get to. We listen first, then set out the realistic options in plain English, including the ones that mean waiting.

Step 02

We search and recommend

We compare the market, run the affordability and stress tests, and bring back the mortgage and protection that genuinely fit. Our reasoning goes to you in writing.

Step 03

We handle the paperwork

From application to completion we deal with the lender, chase the valuation and the solicitors, and keep you posted the whole way through.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to buy insurance through my lender?

No. Lenders require buildings insurance to be in place but cannot compel you to buy it from them, and their own offering is rarely the cheapest. Some may charge a small administration fee if you insure elsewhere, which is worth checking but rarely outweighs the saving.

When does the cover need to start?

At exchange of contracts, not completion. Once contracts are exchanged you are generally responsible for the property even though you do not yet have the keys. Leasehold flats are often the exception, because buildings cover usually sits with the freeholder through the service charge.

How do I work out the rebuild cost?

Your mortgage valuation usually states it, and the Building Cost Information Service publishes a free online calculator. For most standard houses the rebuild cost is well below the market value, because you already own the land.

Is accidental damage worth adding?

For contents, usually yes, and it is inexpensive. It covers the drilled through pipe, the foot through the ceiling and the wine on the sofa, which are among the most common household claims of all.

Do I need contents insurance in a rented flat before I buy?

Your landlord insures the building but not your possessions, so contents cover is on you. When you buy, that policy usually needs replacing rather than transferring, since you will then need buildings cover too.

Important. Cover is subject to underwriting, the policy terms and the exclusions that apply. If you stop paying premiums the cover will end.

Let's talk

Get home insurance arranged

A short, friendly chat is all it takes to see what you could save. No jargon, no pressure, just clear advice.

Book a callback Call 07788 580 360