Home Insurance: Am I Covered?

It can be tricky to tell whether your house is insured or not. If you own your home, it will only be insured if you've insured it yourself. If you have a mortgage, your mortgage provider will usually require you to have buildings insurance. If you've paid off your mortgage, it's up to you to ensure you have insurance in place. If you live in a leasehold property, your freeholder may have taken out buildings insurance, but this isn't always the case. If you rent, it's the landlord's responsibility to sort out buildings insurance, but there's no legal requirement for them to do so. Contents insurance is your responsibility, whether you own or rent your home.

How to check if your house is insured

It can be tricky to tell whether your house is insured or not. If you own your home, it will only be insured if you've insured it yourself. If you have a mortgage, your mortgage provider will usually require that you have buildings insurance as a condition of the mortgage. If you've paid off your mortgage, it's up to you to ensure you have insurance in place.

If you live in a leasehold property, your freeholder or the person who manages the building may have taken out buildings insurance. However, this isn't always the case, so it's important to ask the freeholder or building manager whether buildings insurance is in place. You can also ask to see the policy documents.

If you rent, it is the landlord's responsibility to sort out buildings insurance, but there is no legal requirement for them to do so. Check with your landlord to confirm whether buildings insurance is in place.

If you're unsure whether your house is insured, here are some ways to find out:

• Check your bank account or credit card statements for any payments made to an insurer.
• Speak to your financial advisor or broker if you used one when taking out the policy. They may be able to help you trace your policy.
• Check your emails for previous messages from your insurance provider with policy details or renewal reminders.
• Contact your mortgage lender, who will have a record of the insurer details you provided when you took out the loan.
• Check your mail or physical letters, as you may be receiving bills or other communications from your insurance provider.
• Look for a physical copy of your home insurance policy.

What to do if you can't find your insurance documents

If you can't find your home insurance documents, there are several steps you can take to locate the relevant information.

Firstly, check your email inbox, including the promotions, spam, and other folders, for any correspondence from your insurance provider. If you have a physical copy of your policy, check your home office, filing cabinet, or anywhere else you might store important documents.

If you can't find any policy documents, the next step is to look for evidence of payments to an insurance company in your bank or credit card statements. You can also contact your mortgage lender, as they will likely have a copy of your insurance policy on file, especially if your insurance payments are included in your mortgage payments. If you have an insurance broker or financial adviser, they may also be able to help you trace your policy.

If you know the name of your insurance provider but not the policy number, you can contact them directly, and they should be able to find your policy using your personal information and postcode. Many insurers also offer mobile apps and websites where you can access policy information.

If you are still unable to find your insurance documents, you can contact your insurance agent or real estate agent, who may have records or remember details about your insurance. If you have used the same agent for other types of insurance, they may also handle your home insurance.

Finally, if you are looking for a home insurance policy for a property you have inherited, you can try looking for the documents in your parents' home, wherever they kept files, or in any off-site areas they may have owned or rented, such as a safety deposit box.

What to do if you're renting

If you're renting, it's good to know what insurance your landlord has in place, but it's also important to understand what insurance you need to take out yourself.

Buildings insurance

Buildings insurance covers the structure of the building, the exterior, fixtures and fittings, central heating and the water system. This is the landlord's responsibility and they are required to protect their property from damage due to storms, fire or flooding. It's a good idea to check with your landlord that this insurance is in place, although there is no legal requirement for them to do so.

Contents insurance

Contents insurance covers your personal belongings against loss, theft and damage. While it's not a legal requirement, it's a good idea to take out contents insurance to cover your furniture, electrical items, white goods and any other items of personal property, like clothing, books and jewellery. Contents insurance is especially important if you have high-value items, such as expensive jewellery, watches, laptops, mobile phones or computer equipment.

Personal possessions cover

Your contents insurance will cover you for damage or loss of personal items inside your home, but you may also want to check if you have personal possessions insurance. This will cover your belongings if they are lost or stolen outside the home, for example, your phone, watch, laptop or jewellery. This is sometimes included in your home contents cover, but if not, you can normally add it to your policy.

Accidental damage insurance

Accidental damage insurance will cover you for any accidental damage you cause to the property. For example, spilling wine on the carpet or a toddler drawing on the curtains. This will save you losing part of your deposit if you have to pay for repairs. Accidental damage cover may not be included as standard, so check your policy and add it if necessary.

Insuring high-value items

Home contents insurance policies will have a maximum amount you can claim for a single item, typically £1,500. If you have a high-value item that is not covered by this limit, you must declare it to your insurance provider. They will list it separately to ensure it is covered for its full value.

How to save money on contents insurance

If you share a house with people you trust, you may be able to save money by taking out a joint contents insurance policy for the whole home. However, this is a risk as any claims made by your housemates will affect your insurance premiums when it's time to renew.

How to check if your home is insured

If you're unsure whether your rented home is insured, there are a few ways to find out:

• Check your bank account or credit card statements for any payments made to an insurer.
• Speak to your financial advisor or broker, if you used one.
• Check your emails for messages from your insurance provider.
• Contact your landlord to confirm whether buildings insurance is in place.

What types of insurance are available

There are several types of insurance available for your house, and the right one for you will depend on your specific circumstances. Here are some of the most common types of home insurance policies:

• HO-1 Basic Form: This is the most limited type of policy and offers bare-bones coverage. HO-1 policies typically cover only 10 specific perils, including damage caused by aircraft, vehicles, vandalism, or civil commotion. It generally provides coverage only for the house structure and does not include personal property, liability, or additional living expenses. HO-1 policies are not available in most states and are rarely sold anymore.
• HO-2 Broad Form: HO-2 policies offer more coverage than HO-1 and are a slight upgrade. In addition to the perils covered by HO-1, HO-2 policies also protect against weight of snow and ice, accidental water discharge or overflow, freezing of plumbing or air conditioning, and sudden accidental damage from an electrical current. HO-2 policies cover the physical structure of your home, unattached structures, personal property, additional living expenses, and medical payments to others.
• HO-3 Special Form: The HO-3 policy is the most common type of homeowners insurance and offers broader coverage than HO-2. It covers your house, belongings, liability, medical payments to others, and additional living expenses. HO-3 policies are "open-peril", meaning they cover any damage unless it is specifically listed as an exclusion. Exclusions typically include war, nuclear accidents, government actions, damage to unoccupied homes, and deterioration due to weather conditions.
• HO-4 Renters Insurance: HO-4 policies, also known as renters insurance, are for people renting houses or apartments. They cover personal belongings for the same 16 perils listed in HO-3 policies, as well as additional living expenses and liability coverage. HO-4 does not include coverage for the physical structure of the home, as that is the responsibility of the landlord.
• HO-5 Comprehensive Form: HO-5 policies offer the highest level of insurance coverage for single-family homes. They cover your house and belongings under all circumstances except those listed as exclusions, which are similar to HO-3 exclusions. HO-5 policies pay out replacement costs rather than the actual cash value of the items. They also include coverage for liability, medical payments to others, and additional living expenses.
• HO-6 Unit-Owners Form: HO-6 policies, also known as condo insurance, are for people who live in condominiums or co-ops. They cover the interior of the condo (dwelling coverage), personal belongings, additional living expenses, personal liability, medical payments to others, and loss assessment coverage. The amount of dwelling coverage needed depends on what is already covered under the condo association's master policy.
• HO-7 Mobile Home Form: HO-7 policies are similar to HO-3 policies but are designed specifically for mobile, manufactured, and factory-built homes. They cover the physical structure of the mobile home, other structures on the property, personal belongings, additional living expenses, personal liability, and medical payments to others. Coverage for belongings is only for specific perils listed in the policy.
• HO-8 Modified Coverage Form: HO-8 policies are for older or historic homes with unique features that would be difficult and costly to replace. HO-8 policies cover the physical structure of the home, other structures on the property, personal belongings, personal liability, additional living expenses, medical payments to others, and only cover 10 specific perils. HO-8 policies typically pay out the actual cash value of the structure and personal belongings rather than the replacement cost.

In addition to these standard policy types, there are also specialized types of insurance available, such as high-value home insurance, landlord insurance, student insurance, listed buildings insurance, and unoccupied home insurance. It's important to assess your specific needs and circumstances to determine which type of insurance is right for you.

What to do if you need to make a claim

If you need to make a claim on your home insurance, here are the steps you should take:

• Contact your insurer directly. If you've been burgled, contact the police first and then your insurer. If you can't stay at the property or your home isn't secure, contact your home insurance provider immediately, especially if another party is involved or there's a risk of further damage.
• Make a list of the most important facts. In the stress of the moment, it's easy to forget relevant details like the time of day and weather conditions.
• Give as much information as possible about what has happened. You may need to provide details such as your policy number, address and full name.
• Take photos for evidence and keep all receipts. Take photos of your receipts to keep a digital copy, too. Don't throw away any damaged items, as your home insurer may send a loss adjuster to assess the contents.
• Keep track of all communications between you, your insurer, the police and any witnesses.
• Ask your insurer to approve any work that needs doing. Resist the temptation to get any repairs done until your insurer agrees, as you might not be able to claim for the costs.
• If your home has undergone extensive damage, do not re-enter until emergency personnel or local officials declare it safe.
• File a police report, if necessary. This is only necessary when the loss or damage was caused by criminal action, such as in the case of burglary or vandalism. Request a copy of the police report and note the names of any law enforcement officers you speak with in case your insurer asks for documentation.
• Document the damage and affected property. Take photos or videos of the affected property, documenting both the damage and the cause. Create a list of everything that was harmed or destroyed by the event. If you already have a home inventory that lists your possessions and their value, you can use that to help compile your list of affected property.
• Call your insurance provider as soon as possible. If you are unsure how to get in touch with your agent, check your policy documents or the insurance provider's website.
• Make any necessary repairs and save your receipts. Once you have documented the situation, take any necessary steps to ensure your safety and prevent further damage. Avoid making any permanent repairs or throwing out damaged items. Instead, focus on temporary repairs, such as boarding up broken windows. If you spend money on emergency repairs, replacement items or temporary housing, save the receipts. You will need them later to request reimbursement from your insurance company.
• Fill out the forms provided by your agent. Most companies make it easy to file a claim online or through an app, but your home insurance company may also direct you to your local agent and have you fill out a paper form.
• Schedule an inspection. After you submit the claim form, the insurance company will assign an insurance adjuster to your claim. In most cases, the adjuster will want to interview you and assess the damage in person, so you will need to schedule an inspection. To expedite the process, have all your documentation ready before the inspection, including proof of ownership for any personal belongings that were affected.
• Get estimates for the overall repair. If your home has been damaged, you must obtain repair estimates. It may be helpful to have the contractor present during the inspection. However, you should hold off on scheduling repairs until you receive approval from the insurance company.
• Receive your check and make final repairs. Once your claim is approved and the amount is finalized, you will receive your payout, or at least the first instalment. Typically, payment comes in the form of a check, which you can use to replace damaged belongings and pay for the cost of repairs.

Frequently asked questions