Best House Insurance Options For Which Magazine Readers

Which? Magazine offers comprehensive advice on home insurance, covering both buildings and contents insurance. The magazine provides detailed reviews of the best UK home insurance companies and policies, helping readers to compare different options and choose the right level of protection. It also explains the differences between buildings and contents insurance and highlights the importance of having adequate cover in case of disasters such as fires, floods or storms, as well as minor mishaps. The magazine's website allows readers to compare more than 30 contents and building insurance policies and learn about the different elements covered by home insurance.

Contents insurance for renters

Theft: If your home is broken into and your possessions are stolen, you can claim for their value.

Fire: If there's a fire at your home and your belongings are damaged, you can recover the costs to replace them.

Burst pipes and water leaks: If your home suffers water damage from a burst pipe or another form of leak, you can claim for the cost of your possessions.

Storms: Storm cover can help you recover the costs of damaged contents.

Flooding: Covers the value of your belongings in the event of flood damage.

Wear and tear: Contents that are damaged over time, through general wear and tear, aren't usually covered.

Theft and unforced entry: If you're the victim of a burglary, but there are no signs of forced or violent entry to your home, your claim will likely be rejected.

High-value items: If you have belongings that exceed your standard policy's single-item value limit, you'll need to take out extra cover to protect the item against theft and damage.

Possessions outside the home: While some home insurance policies will cover possessions taken outside the home, others don't. Check your policy documents carefully and arrange any additional cover if necessary.

Business contents: This is a separate type of insurance. If you work from home, any contents that apply to your business will need to be covered by business contents insurance.

Unoccupied home insurance: A standard tenants' insurance policy won't cover you if you leave your home unoccupied for an extended period.

Pay a higher excess: If you're willing to contribute more to a claim with a higher amount of excess, this could make your insurance premium cheaper. Just make sure you can afford to pay a voluntary excess on top of any compulsory excess.

Pay annually: Paying for your policy annually will normally make it cheaper than paying monthly, which usually includes an interest fee.

Improve your home security: Consider installing a burglar alarm.

Compare quotes: Compare insurance providers to find the cheapest quote with the right amount of cover.

Renters' insurance covers your personal possessions against theft, damage from fire, water and other structural or natural disasters. What's specifically covered is up to you, with high-risk, highly valuable items needing to be listed on your policy. This usually applies to items valued at £1,500 or more, but this varies between insurance providers.

There are two levels available with home insurance for tenants:

The basic level of accidental damage cover typically covers damage to audio-visual equipment, such as your TV, games console or PC.

Full accidental damage cover typically covers you for accidents like spilling paint or wine on your sofa.

Buildings insurance

As a general rule, buildings insurance covers the cost of loss or damage caused by fire, smoke, explosions, floods, storms, natural disasters, vandalism, vehicle or aircraft collisions, and fallen trees, lamp posts, aerials or satellite dishes. Depending on the type of policy you choose, you may also be covered for structures around your home, such as a garage, outside walls and driveways.

You don't need buildings insurance if you are renting a property, as it is the landlord's responsibility to have a policy in place. However, if you want to insure your belongings, you may want to take out contents insurance.

Home insurance for floods

Home insurance is an important consideration for all homeowners, and with extreme weather events on the rise, it's crucial to understand what you are covered for in the event of a flood.

Most standard home insurance policies do not cover flood damage. This includes damage caused by extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, heavy rainfall, and snowmelt, as well as flooding from overflowing rivers, streams, creeks, or ponds. If you live in a designated flood zone, it is essential to have flood insurance.

Flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The NFIP provides coverage of up to $250,000 for the home structure and $100,000 for personal possessions. It is important to note that the NFIP provides replacement cost coverage for the structure but only actual cash value coverage for possessions, which may be significantly less than the replacement cost. There may also be limits on coverage for items in the basement.

In addition to the NFIP, private market primary flood insurance is available from dozens of private insurers. There are two types of private market flood insurance: "first-dollar" or primary flood insurance, which is similar to the NFIP but with higher coverage levels, and excess flood insurance, which provides additional coverage above the basic NFIP policy. Excess flood insurance can also be purchased by homeowners who live in communities that do not participate in the NFIP.

When considering home insurance, it is important to understand the risks of flooding in your area and ensure you have adequate coverage. If you live in a high-risk flood zone or an area prone to heavy rainfall or steep hills, it is recommended to purchase flood insurance.

It is also worth noting that standard home insurance policies typically cover water damage if it is sudden and internal, such as from burst pipes or overflowing appliances. However, damage due to lack of maintenance or neglect is usually excluded from coverage.

Home insurance reviews

Home insurance is a broad term for two types of insurance: buildings insurance and contents insurance. Buildings insurance covers the cost of repairing damage to the structure of your home and permanent fixtures, while contents insurance covers your belongings from loss, theft or damage. Most people who own their home need both types of insurance, and it's often easier and cheaper to buy them together.

When choosing a home insurance policy, it's important to consider what is and isn't covered. For example, while buildings insurance covers damage caused by floods, storms and fires, it usually doesn't cover general wear and tear, damage caused by insect infestations or acts of negligence. Contents insurance, meanwhile, may not cover individual items worth more than a certain amount, or items left in an unattended car.

To help you choose the right home insurance policy, Which? has reviewed the main providers in the UK market, including:

• AA home insurance
• Admiral home insurance
• Aviva home insurance
• Axa home insurance
• Churchill home insurance
• Direct Line home insurance
• Ecclesiastical home insurance
• Halifax home insurance
• Hastings Direct home insurance
• John Lewis home insurance
• Lloyds Bank home insurance
• LV home insurance
• More Than home insurance
• Nationwide home insurance
• NatWest home insurance
• NFU Mutual home insurance
• Privilege home insurance
• Royal Bank of Scotland home insurance
• Saga home insurance
• SAGIC home insurance

In addition to these reviews, Which? also provides guides explaining the different elements of home insurance, what your policy should cover and how to make a claim.

Home insurance explained

Home insurance is an important way to protect your assets in the event of a disaster or accident. It can save you a lot of money in the long run, and give you peace of mind. There are two main types of home insurance: buildings insurance and contents insurance.

Buildings Insurance

Buildings insurance covers the cost of repairing damage to the structure of your property. This includes walls, windows, the roof, and permanent fixtures and fittings such as baths, toilets, and fitted kitchens. It covers the cost of rebuilding your house from the ground up, including services such as demolition, site clearance, and architects' fees. Buildings insurance also covers damage caused by events such as fires, floods, storms, explosions, vandalism, and vehicle collisions. It is usually purchased by homeowners or landlords, and may be required by mortgage lenders. Even if you don't have a mortgage, it's a good idea to have buildings insurance in case of costly repairs.

Contents Insurance

Contents insurance protects your belongings from loss, theft, or damage. It covers items such as electronics, jewellery, and other valuables, both inside your home and when you are out and about or overseas. Contents insurance is important for renters as well as homeowners, as it can protect your valuables in the event of a disaster or accident.

Choosing the Right Home Insurance

When choosing a home insurance policy, it's important to compare different providers and read the fine print to understand what is covered and what is excluded. You may also want to consider adding extra coverage, such as accidental damage cover, to your policy. It's also a good idea to review your policy regularly to make sure you have adequate coverage, especially if you have made any changes to your property.

Frequently asked questions