What is buildings and contents insurance?

Buildings and contents insurance helps protect both your home and the things that make it yours. It brings the two main types of home insurance together, securing your home and your possessions in one policy.

The ‘buildings’ element covers ‘bricks and mortar’ like your walls, roof and windows, and anything built in, like the kitchen units or bathroom suite. The ‘contents’ element covers your belongings, from your sofa and TV to your clothes and gadgets.

You can buy each type of cover separately, but a combined policy wraps everything up in one go, making it simpler to buy and renew. If you ever need to make a claim that involves both, it can be easier dealing with just one insurer. Plus, a combined policy can often be cheaper than buying separate buildings and contents policies.

Why do I need buildings and contents insurance?

Buildings and contents insurance covers both the structure of your home and everything inside it. If your property is damaged or your belongings are stolen, lost or ruined, the cost of putting things right can be eye-watering. With the right cover in place, you’re financially protected if the unexpected happens.

If you own your home, having both types of cover makes a lot of sense. Buildings insurance looks after things like the walls, roof and fitted kitchen, while contents insurance protects everything from your sofa and TV to your clothes and gadgets. Together, they give you complete cover under one roof.

Some policies also include accidental damage cover, which can come in handy for things like spilling paint on the carpet or drilling into a water pipe during a DIY project. You might also get help with temporary accommodation if your home becomes uninhabitable.

Here’s why combined buildings and contents insurance could be a good choice:

  • Covers your home and your stuff: Protection for both the structure and your belongings, all in one policy.

  • Avoid big repair and replacement costs: Insurance helps take the sting out of life’s unexpected disasters.

  • Cover for everyday accidents: Handy if you knock a drink over your laptop or a window gets broken.

  • Simplifies things when claiming: One insurer, one policy, less faff if something goes wrong.

  • Help with alternative accommodation: If your home can’t be lived in, you won’t be left stuck.

  • Extra cover for valuables outside your home: Add cover for things like phones, laptops and jewellery when you’re out and about.

What does buildings and contents insurance cover?

Buildings and contents insurance give you peace of mind by protecting both your home’s structure and everything inside it. Whether it’s damage to your walls or loss of your belongings, having both covers means you’re sorted if the unexpected happens.

Here are some typical things covered, depending on the insurer and policy you choose:

  • Fire, lightning, smoke, flood and storm damage: For both your building and your contents, if they’re damaged or destroyed.

  • Damage to plumbing installation: If caused by freezing or bursting. Accidental damage is typically an optional extra.

  • New-for-old replacements: If something inside or part of the building can’t be repaired, many policies replace it with a brand-new equivalent.

  • Home office equipment: Computers, printers and other work gear are often covered under contents if you work from home.

  • Lost keys and locks: Replacement if your keys are lost or stolen.

  • Freezer contents: If a power cut spoils your frozen food, some policies will help cover the loss.

  • Temporary accommodation: If your home is unlivable after damage, some policies cover alternative living costs. This can be invaluable after a major event like flooding or a fire.

Here are categories of cover that tend to be optional extras, although some may come as standard with some policies:

  • Home emergency cover: Covers urgent callouts for things like boiler breakdowns or plumbing issues.

  • Accidental damage cover: For those ‘oops’ moments, like spilling coffee on your sofa or cracking a window.

  • Family legal protection: Helps cover legal costs if you have disputes over things like faulty goods or neighbour issues.

  • Personal possessions cover: Extends protection to valuable items you take outside the home, like phones, jewellery and laptops.

Remember, cover can vary depending on the insurer and the level of cover you pick. Comparing policies is the best way to make sure you get the protection that suits your home and lifestyle.

What isn’t covered?

No insurance can cover absolutely everything, so it’s really important to check the exclusions in your policy. While buildings and contents insurance protect against lots of risks, there are some common things they usually won’t cover, including:

  • General wear and tear or gradual deterioration of your home or belongings.

  • Damage caused by cleaning, renovating, repairing or restoring items.

  • Problems caused by wet rot, dry rot, frost, vermin or woodworm.

  • Damage to fences, gates, or hedges from storms.

  • Issues resulting from poor workmanship or design faults.

  • Any damage or events that happened before your policy started or situations you already knew about, like a flood warning for your area.

  • Loss, damage or liability caused deliberately or through criminal actions by you or anyone living with you.

  • Damage caused by domestic animals, such as chewing, scratching, tearing or fouling.

Always take time to read your full policy documents carefully to understand exactly what’s included and excluded. That way, you avoid any surprises if you ever need to make a claim.

Can I have accidental damage cover for both my buildings and contents?

Absolutely! You can usually add accidental damage cover to both your buildings and contents insurance, giving you extra peace of mind for those unexpected mishaps around the home.

For buildings, this means things like accidentally knocking a hole in a wall, breaking a window, or damaging your kitchen units can be covered. It’s perfect for those little oops moments that can otherwise lead to costly repairs.

For contents, accidental damage cover helps if you spill red wine on the sofa, drop your TV remote down the stairs, or crack your prized antique vase. Adding this option means you’re protected against more than just theft or disasters – it’s the kind of cover that helps keep your home and belongings safe from everyday accidents.

Just remember, accidental damage is usually an optional extra, so check with your insurer about what’s included and whether it fits your needs.

How much does buildings and contents insurance cost?

According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), for combined buildings and contents cover, the average price paid in Q3 2024 was £407 for the year. How much buildings and contents insurance will cost for you depends on a few key factors, including where you live, your claims history, and the level of cover you choose.

Here’s what could influence the cost of your combined policy:

  • Where you live: Areas with higher crime rates, flood risk, or a history of claims can push premiums up.

  • The type of property: Listed buildings, flats with shared access, or homes in high-risk zones may be pricier to insure.

  • Security features: Having burglar alarms, secure locks, or CCTV can sometimes help lower your premium.

  • The rebuild cost of your home and value of your belongings: More valuable homes or possessions usually mean higher costs.

  • Your claims history: Claims made in the past can increase your premium.

  • Optional extras: Adding accidental damage cover, home emergency support, or protection for possessions away from home can add to the price.

  • Who lives in your home: Factors like your age, household members and whether you rent or own may also affect the cost.

  • Your excess: Picking a higher voluntary excess – that’s the amount you agree to pay yourself if you make a claim, on top of any fixed excess – can help bring down the cost of your premium.

Knowing these factors can help you find a policy that fits your budget while giving you the right level of protection.

Did you know that your policy quote isn’t just based on you and your home? There are some other factors that can affect the cost of everybody’s home insurance:

  • Wild weather: Flooding is on the rise in the UK and more frequent storms mean more claims, which can push up premiums.

  • Higher repair costs: Labour, materials and energy prices have all gone up, so fixing homes now costs more – and insurance prices are catching up.

  • More water damage claims: Things like frozen pipes bursting in winter are surprisingly common and they’re costly, which affects everyone’s premiums.

  • Rising number of claims: The more people claim for things like theft or damage, the more insurers have to pay out, and that cost gets reflected in your policy price.

Remember, it’s always worth shopping around when your renewal comes up. Even small differences in cover or excess can make a big difference to the premium.

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Answering your questions about buildings and contents insurance

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Page updated on 11th September 2025, Reviewed by Richard Groom