What is home insurance for flats?

Flat insurance helps cover the cost of repairing or replacing lost or stolen items. Some policies even cover accidental damage – ideal for life’s mishaps big and small, from burst pipes to break-ins.

The right insurance can protect everything from your belongings to the structure of the flat itself. You can tailor cover depending on your situation: owners typically need both buildings and contents cover, while renters may just need contents insurance.

It’s important to understand who is responsible for taking out insurance on your flat, and making sure you are covered.

Do I really need home insurance if I have a flat?

In short: probably. Flat insurance can give you peace of mind that either your building, your belongings, or both, are protected against fire, flood, theft and other risks. The type of cover you need depends on whether you own or rent your flat:

If you own the flat

You’ll usually need buildings insurance to protect the structure, especially if you are a freeholder. Walls, roof, kitchen and bathroom fittings all need protecting against events like fires, floods, storms or vandalism. You’ll also want contents insurance to cover your personal possessions. These two policies work together to offer complete protection, and can be bought separately or as combined buildings and contents insurance.

If you're a leaseholder, buildings cover may be included in your service charge, but check your lease to be sure. Some internal fixtures, like kitchens or fitted wardrobes, may still be down to you.

If you rent the flat

Buildings insurance should be covered by your landlord. But their policy won’t protect your belongings. That’s where contents insurance for tenants comes in. It’s not compulsory, but it could help you replace things like laptops, clothes or furniture if the worst happens.

Even if your flat is already furnished, contents insurance can be a smart move, especially if you're responsible for any of the items inside. It’s often affordable and could save you thousands in replacement costs if disaster strikes.

What does home insurance for flats cover?

Covered

Here’s a brief summary of what typical flat insurance includes:

Buildings insurance (for owners):

  • Repairs to the structure of your flat, such as your walls, floors, roof and permanent fixtures like kitchens and bathrooms.

  • Structural damage from fire, flood, storms, leaks or subsidence.

Contents insurance (for both owners and renters):

  • Your belongings, from TVs and laptops to clothing, kitchen kit or furniture.

  • Protection against burglary, fire, water escape (e.g. burst pipe) or vandalism.

  • Optional extras often include accidental damage to belongings, personal possessions outside your home, legal cover, plus temporary accommodation if your flat becomes uninhabitable.

Each insurer will have different limits and rules for optional extras, so it’s worth checking the details carefully. That way, you’ll know exactly what you’re protected for – both inside your flat and out in the world.

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 these policies usually won’t cover, including:

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

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

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

  • Issues resulting from poor workmanship or design faults.

  • Any damage or events that happened before your policy started.

  • 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.

It’s always best to make sure you read the full policy details carefully to understand all the exclusions.

How much does home insurance for flats 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. As this is an average for all types of properties, yours may be less due to your home being a flat. Ultimately, 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 contents insurance:

Where you live

Areas with higher crime rates or a history of theft can increase your premium.

Security features

Having things like door and window locks, or CCTV can sometimes bring the cost down.

The value of your belongings

The more you own, and the higher the value of your items, the more it’ll cost to insure them.

Your claims history

If you’ve made claims in the past, it can bump up your premium.

Optional extras

Adding cover for accidental damage, personal possessions away from home can increase 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.

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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Page updated on 6th November 2025, Reviewed by Richard Groom