Home Insurance

Home Insurance will not replace or repair items or damage to your property if it is caused by general wear and tear or if your home has been unoccupied for a long period of time (typically more than 30 days).

It will also not provide cover for damage that is caused by mechanical or electronic breakdown. For instance, if your freezer is very old and suddenly stops working, your Home Insurance will not pay to replace it.

When your mobile phone is in your home, most House Insurance policies will cover it should it be lost or stolen. However, there are limitations to many of these House and Contents Insurance policies.

For instance, if you have a particularly high-value mobile phone, it may exceed the single item limit of your policy. 

And if you do not have Accidental Damage cover, you won’t be compensated should you drop and break your phone, or otherwise damage it.

When it is removed from your home, it won’t be protected either. To cover your phone so that it is insured wherever you go, you can extend your Contents Insurance to All Risks for personal possessions. Just mention this to your Home Insurance broker when you get your quote.

Home Insurance is not a legal requirement but if you are looking to get a mortgage for your house, you will probably find that Buildings Insurance is needed by your mortgage lender. Failing to have it may mean that your mortgage offer is withdrawn.

Even if it isn’t absolutely necessary to get a Home Insurance policy, it is still a good idea to have both your building and contents insured. If your home and its contents are damaged or destroyed, it is very unlikely that you will be able to afford to replace them – or to rebuild your home from scratch.

This situation is a little different if you are a tenant or if you rent your home. Home Insurance for tenants typically just includes Contents Insurance. This is because your landlord owns the structure of the building and needs to buy insurance to protect it.

No, it isn’t. Home Insurance is an umbrella term incorporating both Buildings Insurance and Content Insurance. Together, these two types of cover make up a Home Insurance policy.

Building Insurance is protection for your home’s structure. In other words, its bricks and mortar. If subsidence or a fire, flood or storm damages or completely destroys your property, Building Insurance will ensure that you can meet the costs of repair or rebuilding.

The other aspect of Home Insurance is Contents Insurance, which protects your possessions. House Contents Insurance usually includes your furniture, fixtures and fittings, and can be extended to cover valuables and personal items such as your mobile phone.

Yes, you can. Many policies will allow you to purchase additional cover that will protect your property and its contents from accidental damage, such as spilling make-up over your carpet.

If you want to add this cover, make sure you mention it to your Home Insurance broker when you get in touch for a quote.

Some Buildings and Contents Insurance policies will include legal cover as standard, but others offer it as an added extra. If you would like to include this as part of your policy, simply let us know when you get in touch for a quote.

We can arrange a personalised Home Insurance quotation based on your needs. 

According to Chris Knott Insurance’s figures, in the 12 months to March 2023 the average premium was £333.53.

However, this total will depend on several factors, including:

• The value of your home
• The contents inside the property
• Your home’s location
• The cost of rebuilding
• Any previous claims you have made
• The amount of excess you choose
• Whether you plan to leave the house unoccupied for a long period of time (usually 28 days in a row).

The cost of your Home Insurance will also be affected if your home is built out of non-standard materials, such as thatch, or has luxury fixtures and fittings or unusual features. In these cases, you may need more specialised Non-Standard Home Insurance. If in doubt, speak to a Chris Knott Home Insurance broker for guidance. We can arrange a personalised Home Insurance quotation based on your needs. 

Read more: Non-Standard Home Insurance

If you rent your home or are a tenant, you will not need to pay for Building Insurance. This is because it is the responsibility of the person who owns the building. However, it is a good idea to get dedicated Contents Insurance, as your landlord’s insurance will not pay to replace any of your belongings if they are stolen, damaged or destroyed.

Yes, you can. However, it might be more expensive because insurers view these as more of a risk because subsidence can cause structural issues. As independent insurance brokers, we can help you to find the best Home Insurance for your property.

This is an add-on to Home Insurance and gives you access to a 24-hour helpline, so you can arrange urgent repairs, such a broken boilers, water pipe leaks and blocked drains. It will cover the cost of call out fees and repairs. Be sure to check your policy wording to be sure what is covered.

You can. Like Home Emergency cover, it’s typically an add-on to standard home policies and helps to cover the cost of repairs or replacements. It’s important to remember that there are certain conditions and exclusions so be sure to check your policy wording.