Four-bedroom home insurance

What’s the average price of home insurance premiums for a four-bedroom house?

According to our data, the average cost of home insurance for a four-bedroom home is £227 a year.

But you may find your premium is more or less than this, depending on where your home is and factors like the age of your house and what type of property you live in.

^*The average cost of combined buildings and contents insurance policies by number of bedrooms purchased through Gocompare in July 2022.

Is a four-bedroom house considered to be a large house for insurance purposes?

No, typically insurance providers would consider you to have a large home if your house has six or more bedrooms. But it’s worth remembering that the size of your house will affect your premiums.

This means that your four-bedroom home is likely to be more expensive to insure than one with fewer bedrooms.

And even if your home’s not a ten-bedroom mansion, it’s still likely to be your biggest financial asset, so it’s a good idea to make sure it’s protected with home insurance.

Are insurance premiums the same if I rent?

If you’re renting your property, it’s likely that you’ll pay less for home insurance. This is because your landlord will normally be responsible for taking out buildings insurance.

But while the building itself will be insured, your possessions inside won’t be. To make sure they’re protected, you’ll need to take out contents insurance or renters’ insurance.

This will help you cover the cost of replacing your belongings if they were to get damaged, lost or destroyed by situations like a fire, flood, or burglary.

How much you’ll need to pay will depend on the amount of cover you require and if you have any high-value items. But as you won’t need buildings insurance, your premiums should be lower.

What affects home insurance premiums besides the number of bedrooms?

While the size of your home is considered when insurers work out your premiums, there are a number of other factors that also determine the cost, including:

Your address

Your postcode will tell your insurer a lot about where you live. For example, your premiums may be higher depending on factors like the crime rate and the number of claims made for floods, fires, and subsidence in your area.

The type of property

Whether you live in a flat, bungalow, terraced or detached property, as well as the age and type of home you live in will affect your premium.

The rebuild value

If you’re taking out buildings insurance, you’ll need to calculate the rebuild value. This is the amount it would cost to rebuild your home from scratch. The larger your home, the higher your rebuild costs will be, which will also make your premiums higher.

Home security

The more secure your home, the less you’re likely to pay for insurance. Your insurer will take into account factors like the type of locks you have on doors and windows, and any security lights and burglar alarms that have been installed.

If you live near water

If you live in a flood-risk area or close to water it can mean that you’ll pay more for your home insurance, as you’re more likely to make a claim for water damage.

Your level of cover

The level of cover you choose will also affect your home insurance premiums. For example, a policy that comes with accidental damage cover will cost more than a standard policy.

What specialist home insurance cover is available?

If your four-bedroom house isn’t a typical home, you might find yourself needing specialist home insurance. This could be:

High-value insurance

Also known as high net worth insurance. You might need this if you have any possessions that are very valuable, like pieces of fine art, or if your home’s rebuild value is more than £500,000.

Flood insurance

If you live in a flood-risk area you may need to take out specialist insurance. Flood Re is a government scheme that allows you to access more affordable home insurance if your home is at risk of flooding.

Unoccupied home insurance

If your home will be left empty for longer than a standard policy allows - often 30 or 60 days- you’ll need to take out specialist unoccupied home insurance to make sure it’s covered.

Listed building insurance

Homes that have architectural or historical importance are often listed buildings. These special qualities can make repairs much more expensive, so you’ll need specialist insurance to provide the right protection.

Non-standard construction insurance

Whether your home has a thatched roof or is made from unusual materials, it’s likely it’ll need specialist skills for any repairs. This cover can help make sure you’re financially protected if your home gets damaged.

Tips for cheaper home insurance for four-bedroom houses

There are a few things you can consider doing that can help to reduce the cost of your home insurance, including:

• Combining home insurance - If you choose the same provider for your contents and buildings insurance, this can often be cheaper than taking out cover separately
• Pay annually - If you pay one annual premium this will usually cost less overall than paying your premiums monthly
• Don’t auto-renew - You can often find much cheaper deals if you shop around and compare quotes from other providers
• Choose a higher excess - This tends to bring down your premium, but you’ll need to be confident you can comfortably cover the cost if you have to make a claim
• Put in good security - The more measures you have in place, like approved locks and burglar alarms, the cheaper your home insurance is likely to be
• Build up a no-claims discount - The longer you can go without making a claim, the higher the discount you’re likely to get

How to find the best deal?

To find the best home insurance deal for your four-bedroom home, you should try these things to help cut the cost:

• Take out the right level of cover - Don’t insure more than you need to and make sure you estimate your rebuild value as accurately as possible
• Compare quotes three weeks before your renewal date - This is usually when you can get the cheapest home insurance quotes
• Invest in better locks - Changing to a five lever mortice lock from a standard latch can make a big difference
• Don’t be tempted by unnecessary add-ons - Check what’s already covered in your policy and look at specialist policies if you need to, as these might cost less

As with any type of insurance, the cost and what you’ll be covered for will vary so it’s best to shop around and compare policies.