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LOVE YOUR HOME? LOVE OUR HOME INSURANCE OPTIONS.
Home insurance covers your home and possessions from damage or loss due to things like fires, flooding, storms and theft.
It comes in two parts: buildings insurance which covers the structure of the property including its fixtures and fittings, and contents insurance which covers your household belongings.
Legally, you don’t need either, but it’s a good idea to have some protection in place. Think about whether you could afford to replace your home or possessions if the worst happened. And having buildings insurance is usually a requirement by a mortgage lender.
With Go.Compare you can compare quotes for buildings and contents cover individually or together as a combined policy.
To help us find you quotes, we’ll need to ask you questions about:
Home insurance comes in different forms. The best policy for you depends on your living situation, the amount of cover you need and the price you're willing to pay.
Building insurance covers the structure of the property and its permanent fixtures and fittings e.g. fitted kitchens and bathrooms.
It may also cover driveways, patios, walls, fences, and any outbuildings including garages.
Most mortgage providers require you to have it. If you're renting you don't need it.
Contents insurance covers the damage or theft of your household items e.g. your home appliances, furniture and jewellery.
Accidental damage and items outside the home aren't covered but can be for an extra cost.
Each item is only covered up to a limited amount. You'll see this called a 'single item limit', and it's usually £1,000.
A combined buildings and contents insurance policy covers the structure of your home and your belongings.
If you need both, then taking out one policy with the same provider usually works out cheaper.
It can make things simpler if you need to make a claim too. For example, if there’s a fire it’ll be far easier reporting it all to one insurer instead of two.
This depends on your insurance policy. Each provider will list their own coverage and exclusions in the policy documents.
If you need to claim on your home insurance - for example, if your building is damaged by subsidence or your possessions are stolen - your free home excess cover will refund up to £250 of your excess.
There’s no hidden charge. But it excludes things like accidental loss or damage.
^UK residents and home insurance purchases only. Excess refunded after claim settled. Excludes accidental loss or damage claims made on your home insurance. Full T&Cs apply.
Like where you live, your property type, when it was built, and any previous flooding or subsidence.
Pick from buildings only, contents only or a combined policy. And select the amount of cover you’ll need for your building and/or contents.
Find the best policy for you based on price, policy cover, excess payable and Defaqto rating.
We hope you never have to claim. But if you do, we’ll refund up to £250 of your excess.
The average price paid by GoCompare customers for a combined home insurance policy is £180 a year.[4] That’s around £15 a month plus any interest added.
Buildings-only insurance costs £141 and contents only cover was £66.
These figures are just averages. Your own premiums will depend on things like:
Find out more about the cost of home insurance.
[4]The average price paid annually for home insurance purchased in June 2023 by type of cover. For buildings and contents insurance, it was £180. For buildings insurance only, it was £141. For contents insurance only, it was £66.
You can add optional extras to your home insurance policy if you need them. You’ll have to pay extra for them, so think about whether they’re worth the extra cost.
This'll cover you for claims due to accidents in the home like a spilt glass of wine on a rug or a smashed window.
More about accidental damage cover
Somewhere else to stay if your home isn’t safe – like after major damage from a flood or fire – just while it’s being repaired.
More about alternative accommodation cover
Standard home insurance won't cover possessions outside the home, you’ll need personal possessions insurance for this.
This’ll protect you against things like boiler breakdowns, electrical failure and blocked drains.
More about home emergency cover
Help for the costs of legal proceedings that involve your home e.g. personal injury claims and property disputes with neighbours.
More about legal expenses cover
Lost or stolen keys? Not to worry. This optional extra will cover the cost of replacing your home’s locks and keys, up to a certain value.
If you need something more specific than standard buildings and contents insurance, there are many other options available:
Standard home insurance won’t cover homes that you rent out, so you’ll need landlord insurance. This is because the risks of letting out your home are different to if you lived there yourself.
Rent your home? You can get cover specifically for this – it’s essentially contents insurance for tenants, so it protects the stuff you bring with you when you move.
Cover for properties left unoccupied for more than 30 days can be costly and hard to find. Specialist unoccupied property insurance helps you find cover for properties left vacant for up to 12 months.
Holiday home insurance covers the risks associated with renting your second home out and leaving it empty for long periods of time.
Excellent price and good cover
Jim & Tina
Better, cheaper and more comprehensive than I had last year.
Christina
This product has given me full cover for for my home at half the renewal price of my previous cover with no loss of any benefits.
Joe
Great way to simplify the daunting task of comparing home insurance providers, and £250 free excess cover is a welcome bonus in these times of tight finances
Colin Failes
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Being a Superbrand means dedication to quality, reliability, and distinction. Independently judged, this aware recognises trusted companies as providers of excellent service and customer care.
'But you're not an insurer?' you might say. And you'd be right. But our shared goal of doing right by customers is why we’re the only comparison site to be invited to join them.
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Page last reviewed: 12 August 2023
Page reviewed by Holly Thomas
^UK residents and home insurance purchases only. Excess refunded after claim settled. Excludes accidental loss or damage claims made on your home insurance. Full T&Cs apply.
[1]Based on Trustpilot: Our average rating of 4.8 out of 5 is from 3766 people who left a review for home insurance comparison only. Last checked 17 July 2023.
[2]Based on GoCompare home insurance quotes made between 1 November 2021 and 31 October 2022. Excludes customers where no quote was returned and test quotes.
[3]As of September 2023, there are 66 active home insurers on the panel at Go.Compare
[4]The average price paid annually for home insurance purchased in June 2023 by type of cover. For buildings and contents insurance, it was £180. For buildings insurance only, it was £141. For contents insurance only, it was £66.
[5]ABI.org.uk. Below inflation rise in the cost of home insurance despite turbulent weather and rising building material costs. Retrieved 18 May 2023.