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Bungalow insurance
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What is classified as a bungalow?
A bungalow is a type of single-storey house which doesn’t have an upstairs living space and is typically either detached or semi-detached.
As bungalows only have one floor, they usually have an open floor plan and a low-pitched roof. They can come in a wide range of styles and are often associated with coastal resorts and suburbs of towns.
Bungalows are popular with retirees and families with young children as they can be lower maintenance and don’t have the risk or physical challenge of stairs.
Home insurance for a bungalow
Home insurance covers your home and belongings if they become damaged or destroyed by unexpected events like fire, theft and flooding.
If you live in a bungalow, you’ll need home insurance in the same way that you would for other types of houses.
You’ll need to consider whether you need buildings insurance for your home’s structure and fittings, contents insurance for your possessions, or a combined policy for both - which can sometimes work out cheaper than buying cover separately.
Is bungalow insurance different from other home insurance?
No, home insurance for bungalows isn’t different from other home insurance in terms of the cover it provides.
You’ll still be protected financially from loss due to unexpected events but, depending on the features of your home, there may be some differences in the cover you need.
For example, as bungalows often have large gardens you may want to check what cover is provided for your outside space, sheds and garages.
What insurance do I need for my bungalow?
There are two types of cover - buildings insurance and contents insurance.
You can buy these as separate policies, or together as a combined policy.
If you bought your bungalow by taking out a mortgage, it’s usually a condition of the lender that you have at least buildings cover in place before the funds are released. But if you’re a leaseholder, your building may be insured by the freeholder, so it’s worth checking.
Whatever the case, if you want peace of mind that your possessions will be protected, you’ll need to take out contents insurance.
What’s usually covered?
You'll need to check your policy details but home insurance typically covers:
- Fire
- Theft
- Accidental damage
- Storm and flood damage
- Damage caused by lightening
- Theft and damage from attempted burglary
- Vandalism and malicious damage
- Impact by vehicles and aircraft
- Subsidence, heave or landslip
- Garden and exterior structures, like sheds and garages
- Temporary accommodation if damage means you can’t stay in your home
What isn’t covered by home insurance?
You’ll need to check the exclusions on your policy, but typically your bungalow won’t be covered for:
- Wear and tear
- Theft if you’ve left a door unlocked or window wide open
- Negligence
- Damage due to poor workmanship or DIY
- Loss or damage if your home’s been left unoccupied for more than 30 days
Will the number of bedrooms in my bungalow affect my premium?
Insurers will take the number of bedrooms and the size and value of your home into consideration when they’re calculating your premium.
Generally, homes that have more bedrooms are larger and may require a higher level of cover, so they’ll typically cost more to insure.
But there are other factors that also affect how much you’ll pay, including the location and condition of the house.
Bungalows and rebuilding costs
Although your bungalow is only one floor, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll pay less for home insurance.
To get the right amount of cover, one of the most important factors you’ll need to consider is how much your home would cost to rebuild if it was destroyed.
The rebuild cost is normally lower than your home’s market value.
To find this amount, you’ll need to work out how much it would cost to rebuild your bungalow from scratch using modern materials and techniques. You can use the rebuild cost calculator from The Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) to help you.
Alternatively, you’ll usually be able to find the rebuild cost in your mortgage valuation report or the surveyor’s report from when you bought the property.
Do bungalows pose a greater security risk?
This partly depends on the insurer’s point of view. Some providers consider bungalows to be less secure because the entire property is on one level.
As bungalows have more ground-floor rooms than standard homes, it can be easier for thieves and intruders to gain entry. And, as many bungalows are owned by elderly people, they can be viewed as a target for burglars.
Bungalows can also be at greater risk if there’s a fire or flood. That’s because, with all rooms on the same level, more of your possessions are at risk of being damaged.
So it’s important to have the right amount of cover and be as accurate as you can when calculating the value of your contents.
How to get cheaper bungalow insurance
There are a few things you can try to help you save money on your bungalow insurance:
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Improve your security
Fit an approved burglar alarm and make sure you keep windows and doors locked when you’re out
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Fit smoke alarms
Fires can spread quickly through a single-storey home. As well as keeping you safe, smoke alarms could help you get cheaper premiums
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Look after your home
Bungalows are usually compact and easier to maintain, so keeping on top of routine maintenance could make it less likely that you’ll need to make a claim, which can help to keep premiums down
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Pay annually
It’s usually cheaper to pay annually rather than monthly
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Don’t auto-renew
Insurers aren’t allowed to charge existing policyholders more than new customers anymore, but shop around to see if your able to save by switching providers.
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Shop around
It’s always a good idea to compare quotes and see if you can find a better deal with another insurer
Free £250 home excess cover, only with GoCompare^
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 you won't be covered for things like accidental loss such as leaving a laptop on a train or accidental damage, such as spilling wine on your carpet or drilling through a pipe.
^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.
Is home insurance for bungalows cheaper than for houses?
No, not necessarily. The cost of bungalow home insurance can vary greatly depending on factors like location, age, and property features.
Insurers will also consider your home’s rebuild value. For example, a bungalow might have a lower rebuild cost than a standard home which can result in a cheaper premium.
And bungalows in suburban and rural areas may have lower premiums because of lower crime rates.
However, having one floor at ground level can make them more susceptible to flood and fire damage - and returning to the bungalow might take longer as the whole house may be damaged, which can bump up the price of your home insurance.
The cost will also depend on any policy extras you buy, like home emergency or accidental damage cover.
How to buy bungalow insurance
It only takes a few minutes to compare bungalow insurance quotes with us. All you need to do is give us the following details:
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Information about your property
For example, how old your bungalow is and what type of door and window locks you’ve got
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The rebuild value
Read our guide on how to work out the rebuild cost
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How much your possessions are worth
Tally up the total value of your household possessions
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Details about your current policy
Whether you’ve got a no-claims bonus or information about past claims
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Who lives with you
We’ll need to know the number of people in the bungalow and how often they’re at home
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Page last reviewed: 26 January 2023
Page reviewed by: Jasmine Hembury