what does home insurance cover?

We can consider cover on your property when it is being renovated but existing customers should let us know before the works start so that we can make a decision on whether we can continue to cover you and whether an additional premium is necessary. In most cases we’re happy to offer cover.

Yes, Homeprotect can provide cover for an empty property if the owner is deceased and the property is, therefore, going through probate. Please note that we may require a copy of the policyholders’ death certificate and evidence of who has a financial interest in the property insured. Find out more about our home insurance for properties in probate.

With a Homeprotect policy, if your mobile phones are worth less than £1500 each then they’re covered as standard inside the home, although you will need to select the optional full accidental damage cover to protect against accidental damage. If any of your mobile phones are worth more than that individually, you will need to specify them on the policy when you get a quote, to have them included in the cover. Find out more about home insurance including mobile phone cover.

Yes, Homeprotect can cover your home and belongings if you have lodgers, however accidental damage cover may be restricted. Find out more about home insurance for live-in landlords with lodgers.

Homeprotect’s buildings insurance will not cover damage to or malfunction of your boiler. However, the optional full home emergency cover optional product, available when you buy your home insurance through Homeprotect, will cover emergency repairs to your boiler as long as it is serviced in accordance with manufacturer’s guidelines.

Yes, Homeprotect provides cover for let-to-tenant properties, second homes, holiday homes, weekend/weekday only homes and unoccupied properties.

Most insurance policies exclude property that is used for business. This is why we have developed our policy for people who run a business at home, specifically for you. The policy includes the cover you need for business equipment, public liability cover and in some cases a certain amount of insurance for your business stock. Find out more about our home business insurance.

No, while you retain ownership of the property and are ultimately responsible for its upkeep this is not expressly laid out in your insurance policy. Maintenance of the property is something which should be laid out in the agreement that you make with the tenants and is at your discretion.

Homeprotect buildings insurance typically covers damage caused by lightning strikes and thunderstorms. Lightning can cause a fire to start so it is certainly an important risk to be covered for by your home insurance.

Generally, the UK experiences a very low level of lightning activity by international standards, with only approximately 0.46 lightning strikes per square km each year.

In tropical regions, such as some parts of brazil, the figure is as high as 300 per square km per year. The south east of England does have a slightly higher incidence of lightning than the rest of the UK due to its warmer climate.

Yes, Homeprotect provides cover for an unoccupied property even if it’s up for sale. However, there will be some restrictions on the cover offered.

Homeprotect home insurance policies generally cover a homeowner for damage caused by ground movement and natural earthquakes, and any ground movement caused by fracking would have the same effect on a property as ground movement with a natural cause. There are no exclusions for damage caused by fracking. Find out more about subsidence insurance.

House insurance can include public liability cover in some cases. The Homeprotect home insurance policy includes up to £5 million public liability cover. In the event of someone having an accident and being injured in your home, or if their belongings are damaged in your home this insurance cover includes legal cost cover to defend your claim.

Yes, Homeprotect provides cover for an unoccupied property, however, there are some restrictions on the cover offered.

No, Homeprotect does not provide home insurance for mobile homes or houseboats. Homeprotect can only offer insurance for properties that have fixed foundations.

Homeprotect insures homes with thatch roofs in certain circumstances. This includes both straw- and reed-thatched houses. Please call us for a personalised quote.

As standard our home insurance provides £750 cover for lock and key replacement following the theft of your home keys. Find out more about our optional lost key cover.

The main building within the boundary of the insured address. This includes attached garages and conservatories and excludes outbuildings (e.g. Detached garages, greenhouses, sheds and summerhouses) and outdoor permanent structures (e.g. Driveways, boundary walls, decking and patios).

Landlords insurance will provide the property cover you need if you are letting your house to tenants.

You can also take out a holiday home insurance policy if you are renting your house to paying guests at set times of the year. 

The optional lost key cover provides you with cover up to £1,500 for the year following the loss, theft or damage of keys anywhere in the UK, it also includes:

• Locksmiths charges.
• Onwards transport costs if you are stranded as result of the loss
• Theft or damage of your car keys.

If you purchased the property in the last 5 years your homebuyers survey may include the rebuild cost. However if you purchased the property more than 5 years ago you will need to get an up to date assessment.

If your home is of standard construction (normally brick walls and tile roof), not a listed building and not built before 1720 you can use the free online BCIS Rebuild calculator.

If your home is built with non-standard construction materials, or it’s a Listed Building or it was built before 1720, you will need to consult a Chartered surveyor to provide you with an accurate rebuild cost.