Go Direct Aricles - Home Insurance - knowing what is covered can save you a packet

9 Jun 2026

Home Insurance - knowing what is covered can save you a packet

As with any insurance agreement, there are limits and exclusions to every policy, so you do need to read the paperwork carefully so you know what they are. If there is anything you do not understand or you think is not covered, do not hesitate to ask your insurance provider for an explanation. As NatWest says, particularly when taking out buildings insurance on mortgages, ‘’deciding which cover to select it is important that you read the policy small print or ask the insurer questions about what is covered. It costs more for accidental damage cover, for example, but it may be well worth it…’’

One word you will find in your policy agreement is ‘excess’. An excess is an amount of money you have to pay towards the cost of each claim. These vary in amount and they can apply only to certain types of claim or they may apply to all claims - your insurance documents will tell you. For example, one excess that appears in nearly every buildings insurance policy refers to damage to your property caused by subsidence, heave or landslip. This is usually a specific amount – say £1,000 – this means you will have to pay the first £1,000 of any claim (the insurer pays all or part of the remainder, depending on the circumstances).

Exclusions are things that are not covered by your policy. These are often claims relating to war, sonic booms and radioactive contamination, but other exclusions can apply and these, like excesses, will be described in your policy.

You can extend you cover to insure items that are not covered by the normal insurance policy. If you do chose to add an extension to your cover, there will be an extra charge to the basic premium. Additional items that you may want to consider could include:

Alternative accommodation - if your home is so badly damaged that you cannot live in it until repairs are done
Liability - if are responsible for any injury to someone or for damage to their property your policy will pay the damages and cost for which you are legally liable. However, your main legal liability arises from you being occupier of your home and a contents policy covers this

Damage (but not normal wear and tear) to underground pipes and cables covering gas, electricity, oil, cable TV, water or sewage pipes
Door, window and skylight glass can be covered against breakage
Breakages to permanent fixtures, such as baths, washbasins and WCs.

With contents insurance it is advisable to make a list of valuable items, such as jewellery, and check with your insurance provider if these need to be covered separately. Some insurance covers accidental damage, legal expenses or freezer cover as part of the standard policy, while with other providers these may be optional extras – so decide whether you require these additional areas of protection or not, and tell your insurer.

You can reduce your premiums by taking extra precautions to increase the security of your home, reduce risks and prevent a claim. You could, for example, fit locks to windows, the shed and garage, and install outside lighting or an alarm, and mark your valuables discretely with your postcode. Being part of a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme is considered a benefit by many insurance companies. You can also reduce your payments by asking the insurance companies for advice on how to reduce your premiums. When seeking quotes, it is important to inform the insurance company all of these improvements and security measures to get the best deals. For a comprehensive and low cost home insurance premium, take a look at Legal and General.

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE

Think carefully before securing other debts against your home, your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Go Direct.co.uk is a trading style for website purposes of Go Direct UK Ltd.

Go Financial Services is a trading style of Go Direct UK Ltd which is an appointed representative of Personal Touch Financial Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England & Wales Company 5703224. FCA Number 456600

We normally do not charge a fee for mortgage advice, however this is dependent on your circumstances. Our typical fee would be £399

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