You get the renewal email, see two quotes with similar names, and wonder whether you need both. Many people do not know the difference between buildings vs contents insurance in the UK, and the gap between them is where claims get refused. One protects the house itself, the other protects what you own inside it.
Buildings insurance covers the structure and anything fixed to it. Contents insurance covers what you could pick up and take with you if you moved house. If you own the property, you almost certainly need the first, and you probably want the second.
What buildings insurance covers
Buildings insurance pays to repair or rebuild the property after damage from insured events such as fire, flood, storm, subsidence, escape of water and, in most policies, malicious damage. It is the policy your mortgage lender will insist on.
It normally includes:
The walls, roof, floors, windows and doors.
Permanent fixtures such as a fitted kitchen, bathroom suite, boiler and radiators.
Garages, sheds, outbuildings, fences, gates and paths, often with lower limits.
Pipes, drains and cables that run to and from the property, in many policies.
The cost of alternative accommodation while the home is uninhabitable.
The sum insured is the rebuild cost, not the market value. That is the cost of rebuilding your home from scratch, including demolition and professional fees. It is usually lower than the sale price in expensive areas and higher in cheaper ones.
What contents insurance covers
Contents insurance pays to repair or replace your belongings after theft, fire, flood, escape of water and similar events.
It normally includes:
Furniture, carpets that are not fitted, appliances that are not built in, and curtains.
Electronics, clothing, books, kitchenware and bedding.
Jewellery, watches and cash, usually up to a stated limit.
Items in the garden or garage, sometimes with a lower limit.
Accidental damage, but only if you add it as an option.
The sum insured here is the replacement cost of everything you own, as new. Most people underestimate it badly. Walk through each room and add it up before you accept a figure.
The grey areas: fixtures, fittings and the “shake test”
The dividing line is easier than it sounds. If you turned the house upside down and shook it, whatever fell out is contents, and whatever stayed put is buildings.
Items that cause arguments include:
Fitted wardrobes and kitchens. Buildings, as they are fixed to the structure.
Carpets. Fitted carpets are usually buildings, though some insurers class them as contents. Check your policy wording.
Integrated appliances. A built-in oven or hob is buildings. A freestanding cooker is contents.
Light fittings and sockets. Buildings. Lampshades and bulbs are contents.
Home improvements you have paid for. A new conservatory or extension is buildings, but you must tell your insurer, or the extra value will not be covered.
Garden items. Trees and lawns are rarely covered. Garden furniture, tools and a trampoline may be contents with a cap.
If you rent out the property, the rules change again. A landlord insures the building, while the tenant is responsible for their own belongings.
Our view: buy both, and do not rely on the cheapest quote
Cover for the structure alone leaves you thousands short after a burglary or a flood, so buy both policies and compare them on what they pay out, not on the headline price. A cheap policy with a high excess, tight limits on valuables and no accidental damage is not a bargain. Combined policies from one insurer are often cheaper, but price them against two separate quotes before you commit.
Do you need both?
Whether you need each one depends on how you hold the property.
Owner-occupier with a mortgage. Buildings insurance is a condition of your mortgage. Contents insurance is optional but sensible.
Owner-occupier with no mortgage. Neither is a legal requirement, but going without buildings cover risks the value of your biggest asset.
Tenant. You do not need buildings insurance, as your landlord should have it. Contents is yours to arrange.
Leaseholder. The freeholder usually arranges buildings cover through the service charge. You still need contents cover, and should check what the block policy excludes.
Landlord. You need landlord buildings insurance, and may want cover for the contents you supply, such as furniture in a furnished let.
How to set the right sums insured
Getting the two figures right matters more than the policy brand. For buildings, use the rebuild cost from a calculator based on property type, age, size and build quality, not your Zoopla estimate. For contents, go room by room with your phone camera, filming cupboards and drawers, and price each category as new. Most households land well above the figure they first guessed, because clothes, kitchenware, bedding and electronics add up fast. Keep the video, receipts for big purchases and serial numbers for devices together. After a claim, that evidence turns a long argument into a short conversation. Review both sums at every renewal, and again after any big purchase or building work, because inflation in building costs can leave last year’s figure out of date.
Common reasons claims are reduced or refused
Most disputes come down to a few predictable issues.
Underinsurance. If you insure for less than the true rebuild or replacement cost, insurers can reduce the payout in proportion.
Unrevealed changes. An extension, a loft conversion or running a business from home that you did not tell the insurer about.
Wear and tear. Policies cover sudden damage, not slow deterioration like a roof that fails after years of neglect.
Security conditions. Many policies require approved locks. If the burglar came through an unlocked window, expect trouble.
Unoccupied homes. Most policies limit cover if a property is empty for 30 or 60 days.
Exceeding single-item limits. A £4,000 watch may not be covered by a policy with a £1,500 single-item limit unless you list it.
What to do in the next 30 minutes
Find your current policy documents and note whether you hold buildings, contents or both.
Check the sum insured against your rebuild cost and what your belongings would cost to replace.
Look at the single-item limit and add any high-value items that exceed it.
Check the renewal date and set a reminder one month before it.
Confirm that any recent improvements, such as an extension or new kitchen, have been declared.
Store your policy schedule and renewal date in your free Home+ account, so the cover details are in one place when you need them, not buried in an email.
FAQ
Is buildings insurance a legal requirement in the UK? No, but your mortgage lender will almost certainly require it as a condition of the loan. If you own your home outright, it is still very sensible to have it.
Does buildings insurance cover my belongings? No. It covers the structure and fixtures. Furniture, electronics, clothing and other portable items need contents insurance.
Are carpets and curtains buildings or contents? Fitted carpets are often treated as buildings, curtains as contents, but insurers differ. Check your policy wording or ask before you rely on it.
Can I have contents insurance without buildings insurance? Yes. Tenants and many leaseholders do exactly that. Owners with a mortgage cannot normally skip buildings cover.
Is it cheaper to buy buildings and contents together? Often, but not always. Compare a combined quote with two separate ones, and look at the excess and limits, not just the price.
Does home insurance cover accidental damage? Only if you add accidental damage cover. Standard policies cover named risks such as fire, theft and flood, not a dropped laptop or a drill through a pipe.
