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Buildings vs contents insurance

Home insurance usually comes in two parts. Knowing what each covers helps you make sure your home and belongings are properly protected.

BS
Written by Ben Smith, Founder
Last updated 7 July 2026

Buildings insurance

Buildings cover protects the structure of your home — the walls, roof, floors and permanent fixtures like fitted kitchens and bathrooms — against events such as fire, flood, storm and subsidence. If you have a mortgage, your lender will usually require you to have it.

Contents insurance

Contents cover protects your belongings — furniture, electronics, clothing and valuables — if they are damaged, destroyed or stolen. A simple test: if you turned your home upside down, most of what falls out is contents.

Do you need both?

If you own your home, both usually make sense. If you rent, the landlord insures the building, so you typically only need contents cover for your own belongings. Many insurers offer the two together as a combined policy.

Getting the level right

Under-insuring is a common mistake — estimate the rebuild cost for buildings (not the market value) and the replacement cost of your contents. We help you arrange cover that suits your home and make sure the price is fair for what you get.

This guide is general information, not personal financial advice. As with all insurance policies, terms, conditions and exclusions apply.

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