Building & Contents Insurance

Building & Contents Insurance

What is home insurance?

There are three main home insurance policies: buildings insurance, contents insurance and combined building and contents cover. Buildings insurance cover protects the structure (the fixtures and fittings in your home), while contents insurance covers your belongings.  Combined buildings and contents cover is only suitable for people who own the freehold of their homes.  If you rent or own the lease only, buildings cover should be handled by your freeholder or managing agent.  Contents insurance, however, is your responsibility and should be considered by everyone.

What Is Covered?

What does home and contents insurance cover?
The contents part of your insurance protects you against damage and theft to possessions in your home, garage and shed. The buildings part protects the structure of your home and permanent fixtures and fittings, such as doors and sanitary equipment (baths, basins, toilets and showers). It can differ from policy to policy, but home insurance will usually cover damage from storms, flooding, earthquakes, fire, lightning, explosions, theft, riots and vandalism. It also covers damage from falling trees, motor vehicles and escaping water (such as a burst pipe). Your cover should also protect you against subsidence (a shifting of the ground, which can cause your house to sink).

If you need both building and contents insurance, buying combined insurance can be cheaper and limit any disputes among insurers, for example, if you need to make a claim affecting both the structure of your home and its contents, such as a flood.

Should you decide to buy two separate policies and you need to claim, there may be arguments between your two providers over who should cover what.  It is rare, but it is possible.

Most policies will also cover the cost of a hotel or B&B if you can't stay in your home following a fire or a flood, replacement keys and locks if they are damaged or your keys go missing, spoiled food if your freezer breaks down and the replacement of cash stolen from your home.  There are limits on how much you can claim for, so check your policy carefully.

Both contents and buildings policies give you legal liability protection as the occupier and owner of the home.  This means that as part of the contents policy, the insurer will cover you and your legal costs if a visitor to your home is seriously injured and it's deemed to be your fault.  A buildings policy will do the same if the structure injures a passer-by or visitor, or damages a neighbour's property.

What is often excluded from cover?
Home insurance won't insure you against acts of terrorism.  It also doesn't cover damage due to wear and tear.  Your policy may also be invalid if your house is unoccupied for more than 30 consecutive days during the year.  Not being in your home can have consequences for your cover.  Or if you're away for a long time and a pipe bursts, your insurer may not pay out.

Insurers won't protect everything in your home just because you've bought cover – look out for situations where you'll need to make special arrangements.  If you have any high value items, there may be a limit on the insurance.

Why Speak to Us?
We started Willoughby Bespoke Protection because we were tired of being treated like a number and not getting the service we all deserve when it comes to things as important as protecting our home and our finances.  Below are just a few reasons why it makes sense to let us help.

• There is no fee for our service.

• We are impartial.
Willoughby Bespoke Protection isn’t tied to any insurance company, so we can provide completely impartial advice to make sure you get the most appropriate policy based solely on your needs.

• You’ll speak to a dedicated expert from start to finish.
You will speak to a named expert with a direct telephone and email. No more automated machines and no more being sent from pillar to post – you’ll have someone to speak to who knows you.

• Gain the protection of advice.
You are protected. Where we provide an advised service we are responsible for the policy we set-up for you. Doing it yourself or going direct to an insurer won’t provide this protection, so you won’t benefit from these securities.

• Claims support when you need it the most.
You have support should you need to make a claim.  The most important thing when it comes to insurance is that claims are paid and quickly.  We are here to support you during the claims process and make sure it’s as smooth and stress free as possible.

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