What is buildings insurance?

Buildings insurance covers the structural aspects of your home, for example the walls, ceilings, bathroom, and windows. If you’re a home owner, buildings insurance is there to protect you against large repair bills if your home is significantly damaged, by events such as flood or fire.

This type of insurance tends be a requirement when paying a mortgage, as the lender wants to ensure their investment in your home is protected should the worst happen.

The cost of buildings insurance can vary depending on the materials your home is built out of and a lot of other factors too. So if you’re asking yourself the question ‘how much is buildings insurance?’ the quickest way to find out is to get an online buildings insurance quote.

What does buildings insurance cover with esure?

Your biggest asset is your home, and buildings insurance is designed to protect you should you ever face a large repair bill. Especially if something unexpected were to occur, like subsidence. With esure you can rest assured our cover is rated as one of the best quality policies on the market by independent financial researcher Defaqto.

Do I need buildings insurance as a tenant?

If you’re renting, your landlord is responsible for buildings insurance for their property; however, you may want to consider contents insurance for your belongings which also includes cover for liability.

Contents insurance provides cover for the parts of your home that are not structural or fitted, like carpets or your bicycle. If you have any high value items you want to make sure are covered, you can name them as specified items in your policy, and you’ll have coverage if your belongings are lost, damaged or stolen.

Tenants’ insurance (also contents insurance) covers your possessions, rather than the structural elements of your home, but it also adds cover for your liability as a tenant. For example, if your landlord were to pursue legal action for compensation for damage, you can make a claim for your legal fees and expenses. Please note that tenants’ insurance cannot cover renters in shared accommodation.

When should you get buildings insurance when buying a house?

When you’re buying a home, you’ll want cover to commence on the day you exchange contracts and the home is legally yours – once the home is yours, anything that happens to it is your responsibility. If you’re getting a mortgage, buildings insurance will be a condition of the mortgage. Your mortgage lender may offer their own buildings insurance, but you are not obligated to go with it and may select your own insurer.

Additionally, if you’re planning to leave your property unoccupied for more than 30 days or do any building works, let us know. Cover for your home may be restricted if you intend to leave your home unoccupied for over 30 days.

What events am I covered for?

If any of your home is damaged and you want to make a claim the damage has to be covered by what we call an ‘insured event’. Some of the events we cover are:

Please refer to the policy booklet for more information on all the events we cover.

Does buildings insurance cover roof repairs or roof tiles?

If your roof is damaged by any of the events specified above, you may be able to make a claim on your policy. For example, if your roof were in good repair but sustained damage from gale force winds, we would be able to cover the necessary repairs.

Unfortunately, if you encounter problems due to your roof falling into disrepair or normal wear and tear, any repairs or replacements will not be covered.

Does buildings insurance cover burst pipes?

If your home is damaged by water escaping from water tanks, pipes, fixed equipment, domestic appliances or fixed heating systems or as a result of water freezing in water tanks, equipment or pipes, you may be able to make a claim for the loss of or damage to your home.

However, if the pipes have failed due to normal wear and tear, the overflowing water was really due to a tap being left on or the sealant/grout failed or was never present, you could not be covered.

Does buildings insurance cover water leaks?

If you experience a leak from your pipes, water tank, equipment or fixed heating system but cannot work out where the water is coming from you may be able to make a claim. Its always best to check with the Claims department first.

This type of cover is called Trace and Access, and it provides cover for the cost of locating the source of the leak and making good the damage to your home.

Boost your cover

Do I need to buy both buildings and contents insurance?

We can’t give you a direct answer to this question as it all depends on your living arrangements and what you think you need. If you buy both buildings and contents insurance you have cover that protects your home and your belongings.

The table below shows what our buildings and contents cover includes. Please refer to our policy document for more information.