House Insurance
House insurance is usually made up of two seperate entities. The insurance
we take out against the contents of our home (contents insurance), and
the insurance we take out to cover damage to the "bricks and mortar"
or in extreme cases the rebuild cost of our dwelling (buildings insurance).
Many mortgage providers insist we have a policy that covers the "rebuild"
cost.
Contents
Insurance
What
is Contents Insurance?
Contents Insurance is used to cover the contents of your property
against theft, fire, storm, flood and vandalism.
What
type of contents does it cover?
Depending
on your exact policy, your contents insurance may cover,
All household goods
Non-permanent fixtures and fittings (e.g. carpets and curtains).
Personal belongings e.g. cameras, bags and glasses.
Cash in your home (up to a specified limit).
The items detailed
above will usually be covered on a "new for old" basis.
In addition, most
contents insurance policies will cover (or give you the option to cover),
Accidental damage to TVs, VCRs, DVDs, stereo equipment and home computers.
Freezer contents (up to a specified amount).
Contents temporarily removed from your home e.g. caravan or holiday
home (up to a specified amount).
Cost of replacing external door locks if keys are stolen (up to a specified
amount).
Contents in the garden (up to a specified amount).
Extra cover over the Christmas period
Extra cover 4 weeks before your wedding.
24 hour emergency helpline for all types of cover.
Your home contents
insurance policy will also give you the option to add Accidental Damage
cover.
What is
accidental damage cover?
When added to your
contents insurance, accidental damage covers accidental damage to contents
such as spilling paint on your carpet, knocking over a cabinet of crystal
glasses or dropping a vase. It usually covers accidental loss away from
home too.
Family Legal
Protection
You will probably also have the option to add family legal
protection to your contents policy. This usually provides a 24 hour
Helpline staffed by legal advisors who can advise you on any personal
legal issue and financial assistance, up to a specified amount, to pursue
your rights, e.g. if you buy goods which turn out to be faulty, or if
you are dismissed by your employer without good reason.
Buildings
insurance
What
does buildings insurance cover?
Depending on your
policy, your buildings insurance will cover,
The structure of
your home and walls, fences, hedges, gates, footpaths, etc.
Outbuildings such as garages and sheds.
All permanent fixtures and fittings such as kitchen units, fitted wardrobes
and wallpaper.
All of the above will usually be covered against fire, storm and flood
(except hedges, gates and fences), theft, vandalism, escape of water
and subsidence.
Again, dependant
on your exact policy terms, your buildings insurance may also cover,
Accidental Damage
to underground pipes and cables e.g. pipes freezing.
Accidental damage to fixed glass and sanitary ware.
Cost of alternative accommodation for you, your family and pets during
necessary repairs to your home following an insured event.
You may also be provided with a 24 hour emergency helpline.
Are
there any additional options for my buildings insurance?
You may also have
to option to add Accidental Damage to your buildings insurance. When
added to your buildings insurance, this will cover accidental damage
to your home. This could include putting your foot through the roof,
spilling paint down the side of an external wall or damaging pipes or
cables whilst hammering a nail into a wall.
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