Buildings Insurance

What is building insurance?

Building insurance is a core part of home insurance that protects the physical structure of your property against damage caused by insured events.

This type of buildings cover is designed to insure the permanent parts of your home, including the walls, roof, floors, ceilings and fixtures such as fitted kitchens and bathrooms. If your property is damaged by events like fire, storm, flooding or subsidence, building insurance can help cover the cost of repairing or rebuilding it.

Many homeowners choose buildings insurance as part of a wider home insurance policy to ensure their property is adequately insured.

Benefits of working with Howden:

• We’re driven to save you time, money, and hassle
• Personalised guidance backed by local expertise
• Chat to your local broker, within your community
• Insurance cover tailored to your needs
• We're there for you when something goes wrong

Do you need building insurance?

Building insurance is usually essential if you own your property or have a mortgage, as most lenders require it as a condition of borrowing.

Even if you own your home outright, buildings cover can offer important financial protection against large and unexpected rebuilding costs. For landlords, buildings insurance may also form part of landlord insurance, helping protect rental properties from structural damage. While renters insurance typically focuses on personal belongings, building insurance remains the responsibility of the property owner.

What does building insurance cover?

Building insurance typically covers damage to the structure of your home caused by a range of unexpected events, although cover can vary by policy.

Most buildings policies will cover:

• Fire, smoke and explosion damage
• Storm and flood damage
• Escape of water from burst pipes or leaks
• Impact damage such as falling trees
• Subsidence, heave or landslip depending on the policy
• Vandalism or malicious damage

However, not everything is covered under standard buildings insurance. Wear and tear, poor maintenance, faulty workmanship and gradual deterioration are usually excluded. Always review your policy wording so you understand what is covered and where limits apply.

Additional cover options

Buildings insurance can often be enhanced with additional cover options to provide greater protection for your home.

Popular optional extras include:

• Accidental damage cover for unintentional structural damage
• Alternative accommodation cover if your home becomes uninhabitable
• Legal expenses cover linked to property disputes
• Trace and access cover to locate and repair hidden leaks

Adding these options can improve your overall home insurance protection and help reduce out‑of‑pocket costs when something goes wrong.

How much building insurance do I need?

The amount of building insurance you need is based on the rebuilding cost of your home rather than its market value.

Your buildings sum insured should reflect the cost of completely rebuilding the property from scratch, including materials, labour, professional fees and debris removal. Factors that influence rebuilding cost include:

• Property size and construction type
• Age and condition of the building
• Location and accessibility
• Whether the property has listed features or non‑standard materials

Ensuring your sum insured is accurate is essential so your home is adequately insured and claims are not reduced due to underinsurance.

Also read: How do I calculate my buildings sum insured?

How much is building insurance?

The cost of building insurance depends on several factors linked to your property, location and level of cover selected.

Premiums are influenced by:

• The rebuilding cost of the property
• Property age and construction materials
• Location and local risk factors
• Claims history
• Whether optional extras are added

While price is important, choosing sufficient buildings cover is equally vital to protect against potentially significant rebuilding costs.

5 tips for getting a cheaper premium

There are several practical ways to manage the cost of building insurance without compromising protection.

Useful tips include:

• Making sure your sum insured is accurate and up to date
• Improving home security such as locks or alarms
• Choosing a higher voluntary excess where affordable
• Comparing buildings insurance regularly rather than auto‑renewing
• Combining buildings and contents insurance into one policy

Balancing affordability with adequate protection helps ensure long‑term peace of mind.

How to get a building insurance quote

Getting a building insurance quote is straightforward and can be completed with just a few details about your property.

Howden Insurance can support homeowners by sourcing building insurance quotes that reflect the true rebuilding cost of their property and their individual needs. Many customers who already arrange car insurance through Howden also choose to review their home insurance at the same time for convenience and consistency.

Speaking with an adviser here can help ensure the policy selected provides appropriate buildings cover and any additional protection required.

*Note: This is a marketing article from Howden Insurance. The information in this guide is accurate at time of publication. This content is provided for general information only and does not constitute financial or insurance advice.