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Affordable Buildings Insurance

Protect your home from just £198/year¹

Get peace of mind with comprehensive cover for your property — plus enjoy fantastic rewards on us*. Compare top deals and start saving today.

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Do I Need Buildings Insurance?

Whether or not you need buildings insurance depends on your living situation —
but in many cases, it’s highly recommended.

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1. You own a freehold flat

If you fully own the flat or share the freehold with others, you’re responsible for insuring the building.

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2. You own your home outright

There’s no legal obligation, but without insurance, you’d be responsible for costly repairs. A valid claim could save you thousands.

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3. You’re a landlord

As the property owner, you’re responsible for the structure — buildings insurance can help cover unexpected repair costs.

Compare cheap car insurance quotes from 177 trusted provider products[3] with Clarity Compare, including:

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What is Buildings Insurance?

Buildings insurance helps cover the cost of repairing or rebuilding your home’s structure — including walls, roof, and floors — in case of damage. It typically includes permanent fixtures and fittings like your kitchen and bathroom.

You’re also protected for damage to connected structures such as garages, drains, and external pipes. With Clarity Compare, it’s easy to find the right level of cover at a price that suits your budget.

Do I Need Buildings Insurance When Buying a House?

If you’re buying a property with a mortgage, most lenders will require buildings insurance as a condition of the loan. This protects the value of the property — the asset your lender is securing the mortgage against.

You’re free to choose your own buildings insurance provider. While your lender may offer their own insurance or suggest options, they can’t force you to use their policy — unless it’s part of a specific bundled mortgage deal. However, they do have the right to reject an insurer if the cover doesn’t meet their criteria.

Is Buildings Insurance a Legal Requirement?

No, buildings insurance isn’t a legal requirement in the UK. Unlike car insurance, you’re not legally obligated to have home cover. But if you own your property — especially with a mortgage — it’s a smart way to protect your investment from costly structural damage.

What Does Buildings Insurance Cover?

Buildings insurance typically covers the cost of repairing or rebuilding your home’s structure if it’s damaged by unexpected events such as:

1. Fire, smoke, or explosions
2. Storms and extreme weather
3. Flooding and water damage
4. Subsidence or ground movement
5. Falling trees, aerials, or satellite equipment
6. Vehicle or aircraft collisions
7. Burst pipes and escape of water
8. Vandalism or attempted break-ins
If your home is completely destroyed, buildings insurance should cover the full cost to rebuild — as long as your policy covers the correct rebuild value.

What Optional Extras Can I Add to My Buildings Insurance?

Want added peace of mind? Many buildings insurance policies let you include extra cover for an additional cost, so your home is protected from even more scenarios. Common add-ons include:

Accidental damage cover

Protects against unexpected accidents to your home's structure or permanent fixtures — like drilling through a pipe or smashing a bathroom tile.

Legal expenses cover

Covers legal costs for property disputes, such as issues with neighbours or injury claims made by visitors.

Alternative accommodation

Pays for temporary housing if your home becomes uninhabitable due to insured damage.

Home emergency cover

Provides rapid help for urgent problems like burst pipes, boiler failure, or electrical breakdowns.

Flood damage top-up

Essential if you live in a flood-prone area and need enhanced protection.

Trace and access cover

Helps cover the cost of locating and accessing the source of hidden water leaks.

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²Correct as of March 2025.
¹Based on independent research by Consumer Intelligence in March 2025. 51% of customers could save up to £479 by using Clarity Compare.

What to Consider When Comparing Buildings Insurance

Finding the right buildings insurance means more than just choosing the cheapest quote. Here’s what to look out for when comparing policies on Clarity Compare:

1. What’s Covered

Most policies protect against major risks like fire, flood, storm damage, and subsidence. For extra peace of mind, consider adding accidental damage cover — ideal for unexpected mishaps like drilling through a pipe.

2. Exclusions and Limits

Every policy has limits and exclusions. Make sure you understand what isn’t covered — such as wear and tear or certain outbuildings — and check the maximum payout for each section.

3. Buildings vs Contents Insurance

Buildings insurance covers your home’s structure, not your belongings. You can add contents insurance or combine both for convenience — and often a better deal.

4. Alternative Accommodation

If your home becomes uninhabitable (e.g., due to a fire), many policies cover the cost of temporary housing while repairs are carried out.

Why Use Us

5. Excess Amounts

You’ll have a compulsory excess (set by your insurer) and can choose a voluntary excess. Higher excess can lower your premium — but you’ll pay more if you claim.

6. No Claims Discount (NCD)

Avoiding claims could earn you a discount on future premiums — just like with car insurance. A great incentive for careful homeowners.

7. Unoccupied Properties

Leaving your home empty for 30+ days? Some policies may become invalid unless you inform your insurer or arrange extra cover.

8. Public Liability Cover

Some policies include public liability protection in case someone is injured or suffers property damage while in your home — helping cover legal costs and claims.

At Clarity Compare, we make it easy to compare buildings insurance policies side by side, so you can choose the right protection — with total clarity.

What’s Not Covered by Buildings Insurance?

  • While buildings insurance offers essential protection for your home’s structure, there are some common exclusions to be aware of. Most policies won’t cover:

    • General wear and tear or gradual deterioration

    • Damage due to poor maintenance or neglect

    • Faulty workmanship or issues caused by DIY gone wrong

    • Pest damage from birds, insects, or vermin

    • Frost damage to external pipes or brickwork

    • Storm damage to sheds, greenhouses, fences, or gates (varies by provider)

    • Unoccupied property damage if your home is left empty for an extended period without notifying your insurer

    • Damage from renovations or extensions not disclosed to your insurer in advance

    Additionally, buildings insurance doesn’t cover your personal belongings, such as furniture, electronics, carpets, or valuables — for that, you’ll need a separate contents insurance policy.

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"I loved how simple and quick it was to compare travel insurance. I found a perfect deal and felt fully covered for my trip."

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"The best part was how transparent everything felt. No hidden fees or confusion—just honest comparisons and great value."

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What Affects the Rebuild Value of Your Home?

When calculating the right level of buildings insurance, it’s important to understand what influences your property’s rebuild cost. Several key factors can impact how much it would cost to rebuild your home from scratch:

1. Size of the Property

Generally, the larger your home, the higher the rebuild cost. The number of rooms, windows, and even doors can influence the total estimate — so accuracy matters.

2. Construction Materials

Homes built with non-standard materials — like timber frames, thatched roofs, or stonework — often require specialist materials and skills, making them more expensive to rebuild. Listed properties may also come with additional requirements.

3. Age of the Property

Older homes can be more expensive to repair or rebuild due to the need for period-appropriate materials and craftsmanship that aligns with the original style.

4. Flood Risk

If your home is in an area with a high flood risk, future rebuilds might require improvements like flood barriers or elevated construction — raising your rebuild value.

5. Subsidence Risk

Properties affected by or at risk of subsidence may need extra foundation work or ongoing monitoring, adding to the cost of rebuilding.

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How Much Should I Insure My Property For?

When taking out buildings insurance, it’s important to insure your home for its rebuild cost, not its market value. This is known as the buildings sum insured — the amount it would cost to rebuild your home from the ground up, including labour, materials, and professional fees.

In most cases, your rebuild cost is lower than your market value, but not always. If you underinsure your property and it’s completely destroyed, your insurer may not cover the full cost to rebuild — leaving you with a financial shortfall.

How much is buildings insurance?

With Clarity Compare, you could buy buildings insurance for less than £198 a year¹ – that’s just £16.50 a month when paid annually².

Buy buildings insurance for less than £198 per year[1]

That’s just £16.50 per month when paid up front (excluding interest)[2]

Get combined home (buildings and contents) insurance for less than £213 per year[3]

The cost of buildings insurance depends on several key factors — the most important being the rebuild value of your home. This is the amount it would cost to completely rebuild your property from the ground up, not its market value. Your postcode also plays a role. Insurers assess local risks like flood zones, crime rates, and previous claims in your area to determine how likely you are to make a claim — all of which influence your premium.

  • ¹ Based on 51% of Clarity Compare customers quoted in March 2025.

  • ² Monthly figure based on annual payment divided by 12, excluding interest.

  • ³ 51% of combined policy quotes were under £212.95 in March 2025.

How to Get Cheaper Buildings Insurance

Looking to save on your buildings insurance? Here are some simple ways to reduce your premium:

1. Compare multiple quotes

Use Clarity Compare to easily compare a wide range of trusted providers and find the best deal for your needs.

2. Bundle your policies

Combining your buildings and contents insurance could be more cost-effective and simpler to manage if you ever need to claim.

3. Build up a no-claims discount

Avoiding claims over time could unlock valuable discounts on future premiums.

4. Get an accurate rebuild cost

Overestimating could lead to higher premiums, while underestimating could leave you underinsured. Use our rebuild calculator to get it right.

5. Increase your voluntary excess

Agreeing to pay a higher excess can lower your premium, just ensure it’s affordable if you need to make a claim.

6. Pay annually if possible

Paying upfront avoids the added interest that comes with monthly instalments.

What Do I Need to Get a Buildings Insurance Quote?

Getting a buildings insurance quote with Clarity Compare is quick and easy — just have a few key details ready about you and your property:

  • Who lives at the property

  • Your occupation and how long you’ve lived there

  • The year your home was built

  • Number of rooms (including bedrooms and bathrooms)

  • What materials your home is built from (e.g. brick walls, tiled roof)

  • Any past claims, damage, or major repairs

  • The estimated rebuild cost of your home

  • The excess you’re willing to pay if you claim

  • Any optional extras you’d like to add — like accidental damage, legal expenses, or home emergency cover

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Frequently Asked Questions

At Clarity Compare, we don’t just cover standard vehicles — we help you compare insurance options for a wide range of cars, including those that are a little out of the ordinary.
What’s the difference between buildings insurance and contents insurance?

Buildings insurance covers the structure of your home — including walls, roof, floors, and permanent fixtures like your kitchen and bathroom. Contents insurance, on the other hand, protects the personal belongings inside your home, such as furniture, appliances, clothing, and gadgets. You can choose to combine both for comprehensive home cover.

If your home is built with materials that are not commonly used — such as timber frames, thatched roofs, or flat roofs — it’s classed as non-standard construction. You may still be able to get buildings insurance, but you might need a specialist policy. Clarity Compare helps you explore providers that can cover these types of properties.

Typically, garages are not counted as habitable rooms like bedrooms or living spaces. However, they should still be declared in your buildings insurance application, especially if they are attached to your home or contain valuable items.

Rising damp is generally considered a maintenance issue, not a sudden or unexpected event. As a result, most buildings insurance policies do not cover it. It’s important to regularly maintain your home to avoid damage that’s not insurable.

Yes, many insurance providers offer buildings insurance for homes in flood-prone areas. You might need specialist flood cover or a policy that participates in the Flood Re scheme — designed to make insurance more affordable for those in high-risk zones.

Most buildings insurance policies include cover for subsidence, which refers to ground movement that causes your home to sink or crack. However, it’s important to check whether this is included as standard or if it requires an add-on.

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