It’s understandable to assume that buildings insurance will cover you for anything that happens to your building, hence the name; however, insurance policies are complex, and you may be surprised to learn of the things covered (and not covered) by your buildings insurance cover.
If you have a mortgage on your home, buildings insurance will be an essential condition of the loan and, even if you buy a property outright, it’s wise to have a policy in place to cover the cost of rebuilding your house should it be destroyed in an event such as fire.
Firstly, let’s talk about what isn’t usually covered by a buildings insurance policy. Storm damage to outside areas, such as gates and fences will probably be exempt, as will frost damage to outside pipes and bricks. General wear and tear is (understandably) not covered, nor is deliberate damage caused by yourself or another resident of the house. Damage caused by animals, birds or pests will usually be exempt, and if you are away from home for longer than 30 days, check your policy covers you before you leave.
Policies have optional extras, such as legal expenses cover, useful for property disputes, giving you 24-hour access to legal advice. Home emergency cover is another extra worth considering; it will cover the cost of a call-out in the event of an emergency that is likely to cause damage to your property, such as a burst pipe. Accidental damage isn’t always automatically covered, so do check your policy before you sign on the dotted line.
A standard policy will cover you for damage caused by falling trees, branches and TV aerials, as well as loss caused by weather, including flooding. Leaking pipes and heating systems are usually covered, as is subsidence, heave and landing. Fire, explosion, smoke damage, theft and vandalism, and internal damage caused by frost are all standard, but (as always) the rule of thumb is to read your policy wording carefully; calling your insurance company or insurance broker to clarify any points you are uncertain of.
