Sheffield Town Hall

Buildings and Contents Insurance

Comprehensive protection for your home and everything in it. Get peace of mind knowing your property and possessions are covered.

What is Buildings and Contents Insurance?

Buildings and contents insurance provides financial protection for your property's structure and your personal belongings. Buildings insurance covers the physical structure of your home, including walls, roof, floors, and permanent fixtures. Contents insurance covers your possessions, from furniture and electronics to clothing and jewelry.

Buildings Cover

Protects the structure of your home against damage from fire, flood, storms, subsidence, and other risks. Covers permanent fixtures like bathrooms and kitchens.

Contents Cover

Covers your personal belongings against theft, damage, and loss. Includes furniture, electronics, clothing, and valuables that you would take with you if you moved.


Combined Policy

A comprehensive solution that covers both your property and possessions under one policy, often at a better value than separate policies.

Why Buildings and Contents Insurance Matters

Many homeowners underestimate the importance of adequate insurance coverage. Consider these facts:

  • • The average UK home contains contents worth over £35,000
  • • Rebuilding a typical home can cost £200,000 or more
  • • 1 in 4 UK homes will experience a burglary at some point
  • • Weather-related insurance claims have increased by 40% in the last decade

Having the right buildings and contents insurance provides essential financial protection and peace of mind, ensuring you won't face significant costs if disaster strikes.

Types of Buildings and Contents Insurance

There are several types of buildings and contents insurance policies available, each designed to meet different needs and circumstances. Understanding the options is the first step in choosing the right coverage for your home.

Standard Buildings Insurance

Covers the structure of your home against damage from fire, flood, storms, and other risks. Includes permanent fixtures like bathrooms, kitchens, and built-in wardrobes.

Best for: Homeowners, landlords, those with a mortgage

Standard Contents Insurance

Protects your personal belongings against theft, damage, and loss. Covers furniture, electronics, clothing, and other items that aren't permanently attached to your home.

Best for: Homeowners, tenants, students, anyone with personal possessions

Combined Buildings & Contents

A comprehensive policy that covers both your property's structure and your possessions. Often more cost-effective than purchasing separate policies and simplifies the claims process.

Best for: Homeowners looking for complete protection under one policy

High-Value Home Insurance

Specialised coverage for homes worth above a certain threshold (typically £500,000+) or with high-value contents. Offers higher limits and additional protections.

Best for: Owners of luxury properties, collectors of art or valuables

Landlord Insurance

Tailored for rental properties, covering the building, landlord's contents, and often including additional protections like loss of rental income and landlord liability.

Best for: Buy-to-let investors, property portfolio owners

Tenants Contents Insurance

Designed specifically for renters, covering personal possessions without the buildings element. May include tenant's liability to cover accidental damage to the landlord's property.

Best for: Renters, students, those in shared accommodation

Our Insurance Process

Getting the right buildings and contents insurance is a straightforward process when you work with our experienced advisers. Here's how we help you secure the protection your home needs:

Property Assessment

We'll help you assess your property's rebuild value and the total value of your contents to ensure you have adequate coverage levels.


Coverage Calculation

We'll calculate appropriate coverage amounts for both buildings and contents, considering factors like location, property type, and high-value items.



Policy Research

We'll research the market to identify the most suitable policies and providers based on your specific needs, property type, and budget.

Application and Underwriting

We'll assist with the application process, including any property information or documentation required by the insurer during underwriting.

Policy Setup

Once approved, we'll ensure your policy is correctly established with all necessary endorsements and specified items properly listed.


Annual Review

We'll conduct annual reviews to ensure your coverage remains adequate as your property and possessions change over time.


Frequently asked questions

Get answers to common questions about buildings and contents insurance and how it can protect your home and possessions.
How much buildings and contents insurance do I need?
For buildings insurance, you need enough coverage to rebuild your home from scratch (the 'rebuild value'), not its market value. This includes demolition, site clearance, and reconstruction costs. For contents insurance, you should calculate the total replacement value of all your possessions. Most people underestimate this figure—try going room by room and listing everything you own. Remember to include high-value items like jewelry, electronics, and furniture. Our advisers can help you determine the appropriate coverage levels for your specific situation.
What's the difference between buildings and contents insurance?
Buildings insurance covers the physical structure of your home—the walls, roof, floors, and permanent fixtures like bathrooms and kitchens. It protects against damage from events like fire, flood, storms, and subsidence. Contents insurance covers your personal belongings—the items you would take with you if you moved house. This includes furniture, electronics, clothing, jewelry, and other possessions. It protects against theft, damage, and loss. While they're different types of coverage, they're often purchased together as a combined policy for comprehensive protection.
Do I need buildings insurance if I'm renting?
No, if you're renting, the building's insurance is the responsibility of your landlord. However, you should strongly consider contents insurance to protect your personal belongings. Tenant's contents insurance is specifically designed for renters and often includes tenant's liability coverage, which protects you if you accidentally damage your landlord's property. Some policies also offer coverage for improvements you've made to the property with your landlord's permission.
Are high-value items automatically covered?
Most contents insurance policies have a 'single item limit'—the maximum amount they'll pay for any one item, typically between £1,000 and £2,000. Items worth more than this limit need to be specifically listed on your policy as 'specified items' or 'high-value items.' This applies to things like expensive jewelry, watches, art, collections, and high-end electronics. Some insurers may require proof of value, such as receipts or professional valuations. It's important to review your policy's single item limit and ensure valuable possessions are properly declared.
Does buildings insurance cover subsidence?
Most standard buildings insurance policies do cover subsidence, which is the downward movement of the ground beneath a building that causes structural damage. However, the excess (the amount you pay toward a claim) for subsidence is often higher than for other types of claims, typically around £1,000. If your property has previously suffered from subsidence, you may find it more difficult or expensive to get coverage. In such cases, you might need to use a specialist insurer. It's important to disclose any history of subsidence when applying for insurance to ensure your policy is valid.
Can I get buildings and contents insurance if I work from home?
Yes, but you need to inform your insurer that you work from home. Standard home insurance policies typically provide limited coverage for home office equipment (usually up to around £5,000). If you have expensive business equipment or stock at home, you may need additional coverage. Also, if you have clients visiting your home, you might need public liability insurance. Different insurers have different approaches to home working, so it's important to be transparent about your situation to ensure you have appropriate coverage. Business activities beyond clerical work (like manufacturing or retail) may require a separate business insurance policy.

Protect Your Home and Possessions

Don't leave your property vulnerable. Our expert advisers can help you find the right buildings and contents insurance to ensure your home and possessions are properly protected.


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