- Can I have immediate cover?
- How can I pay for my policy?
- Can I switch from my mortgage lender?
- Do I pay an excess if I make a claim?
- When can I report a claim?
- What does Buildings Insurance cover?
- Do I need to know my buildings re-build cost?
- What does Contents Insurance cover?
- How much should I insure my contents for?
- Are the contents of my garage or outbuilding covered?
- Do I need to specify all my valuable items such as furniture?
- Am I covered if I work from Home?
- Are Pedal Cycles covered under Contents?
- Are my contents covered outside of my home or if I take them on holiday with me?
- If I lose my jewellery in my home will I be covered?
- What is Personal Items cover?
- What levels of Personal Items cover are provided?
- What is Accidental Damage cover?
- Do I get Accidental Damage cover automatically?
- What is Family Legal Protection?
- What is Home Emergency cover?
- What if I change my mind about this policy?
Can I have immediate cover?
Yes. Cover is provided once payment details have been taken and processed and starts from the start date you have entered.
^ Back to topHow can I pay for my policy?
You can pay using your credit, debit or switch card or you may prefer to pay using our flexible direct debit plan.
^ Back to topCan I switch from my mortgage lender?
Yes you can. If you are already insured with another company, you'll find it easy to switch to us.
^ Back to topDo I pay an excess if I make a claim?
There is usually a compulsory excess for a standard claim. Claims for subsidence, landslip and heave normally carry an excess of £1,000. This standard excess is in addition to any voluntary excess requested or any excess imposed due to claims experience or property construction.
There is no excess for Family Legal Protection claims.
There is no excess for Home Emergency Cover claims.
^ Back to topWhen can I report a claim?
You can rest assured that if the worst does happen, you will have immediate access to the claims service. All claims lines, including Family Legal Protection and Home Emergency Cover are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
^ Back to topWhat does Buildings Insurance cover?
This is the cover you need to protect the physical structure of your home, and permanent fixtures such as kitchen units and bathroom suites, against fire, lightning, explosions, earthquakes, smoke, riots, theft, subsidence, storms and floods.
Also included are a number of extras, so if your home is damaged by something covered by your policy and is uninhabitable, you’ll be covered for additional expenses like alternative accommodation for you and your family while your home is repaired.
Limits and restrictions apply, please refer to the policy wording for full details.
^ Back to topDo I need to know my buildings re-build cost?
No, in some cases the buildings section of your policy automatically provides cover up to £500,000 for the cost of rebuilding your home and any outbuildings so you'll never have to worry about being underinsured.
Please note that in some circumstances, however, we are not able to provide the £500,000 automatic cover and we will require you to advise us of the re-build value of your property and this will then be the amount of cover provided.
^ Back to topWhat does Contents Insurance cover?
Generally, moveable furniture and fittings - like sofas, curtains, beds, rugs and also aerials and satellite dishes.
They are all covered for loss or damage from fire, lightning, explosions, earthquakes, smoke, riots, theft, subsidence, storms and floods.
Some insurers cover extras - accidental damage to home entertainment goods like your television and computer, cover for freezer contents, replacement locks if your keys are lost or stolen, cover for contents in your garden, and extra cover for wedding gifts if you or someone in your family gets married. You’ll even get extra cover over the festive season.
It's all covered on a new-for-old basis with the exception of your clothes and linen and pedal cycles.
^ Back to topHow much should I insure my contents for?
You should insure your contents for the amount it would cost you to replace them as new.
^ Back to topAre the contents of my garage or outbuilding covered?
Yes, providing the building is locked, you will need to check your policy for limits.
^ Back to topDo I need to specify all my valuable items such as furniture?
No, you only need to specify items that are worth more than the amounts that are detailed below and fall under the insurer’s definition of a "valuable".
Up to £5,000 for any one Plasma, Liquid Crystal Display, Digital Light Projection, Front Projection or CRT Front Projection television, free-standing hot tub, free-standing jacuzzi or free-standing spa.
Up to £2,500 for any other item, pair or set that is defined as a "valuable".
When we refer to "Valuables" we mean:
- Coin, stamp or medal collections valued over £1,000
- Articles of gold, silver, other precious metals
- Jewellery, gemstones, pearls
- Furs, watches
- Audio, video and computer equipment
- Telescopes, binoculars, photographic equipment
- Musical instruments and guns
Valuables are included in the standard policy cover providing the total value is not more than 20% of the contents sum insured or the monetary value specified with the insurer and is subject to the single item limits shown above. If you need to increase the standard valuable limit or need to specify any items please call us.
^ Back to topAm I covered if I work from Home?
When you take out contents cover through us, your policy automatically covers business equipment in the home up to £5,000. This includes items such as computers, printers, fax machines providing they are not owned by your employer.
A full definition of business equipment can be found within the policy wording, which is available to download.
^ Back to topAre Pedal Cycles covered under Contents?
If the bicycle is stolen from your home, (including its garages and outbuilding) this is covered under standard contents insurance with some insurers. With others however, if the bicycle is stolen while away from the home or at the home, it will only be covered if you have selected the Personal Items section.
Limits and restrictions apply; please refer to the policy wording for full details
^ Back to topAre my contents covered outside of my home or if I take them on holiday with me?
Your Contents Insurance covers items that are temporarily away from home but in another building, like your office. You'll need to take out Personal Items cover for items such as your mobile phone, pedal cycles, glasses, jewellery and camera to make sure they're protected while you're carrying them around with you.
Limits and restrictions apply; please refer to the policy wording for full details. This is available to download.
^ Back to topIf I lose my jewellery in my home will I be covered?
Under standard policy cover, items which are lost at home are not covered. If you include Personal Items cover under your policy, these will be covered subject to the terms and conditions of your policy document. Your policy schedule will indicate if you have selected this additional cover.
^ Back to topWhat is Personal Items cover?
If you add this to your contents cover, it gives you extra protection for your portable possessions, such as pedal cycles with some insurers, jewellery, glasses, cameras and mobile phones, when they are outside of your home both in Britain and abroad for the limit shown in your policy documents.
For example, if you have a new camera it's covered by your contents policy while it's in the house. But take it out for the day to take pictures of your family at a wedding and you'll need Personal Items cover.
^ Back to topWhat levels of Personal Items cover are provided?
You can select any amount between £1,000 and £10,000 and there is a single item limit of £2,500. The Personal Items section also includes some additional benefits as standard with some insurers.
If you wish to increase these limits then please call us.
^ Back to topWhat is Accidental Damage cover?
If you put your foot through the ceiling while you're up in the loft, the Accidental Damage part of your buildings policy would cover this. And if you accidentally dropped a tin of paint onto your sofa while decorating, the Accidental Damage part of your contents policy would ensure this was resolved.
You can choose to add Accidental Damage cover to your contents cover.
^ Back to topDo I get Accidental Damage cover automatically?
Buildings
Our buildings insurance automatically provides restricted Accidental Damage for the following:
- Accidental breakage of fixed glass forming part of your buildings (including the cost of necessary boarding up before replacing broken glass)
- Accidental breakage of fixed sanitary fittings
- Accidental breakage of ceramic glass in cooker hobs of built-in units
- Accidental breakage of fixed solar panels forming part of your buildings
Contents
Our contents insurance automatically provides restricted Accidental Damage for the following:
- Glass tops and fixed glass in furniture
- Ceramic glass in cooker hobs
- Mirrors
- Television sets, video, audio and computer equipment
- Radio and television aerials or satellite dishes
For payment of an additional premium you can you can enhance your policy to include Extended Accidental Damage.
Please note that Accidental Damage on buildings or contents is not available if your property is let or unoccupied.
^ Back to topWhat is Family Legal Protection?
If you need legal advice you'll have 24 hour access to a team of experts. You can talk through any private legal issues with them in confidence and, if you have a case for claiming for something like faulty goods or employment disputes, the policy will pay up to £50,000 of your legal costs.
^ Back to topWhat is Home Emergency cover?
If you need emergency property assistance you'll have 24 hour access to a team who can appoint a qualified tradesman 365 days a year. The policy will provide emergency cover in situations such as your primary heating system failing, failure of the electricity or gas supply or infestation of pests. The policy will help with call out charges, 2 hours labour and/or £100 towards parts and materials subject to a maximum of £1,000.
^ Back to topWhat if I change my mind about this policy?
All products have a 14-day right of withdrawal. Should you wish to exercise this right, please send a written request to do so. If the policy is cancelled before the commencement of cover a refund will be made less our arrangement fee. However, if cover has commenced the refund of the premium will be pro-rata less any cancellation charge the insurer may make and our fee.
If the policy is cancelled after the 14-day withdrawal period the refund of the premium will be pro-rata less any cancellation charge the insurer may make and our own cancellation fees.
We will not refund any of your premium if you have made a claim during the period of insurance, or if you have a pending claim. If you are paying by installments you must pay the balance of the full annual premium.
^ Back to top