Buildings Insurance

Yes. With buildings insurance, you’ll be covered for roof damage or leaks caused by events like storms, falling trees or fires. However, it does not cover damage from lack of maintenance or general wear and tear. It is the owner’s responsibility to maintain their roof and keep it in good order.  

This will depend on whether you have any legal responsibility for the water supply pipe. Although these pipes can supply multiple homes, they can pass through land you own, or your neighbour’s land. Your building insurance only tends to cover water pipes that you have a legal responsibility for. 

Buildings insurance can be invalidated in a number of ways. Some of these are more obvious, like misrepresenting details about yourself, or your home. Others can be accidental if you are not fully aware of the terms of your policy. Get the full details on what invalidates home insurance here.  

The best building insurance provider for your home will be different based on your individual needs and budget. Some insurers specialise in particular levels of cover, or insuring certain homes, so can offer them better building insurance deals. This is why it’s so important to shop around before you buy. 

A buildings insurance comparison lets you see cover, excess and premiums from multiple UK insurers after entering your property details once. With Quotezone you fill in one short form covering the property’s address, type, rebuild cost, claims history and the cover you want. We then search a panel of over 40 UK buildings insurance providers and return quotes with the most competitive price first, so you can click through and buy directly from the insurer.

Paying annually in a single upfront payment is often cheaper than paying monthly. Monthly buildings insurance typically includes interest or an administration charge that can add roughly 5% to 20% to the total cost over the year, because the insurer is effectively lending you the annual premium. If you can afford the full amount upfront, annual buildings insurance usually works out cheaper. If cash flow matters more than the small saving, monthly instalments spread the cost without needing a separate credit check.

Buildings insurance is not a legal requirement in the UK, but most mortgage lenders require it as a condition of the loan (ABI). If you own your home outright, you can legally go without buildings insurance. That’s a big risk though — replacing a property yourself after a fire, flood or subsidence could cost hundreds of thousands of pounds. Leaseholders usually don’t need to buy buildings insurance separately because the freeholder insures the whole block and recovers the cost through the service charge.

Standard buildings insurance won’t cover general wear and tear, gradual damage from damp or rot, or deliberate damage. Pest infestations, frost damage to external pipes, and damage from poor DIY or unapproved structural work are also excluded. Personal belongings inside the home aren’t included either — those need contents insurance. Most policies also restrict cover if the property is left unoccupied for longer than 30 to 60 consecutive days. Always check the policy wording for compulsory excesses (often £1,000 or more for subsidence) and any property-specific exclusions before you buy.