Best home insurance companies in the UK

The best home insurance policy isn’t one-size-fits-all, so the best home insurer can vary greatly depending on factors like your home’s location, your coverage needs, and your budget.

To find a home insurance provider, it’s generally recommended to get quotes from multiple companies and compare their offerings in terms of coverage, price, customer service, and claims satisfaction. Consider your specific needs and circumstances when evaluating these factors. Remember, the cheapest isn’t always the best if it doesn’t provide the coverage you need.

Be sure to read the details of each policy carefully and don’t hesitate to ask questions if there’s anything you don’t understand.

Based on Fairer Finance’s customer experience ratings, Ecclesiastical has the best customer service. The following providers receive a ‘Gold Ribbon’ from Fairer Finance for their customer experience:

1. Ecclesiastical: 83 per cent
2. NFU Mutual: 73 per cent
3. Bank of Scotland: 72 per cent
4. NatWest: 72 per cent
5. Saga: 71 per cent
6. Nationwide: 70 per cent
7. Churchill: 70 per cent

While home insurance isn’t required by law, there are many benefits gained by purchasing cover.

• Financial protection: one of the most significant benefits of finding the best home insurance in the UK is its financial protection. If your home is damaged and the cause is covered, such as fire or flood, insurance can help cover the costs of repairs or rebuilding
• Protection for personal belongings: home insurance typically covers replacing personal belongings damaged, stolen, or destroyed. This includes furniture, clothing, mobile devices, and other items. Some policies also provide off-premises coverage, meaning your belongings are covered away from your home
• Liability coverage: if someone suffers an injury on your property or you damage someone else’s property, the liability portion of your home insurance policy can help cover legal expenses and any awarded damages, up to the policy limits
• Additional living expenses: if an accident makes your home uninhabitable, your policy may cover additional living expenses. These typically include hotel bills, restaurant meals, and other expenses over and above your typical living expenses while your home is being repaired
• Mortgage requirement: most mortgage lenders require you to have home insurance as a loan condition. This is to protect the lender’s investment in the property. While this may seem like more of a benefit for the lender, it also benefits you by helping to ensure you have the insurance coverage you need
• Peace of mind: knowing you’re protected in case of disaster can provide significant peace of mind. You’ll rest easier knowing that if something unexpected happens, you won’t be out of pocket

Every insurance policy is different, and not all policies will provide all of these benefits. Always read your policy carefully and talk to your insurance provider if you have any questions about what’s covered.

There isn’t a definitive answer to this question because the “best” home insurance provider can greatly depend on personal circumstances and coverage needs. Different providers may excel in different areas.

For example, some providers might offer the most affordable premiums, but might not provide the level of coverage you need, or they might not have the best customer service. Conversely, a provider that has excellent customer service and comprehensive coverage might be more expensive.

Home insurance costs in the UK have been subject to fluctuations over the years due to a range of factors, including changes in the regulatory environment, and broader economic trends.

Climate change has also led to more frequent and severe weather events, such as floods and storms, which increases the number and cost of insurance claims and potentially leads to higher premiums.

The insurance market itself is also cyclical and can go through ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ phases, which can affect premium levels. In a ‘hard’ market, insurers tend to tighten their underwriting criteria and increase premiums, while in a ‘soft’ market, competition often leads to lower premiums.

While home insurance is not a legal requirement, if your property is mortgaged, most lenders will require you to have building insurance at the very least. This type of insurance protects the structure of your home, including fixtures and fittings, from unforeseen damage such as fire, flood, or vandalism.

Contents insurance is usually optional and more about protecting your assets rather than satisfying any legal or contractual requirement.

Obtaining house insurance involves answering a series of questions to assess risk and determine your premium. Insurers typically inquire about:

• Property type and size: details about your home’s construction, age, style, number of rooms, and overall size, which inform the potential repair or rebuild costs
• Location: the property’s postcode to assess risks like crime rates, flooding, or subsidence in the area
• Security: existing security measures, including locks, alarms, or neighbourhood watch schemes
• Occupancy and use: who resides at the property, occupancy periods, and whether it’s used for anything other than residential purposes
• Personal information: your claims history, employment status, and potentially your credit score, affecting your reliability assessment

Answering accurately is crucial, as misinformation can invalidate your insurance.

There are a number of circumstances where normal home insurance might not be the right fit for your property. This can include if your home is built from non-standard construction materials, such as a timber or steel frame.

These specialist policies extend beyond what your home is built from, however. You can also take out non-standard home insurance if you own a listed building or high value property, have a home that is a flood risk, or if your house is under construction or being renovated.

Second home insurance is typically more expensive than primary residence coverage due to heightened risks. These properties often stand unoccupied, making them vulnerable to theft, vandalism, or maintenance issues that can escalate unnoticed, compounding the potential for more severe claims.

Additionally, if the home is in a location prone to environmental hazards or used as a holiday home, the likelihood of damage could increase, further elevating the risk profile. Insurers account for these variables, reflecting the increased risk in higher premiums.

While not mandatory, it’s prudent for both property owners to be listed on the home insurance policy. This safeguards each party’s financial interest, ensuring seamless claim processing and payout allocation.

If only one owner is named, any compensation is legally theirs, potentially creating disputes or complications, especially in non-marital ownership.

You can check your home insurance policy by reviewing the policy document, often sent via email or available on your insurer’s online portal. This document details your coverage, exclusions, and conditions. For clarity or if you can’t find your policy, contact your insurer directly for assistance.