Buildings Insurance

The rebuild cost is to completely rebuild an identical house to yours, including the cost of labour and materials.

Typically, the cost to rebuild your home is less than the market value, which you might find in your Structural/Building Survey or Home Buyers Report under 'Rebuild Value'. It's important to estimate the correct amount, so you don't pay too much for your insurance or be underinsured if you need to claim. Remember to include garages and outbuildings and consider any special features or materials.

The ABI offers a rebuild cost calculator to help you, or you can get an accurate calculation through a surveyor. You can find a local surveyor by contacting Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

You will find this on the deeds or if you have a mortgage on the property you can contact your mortgage provider who will have this on record.

A garage is considered an outbuilding. So a garage would not be considered as a room, but instead would be covered under the outbuildings cover.

This is the downward movement of sloping ground.

This is the downward movement of the ground beneath the building where the soil is unstable. Read more on what is subsidence?

Accidental damage is any unintentional one-off incident. Accidental Damage cover is available with our Buildings Insurance policy. Depending on the level of cover you choose Accidental damage may automatically be included as part of the policy. The cover can include:

• Glass and sanitary accidental damage
• Full buildings accidental damage

You can find out more here.

No, your mortgage provider may advise that you must have this cover however it’s up to you where you buy it from.

It may seem like the easiest option at the time and not look that expensive when you’re working with mortgage figures but it’s definitely worth shopping around and looking at other providers.

Get a quote from Admiral.

No, an insurance policy is for the cover against loss or damage under the causes that you can find listed in your policy booklet. This does not cover maintenance of the home such as: 

• wear and tear 
• gradual decay 
• defective rendering 
• damp 
• rot 
• damage by vermin 
• failure of grout

If you make a claim, we'll pay the cost of rebuilding, repairing or replacing any damaged part of your buildings covered under your policy. We'll decide how to settle your claim.

We have a network of approved builders, but if you have a preferred builder we're likely to let you use them if their quote is reasonable.

However, you'll also need to make sure the quality of work is acceptable, and if any problems arise due to poor workmanship, they'll need to be sorted by you and the builder.

No, it’s not – if you're getting an income from letting a property, you’re classified as a business so standard home insurance doesn't cover you. Landlord insurance can cover accidental damage caused by tenants, legal cover and missed rent. For more information see our Landlord Insurance page.

Yes, we will cover your house against natural or manmade disasters including fire, flood and lightning strikes.

It is the responsibility of the landlord who owns the freehold of the property to get buildings cover in place. However, many tenants/leaseholders cover the cost of the insurance in their annual service charge.