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How much home insurance do you need?

It's important to have enough home insurance to protect the things you've worked hard for, but how much is enough?

Here, we help you work out how much home cover is right for you.

How much buildings insurance do you need?

How much contents insurance do you need?

You can buy buildings and contents cover separately, or as a joint policy from one insurance company. 

How much buildings insurance do you need?

You should consider having enough buildings insurance to cover the amount it would cost you to rebuild your home from scratch. This is known as the ‘sum insured’.

How to calculate buildings insurance repair costs

The cost of rebuilding your home isn’t the same amount as the price you paid for the property, or how much it’s currently worth. The rebuild cost is usually less, as it doesn’t include the value of the land.

If you recently made a mortgage application, you’ll have received a valuation which will include a rebuild cost. You can also use the rebuilding cost calculator from the Association of British Insurers (ABI). 

Some insurers may estimate this cost for you based on the number of bedrooms you have, known as a ‘bedroom-rated’ policy. And some may provide an unlimited value so you don’t need to specify the rebuild costs.

Keep in mind:  

  • home improvements, such as adding an extension or conservatory, can increase the rebuild cost
  • rebuild costs can be higher for ‘non-standard construction’ properties
  • rebuild costs can increase over time

Most policies are index-linked, meaning they adjust to reflect increasing costs, but it’s something to check when you renew your policy, to make sure you have enough cover. 

How much contents insurance do you need?

It's important you don't underestimate how much your belongings are worth. If you ever have to replace them, you’ll need enough contents insurance to cover your losses.

How to calculate home contents insurance

To work out the value of your contents, you can:

  • make a list of items in each room of your home, including the loft or garage
  • estimate how much it would cost to replace each item with a new one
  • add up the cost of all your items to get your estimate

Many websites offer contents insurance calculators to help you do this. 

The price of most items can be searched on the internet. However, for things such as antiques, or a valuable piece of jewellery, you may want to get these valued by a professional. 

Some insurance policies have a limit on how much you can claim on a single item. You may need to add extra cover for any items that exceed that limit.

How much is home insurance?

The amount you spend on home insurance will depend on the type of property you have and the value of your contents. It will also depend on the amount of cover you need and if you add any optional extras.

For example, HSBC Home Insurance gives you a choice of different levels of protection for your home and contents. You can increase your cover by adding accidental damage cover, home emergency cover or legal protection. 

Before you buy any insurance product, it’s important to read the policy and understand the details including costs to make sure you get the cover you need. 

Explore: What to consider when buying insurance

HSBC Home Insurance is provided by Aviva Insurance Limited. Exclusions and terms and conditions apply.