Insurance when moving house

What insurance do you need when moving house, when do you need to put it in place and how can you find the best deal? We take a look.

Rebecca Gamble Consumer Journalist

What insurance do I need when moving house?

When you’re moving house, you will need to have buildings insurance and contents insurance in place.

• Buildings insurance will cover the repair or rebuilding of your house, in case there is major damage, such as a fire or falling tree. Most mortgage lenders insist you have buildings insurance so that if your home is damaged they are not left without collateral for the loan. However, if you’re buying a leasehold property, your freeholder will typically arrange buildings insurance and you’ll pay for it in your service charge. You won’t need buildings insurance if you’re renting.
• Contents insurance is the second type of home insurance you’ll need when moving house. This will protect your belongings from things like damage and theft. When considering how to insure a flat, you may want contents insurance to protect your possessions.

You may find buying a combined buildings and contents insurance policy saves money. You can compare quotes for buildings or contents insurance using our free tool:

Do I need removals insurance when moving house?

You don’t necessarily need removals insurance when moving house. Many home contents policies will cover you during your move so check your policy documents. Look out for terms like ‘contents cover when you’re moving home’, ‘goods in transit cover’, or ‘removals cover’.

However, it’s likely that there will be restrictions. You should check:

• The type of removals service you can use: Insurers often require you to use a professional removals service. And there may be other restrictions, for example, your fragile items may only covered if they’ve been packed by a professional.
• Value limits: Your insurer may have a limit on the amount it will pay out for items lost or damaged in the moving process.
• What’s excluded? Some insurers won’t cover theft or accidental damage of expensive items like jewellery or watches during a move.

If your existing contents insurance policy doesn’t cover you for removals, contact your insurer and ask if you can add it on. However, if this isn’t possible, you may be able to buy it from your removals company.

What is goods in transit insurance for removals?

All removal companies should be covered by goods in transit insurance to offer cover for any loss or damage to your items while they are being moved. But it’s important to check the policy limits and any exclusions. You can get instant quotes from quality removal companies near you to find the right service for the right price and compare removals quotes today.

Will my current home insurance policy cover me in my new home?

No. Your current home insurance policy won’t automatically cover you in your new home although you can speak to your existing insurer about transferring it. However, your premium is likely to change as the amount you pay will be based on numerous factors such as the value of the property, any flood risk and the crime rate. And insurers don’t reward loyalty – so you may be able to get a better deal by shopping around.

So while it’s a good idea to get a quote from your current insurer, it’s advisable to shop around and compare home insurance quotes to make sure you get the best deal.

Cancelling home insurance when moving house: What you need to know

The main reasons why you may want to cancel your home insurance when moving house and take out a new policy are:

• If your insurer won’t cover you at your new address or isn’t able to provide the same level of coverage.
• You’ve found a cheaper home insurance quote with a different insurer.

If I cancel my home insurance do I get a refund?

You’ll need to check your policy; after the cooling-off period most insurers will give you a refund if you haven’t made any claims during the policy term but you’ll usually have to pay administration fees.

When to get building insurance when buying a house

When you’re buying a house you should get buildings insurance in place from the day you exchange contracts because that’s when you become legally responsible for the property. Be sure to shop around and compare home insurance quotes to make sure you get the best deal.

If you’re buying a leasehold property, buildings insurance is often arranged by the freeholder. So check this before putting a policy in place.

Do I need temporary home insurance between exchange and completion?

With buildings insurance you have the choice of:

• Starting your new buildings insurance policy from the date of exchange, or
• Taking out temporary home insurance between exchange and completion.

Taking out short term buildings insurance has advantages. By getting temporary buildings insurance it may make it easier to buy a combined buildings and contents insurance policy that can start on the same day.

The best thing to do is to shop around and find out which is the best option for you. Compare home insurance quotes from 50+ providers to find the best option for you.

How to arrange buildings insurance before exchange

The key to arranging buildings insurance before exchange is to start your research early. The easiest way to do this is to use our handy tool to compare home insurance quotes. Then once you’ve chosen which policy to get you can put this in place as soon as you know when you’re going to exchange.

Home insurance with new builds

When you buy a new build home it will usually come with a 10 year warranty that typically covers you for defects that arise due to faults in the design, workmanship or materials that remain undiscovered at the time of practical completion on your new build. But you’ll still need to get home insurance in place. For example, a new build warranty provides no protection against unexpected emergencies like a storm, fire or burglary. Find out more information in our guide on New build home insurance.

Home insurance: Buying in a flood zone

Flooding is a standard feature of home insurance cover. But if you’re considering buying a house in a flood zone, it’s important to read the small-print including:

• Exclusions: If the property has previously flooded or it’s in a high-risk flood area, some home insurers may exclude flood cover or set a high excess. Also, certain parts of the property like outbuildings may be excluded or you may need to pay an extra fee for cover.
• What about groundwater? Only a small proportion of home insurance policies cover groundwater flooding. So check this if relevant too.

If you’re buying a house in a flood zone, it’s important to shop around to find the best deal on home insurance.

Do I need to insure my old property if I rent it out?

Yes. However, standard home insurance won’t cut it for a rental property, you should take out specialist Landlord home insurance, which should cover you for damage to the property, malicious damage (if your tenants leave the house in a less than perfect state!) and loss of rent.

The easiest way to arrange buildings insurance before exchange of contracts is to use our free tool that lets you get instant home insurance quotes from 50+ providers.

Compare landlord insurance quotes.

What other insurance do I need when moving house?

If you’re moving house and buying a property there are other types of insurance you may consider including:

Home Buyers Protection Insurance

Home Buyers Protection Insurance can enable you to claim back some of your conveyancing fees, survey costs/mortgage valuation fees and mortgage/lender fees in the event of the purchase falling through. This can be a crucial type of insurance when moving house as around 1 in 3 property purchases fall through.

Protect yourself with Home Buyers Protection Insurance for just £69:

Mortgage protection insurance

There are different types of mortgage protection insurance including:

• Income protection: This is designed to replace a proportion of your income should you be unable to work due to an accident or illness. You can also get policies that will cover you if you are made redundant.
• Mortgage payment protection insurance (MPPI): This will cover your loan repayments for a set period of up to two years if you lose your job or have an accident or illness which leaves you unable to work.
• Critical illness cover: This pays out a lump sum if you develop one of a range of listed serious medical conditions.

Read more in our guide Do I need mortgage protection insurance?

Life insurance

This provides money that your family can rely on to cover any debt such as a mortgage or other debts that you may have in the event of your death. Most people take out a policy to cover the term of their mortgage but it is also a good idea if you are renting with dependants. See our full guide on life insurance for more detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

This information is intended for editorial purposes only and not intended as a recommendation or financial advice.