What’s the difference between buildings insurance and home insurance?
Buildings insurance vs home insurance
| Cover type | What it protects | Typical claims |
|---|---|---|
| Buildings insurance | The fabric of your home: walls, roof, floors, foundations, permanent fixtures | Fire, flood, storm, subsidence, structural collapse |
| Home insurance (buildings + contents) |
Everything above plus what you keep inside – furniture, electronics, valuables | The above plus theft, accidental damage, leaks to belongings, etc. |
Key points
- Buildings insurance is a subset of home insurance: it covers only the structure.
- Home insurance wraps buildings and contents into one policy for all-round protection.
- Most mortgage lenders insist on buildings cover; contents cover is optional but strongly advised.
Choose buildings insurance if you only need to protect the shell; opt for full home insurance to cover the shell and your belongings.