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In My Account, you have convenient access to various features to manage your policy efficiently. View and Manage Your Policy View Policy Details: Access a comprehensive overview of your policy, including all relevant details. Download Policy Documents: Retrieve and download your policy documents for your records. Add Optional Extra Cover: Enhance your coverage by conveniently adding optional extra cover to meet your specific needs. Request Cover Changes: Easily request changes to your existing policy, ensuring it aligns with your evolving requirements. Renewal Features At renewal, My Account offers additional functionalities: Review Prices and Cover: Evaluate the pricing and coverage details for your policy renewal. Request Cover Changes: If needed, request changes to your coverage to better suit your preferences. Add Optional Extra Cover: Explore additional coverage options and include them as part of your renewed policy. Change Payment Method: Have the flexibility to update your payment method for added convenience.

Understanding the concept of excess is pivotal in comprehending your home insurance policy. Claim Contribution An excess is the predetermined amount you are responsible for paying when making a claim. It signifies your financial participation in the insurance arrangement. Compulsory Nature Excess is a mandatory component, and every claim will have an associated excess amount. It ensures that policyholders share a portion of the financial responsibility in the event of a claim. Policy Specifics The exact excess amount is outlined in your policy documentation, providing transparency about your financial commitment per claim. Claim Resolution When a covered event occurs, the total claim amount is calculated, and you are required to contribute the excess before the insurer covers the remaining costs. Variability Excess amounts can vary between insurance policies and providers. They may also differ based on the type of claim being made. Financial Preparedness Being aware of your excess amount enables you to financially prepare for potential claims, ensuring you understand the upfront cost associated with each incident.

Home insurance can come with a lot of unfamiliar words. This glossary explains common home insurance terms in plain English, including buildings insurance, contents insurance, excess, exclusions, underinsurance, unoccupied property and non-standard construction. These definitions are general guidance only. Your own policy wording, policy schedule and insurer documents explain exactly what is and is not covered. Key point: If you are unsure what a term means in your own policy, check your policy booklet and schedule, or speak to your insurer or broker before making assumptions about your cover. On this page Core home insurance terms Buildings and contents terms Claims and policy terms Non-standard property terms Property use terms Personal circumstances Optional cover and add-ons Core home insurance terms Home insurance Home insurance is a general term for insurance that protects your home, your belongings, or both. It can include buildings insurance, contents insurance, or a combined policy that includes both. Buildings insurance Buildings insurance covers the structure of your home. This usually includes the roof, walls, floors, ceilings, windows, doors, fitted kitchens, fitted bathrooms and permanent fixtures. It may also include garages, outbuildings, walls, gates and fences, depending on the policy. Related: What is buildings insurance? Contents insurance Contents insurance covers the belongings in your home. A simple way to think about it is: if you could reasonably take it with you when moving home, it is likely to be contents rather than buildings. Related: Home contents insurance Combined home insurance Combined home insurance includes both buildings insurance and contents insurance under one policy. This can be useful if you own the property and want to cover both the structure and your belongings. Related: Buildings and contents insurance cover Policyholder The policyholder is the person named on the insurance policy. They are responsible for providing accurate information, paying the premium and keeping the insurer updated if anything changes. Related: Manage your policy Insurer The insurer is the company that provides the insurance cover and is responsible for paying valid claims, subject to the policy terms, limits and exclusions. Related: Who is my insurer? Broker A broker helps customers find suitable insurance. Brokers do not usually provide the insurance themselves. Instead, they work with insurers to help arrange cover, especially where the risk is more unusual or specialist. Related: About Intelligent Insurance Underwriter An underwriter assesses risk on behalf of an insurer. They help decide whether cover can be offered, what terms apply and how much the premium should be. Premium The premium is the amount you pay for your insurance policy. It may be paid annually or in instalments, depending on the provider and payment options available. Quote A quote is an estimated price for insurance based on the information you provide. The final premium may change if more details are needed or if any information is updated before the policy starts. Related: Get a quote Renewal Renewal is when your existing insurance policy reaches the end of its term and you are offered the option to continue cover for another period, usually 12 months. Related: Manage my renewal Auto-renewal Auto-renewal is when a policy renews automatically unless you tell the insurer or broker that you do not want to continue. You should always check your renewal documents to understand your options. Related: Do we automatically renew policies? Cancellation Cancellation is when an insurance policy is ended before the normal renewal date. Cancellation terms, fees and refund rules vary by policy. Related: Cancel my policy Defaqto Defaqto is an independent financial information business that rates insurance products based on the features and benefits they offer. A Defaqto rating can help customers compare the level of cover available from different products. Related: What is Defaqto? Buildings and contents terms Sum insured The sum insured is the maximum amount the insurer will pay for a particular part of the policy. For buildings insurance, this is often linked to the cost of rebuilding the home. For contents insurance, it is linked to the value of your belongings. Rebuild cost The rebuild cost is the estimated cost of rebuilding your home if it were destroyed. This is not the same as the market value. It should include labour, materials, demolition, site clearance and professional fees where relevant. Related: Rebuild cost guide Rebuild value Rebuild value is another way of describing the estimated cost of rebuilding your home. It is important because buildings insurance is usually based on the rebuild cost, not the sale price of the property. Related: How can I find out the rebuild value of my home? Market value Market value is the amount your home might sell for on the open market. It is affected by location, demand, land value and condition. Insurers usually base buildings insurance on rebuild cost, not market value. Related: Difference between market value and rebuild value Underinsurance Underinsurance happens when the amount of cover is too low. For example, if your contents are worth more than the contents sum insured, or your home would cost more to rebuild than the buildings sum insured. Average clause An average clause can reduce a claim payment if you are underinsured. For example, if you only insured half the true value of your contents, the insurer may only pay a proportion of the claim. Single article limit A single article limit is the maximum amount the insurer will pay for one item unless it has been specified separately. This is often relevant for jewellery, watches, artwork, bicycles, musical instruments and other valuable items. Related: What does single article limit mean? Specified items Specified items are individual belongings listed separately on your policy. This is usually needed when an item is worth more than the single article limit or needs particular cover. Related: High-risk property and specified contents High-risk items High-risk items are belongings that may be more likely to be stolen or more expensive to replace. This can include jewellery, watches, works of art, antiques, collectibles, cameras and some electronic equipment. Related: What are high-risk or high-value items? Personal belongings Personal belongings are items you may take outside the home, such as phones, laptops, jewellery, bags, cameras or watches. If you want cover away from home, you may need personal belongings cover. Related: What is personal belongings cover? Contents in the open Contents in the open are belongings kept outside the main home, such as garden furniture, tools or equipment. Policies often have limits for items left in the garden or other open areas. Related: What is contents in the open? Fixtures and fittings Fixtures and fittings are items that are fixed to the property, such as fitted kitchens, bathroom suites and built-in cupboards. These are usually treated as part of the buildings rather than contents. Outbuildings Outbuildings are separate structures within the boundary of your property, such as sheds, garages, workshops and summerhouses. Cover varies by policy, so check whether outbuildings and their contents are included. Related: What is considered an outbuilding? Shed and garage contents Shed and garage contents are belongings kept in outbuildings, such as tools, bicycles, garden equipment or stored household items. Cover may be limited, and security conditions may apply. Related: Are the contents of my shed or garage covered? Bicycle cover Bicycle cover can protect your bike against theft or damage, subject to the policy terms. Some policies only cover bicycles at home unless additional cover is added. Related: Does contents insurance cover my bicycle? Carpets Carpets can sit in a grey area for some customers because they are fitted to the home but often treated differently from the structure itself. Whether they fall under buildings or contents can depend on the policy. Related: Are carpets covered by buildings insurance? Solar panels Solar panels may be treated as part of the buildings if they are permanently installed at the property. You should tell your insurer if you add solar panels to your home. Related: Are solar panels covered by home insurance? EV chargers An EV charger is a charging point for an electric vehicle. If it is permanently installed at your home, your insurer may treat it as part of the buildings, but you should still notify them. Related: Are EV chargers covered by my insurance policy? Claims and policy terms Claim A claim is a request for your insurer to pay for loss or damage covered by your policy. You should report claims as soon as possible and follow the claims process set out in your policy documents. Related: Claims Claims history Your claims history is a record of previous insurance claims. Insurers may ask about claims made by you, or claims made at the property, depending on the question being asked. Related: Home insurance with claims history Excess The excess is the amount you pay towards a claim. For example, if the excess is £250 and the agreed claim is £2,000, the insurer would usually pay £1,750. Related: What is an excess? Compulsory excess A compulsory excess is set by the insurer and cannot usually be removed. Some types of claim, such as escape of water or subsidence, may have a higher compulsory excess. Related: What is the difference between an excess and a voluntary excess? Voluntary excess A voluntary excess is an amount you choose to pay on top of the compulsory excess. Choosing a higher voluntary excess may reduce the premium, but it also means you would pay more if you claim. Related: Will taking a voluntary excess reduce my premium? Policy schedule The policy schedule is a document that shows the specific details of your cover. It usually includes the insured address, policyholder details, cover limits, excesses, endorsements and the policy start and end dates. Related: Policy documents Policy wording The policy wording, sometimes called the policy booklet, explains the full terms, conditions, limits and exclusions of the insurance policy. Related: Policy documents Statement of fact A statement of fact sets out the information you gave when arranging the policy. You should check it carefully, as incorrect or incomplete information could affect your cover or a future claim. Endorsement An endorsement is a change or addition to the standard policy terms. It may add, limit or clarify part of the cover. Related: What is an endorsement? Condition A condition is a rule you must follow under the policy. For example, a policy may include conditions about locks, inspections, maintenance or what to do when the property is unoccupied. Exclusion An exclusion is something the policy does not cover. Common exclusions may include wear and tear, gradual deterioration, faulty workmanship or damage caused deliberately by the policyholder. Wear and tear Wear and tear means damage or deterioration that happens gradually through normal use or ageing. Home insurance is designed for sudden and unexpected events, not routine maintenance. Related: Is wear and tear covered by buildings insurance? Escape of water Escape of water usually means water leaking from pipes, tanks, appliances or heating systems. It is one of the most common types of home insurance claim. Storm damage Storm damage is damage caused by severe weather, such as strong winds, heavy rain, hail or snow. Insurers may look at weather conditions, property condition and maintenance when assessing a storm claim. Related: Am I covered if a tree falls on my home in a storm? Flood A flood is where water enters the home from an external source, such as a river, sea, surface water or groundwater. Flood risk can affect the availability and cost of home insurance. Related: Home insurance flood cover Theft Theft cover protects against items being stolen from your home, subject to the policy terms. Security requirements, forced entry rules and limits may apply. Malicious damage Malicious damage is damage caused deliberately by someone else. Cover can vary, especially for let, unoccupied or shared properties. Refused insurance Refused insurance means an insurer has decided not to offer cover. This can happen for many reasons, including property condition, claims history, occupancy, construction type, payment history or risk location. Related: Refused home insurance Declined claim A declined claim is a claim that an insurer does not agree to pay. This may happen if the loss is excluded, the policy conditions were not met, or the claim falls outside the cover provided. Related: Why unoccupied home insurance claims are sometimes declined Non-standard property terms Non-standard construction Non-standard construction means a property is built with materials or methods that are different from typical brick or stone walls with a slate or tiled roof. Examples can include timber frame, steel frame, concrete, cob, thatch, flat roofs and some prefabricated homes. Related: Non-standard home insurance Construction percentage Construction percentage refers to how much of a property is built from a particular material or method. This can matter when a home has mixed construction, such as part brick and part timber frame. Related: How to calculate construction percentages Listed building A listed building is a property recognised for its special architectural or historic interest. Repairs and alterations may be subject to additional controls, which can affect rebuild costs and insurance needs. Related: Listed building insurance Period property A period property is an older home that reflects a particular historical style or era. Period homes may use traditional materials and construction methods that need specialist maintenance or repair. Related: Old house insurance Old house An old house may need specialist consideration because of its age, materials, maintenance needs or rebuild cost. Older homes can include period properties, listed buildings, cottages, farmhouses and heritage homes. Related: Old house insurance Timber frame A timber frame property uses a wooden structural frame. Some timber framed homes are modern and others are historic. Insurers may ask about the age, construction, cladding, roof type and condition of the property. Related: Timber frame house insurance Steel frame A steel frame property uses a steel structure to support the building. Some steel framed homes can be harder to insure because of concerns about corrosion, construction type, repairs or mortgageability. Related: Steel framed house insurance Flat roof A flat roof is a roof with little or no pitch. Insurers may ask what percentage of the total roof is flat, what material it is made from and when it was last replaced or inspected. Related: Flat roof insurance Flat roof percentage Flat roof percentage is the proportion of the total roof area that is flat. This can be important because insurers may treat a small flat roof differently from a property with a large amount of flat roof. Related: How to calculate flat roof percentage Prefabricated home A prefabricated home, or prefab, is built using sections or components made away from the site and assembled at the property. Some prefab homes are classed as non-standard construction. Related: Prefabricated home insurance PRC construction PRC stands for precast reinforced concrete. Some PRC homes were built after the Second World War and may require specialist insurance, surveys or repairs. Related: Prefabricated home insurance SIPs SIPs stands for structural insulated panels. These are prefabricated building panels often used in modern construction. Some insurers may ask for more detail about this type of construction. Related: Can I insure a home built with structural insulated panels? Barn conversion A barn conversion is a former agricultural building converted into a home. These properties can have unusual layouts, older materials, large open spaces, outbuildings or non-standard construction features. Related: Barn conversion insurance Large house A large house may need higher buildings or contents sums insured because of its size, rebuild cost, number of rooms, outbuildings or higher-value contents. Related: Large house insurance Flat A flat is a self-contained home within a larger building. Insurance needs can vary depending on whether you own the freehold, share of freehold, leasehold interest, contents only, or responsibility for any part of the building. Related: Flat insurance Subsidence Subsidence is when the ground beneath a property sinks, causing the foundations to move. Signs may include diagonal cracks, sticking doors or windows, and movement around extensions. Related: Subsidence insurance Heave Heave is when the ground beneath a property moves upward. It can happen when soil expands, often due to changes in moisture levels. Landslip Landslip is when ground moves down a slope. It can affect properties built on or near sloping land, cliffs, embankments or unstable ground. Underpinning Underpinning is a structural repair method used to strengthen or stabilise a building’s foundations. Insurers may ask whether a property has been underpinned and whether there has been any further movement. Related: Underpinned house insurance Certificate of structural adequacy A certificate of structural adequacy is a document that may be issued after structural repairs, often following movement such as subsidence. Insurers may ask for this if the property has had past structural issues. Related: What is a certificate of structural adequacy? Bridge access Bridge access means a property is reached by crossing a private or shared bridge. This can matter because access, maintenance responsibility and emergency access may be relevant to insurers. Related: Do I need to tell my insurer if my home is accessed by a bridge? Replacement windows Replacement windows are new windows installed in a property. You may need to tell your insurer if the work changes the property, affects security, or forms part of wider building works. Related: Do I need to tell my home insurer if I replace my windows? Property use terms Main residence Your main residence is the home you normally live in. Insurers may treat a main home differently from a second home, let property or unoccupied property. Unoccupied property An unoccupied property is a home that is not being lived in. Insurers often have specific rules once a property is unoccupied for a certain period, and some policies apply unoccupied terms from the start if you know the property will be empty. Related: What counts as unoccupied for insurance purposes? Empty property An empty property usually means a home with little or no furniture or personal belongings inside. Some insurers distinguish between an empty property and a furnished but unoccupied property. Related: Why you need insurance for empty properties Unoccupied inspections Unoccupied inspections are checks carried out while a property is empty. Some insurers require regular inspections, records or photographs as part of the policy conditions. Related: How often must an unoccupied property be inspected for insurance? Second home A second home is a property you own and use in addition to your main residence. It may be used for weekends, holidays, family visits or part-time occupation. Related: Second home insurance Holiday home A holiday home is a property used for holidays or short stays. Some holiday homes are only used by the owner, while others may be let to guests. Related: Holiday home insurance Let property A let property is rented out to tenants. Standard home insurance may not be suitable for a let property, as landlord-specific cover is usually needed. Related: Let property insurance Tenant A tenant is someone who rents a property from a landlord. Tenants usually need contents insurance for their own belongings, rather than buildings insurance for the structure. Related: What insurance do I need as a tenant? Short-term let A short-term let is a property rented out for short stays, often to holidaymakers or temporary guests. Insurers may treat this differently from a standard long-term let. Related: Do you insure Airbnb properties and short-term lets? Airbnb Airbnb is a platform used to arrange short-term stays. If you let your home or second home through Airbnb or a similar platform, you should tell your insurer, as standard home insurance may not be suitable. Related: Airbnb home insurance Probate property A probate property is a home that forms part of someone’s estate after they have died. It may be empty while the estate is being handled, which can affect insurance. Related: Probate home insurance Probate Probate is the legal process of dealing with someone’s estate after they die. If a property is part of the estate, insurance may need to be reviewed while probate is ongoing. Related: What is probate? Renovation Renovation means making improvements, repairs or alterations to a property. You should tell your insurer about significant works, especially if the home will be unoccupied, structurally altered or exposed to weather during the project. Related: House renovation insurance Home business A home business is a business run from your home. Some types of clerical work may be acceptable to insurers, but stock, visitors, equipment, employees or business-related risks may need additional cover. Related: Do I need business insurance if I work from home? Lodger A lodger is someone who rents a room in your home while you also live there. Having a lodger can affect your home insurance, so you should tell your insurer. Related: Home insurance with lodgers Bed and breakfast A bed and breakfast is a property where paying guests stay for short periods, usually with breakfast included. This creates different risks from a standard private home, so specialist cover may be needed. Related: Bed and breakfast insurance Shared house A shared house is a property occupied by more than one person or household. Insurers may ask who lives there, how the occupants are connected and whether rooms are let separately. Related: Shared house insurance Family occupied property A family occupied property is a home owned by one person but lived in by family members. This can be different from a standard owner-occupied home and should be explained clearly when arranging insurance. Related: Insuring a house your family live in Personal circumstances Criminal convictions Some insurers ask about criminal convictions when you apply for home insurance. You should answer the questions you are asked honestly and accurately, as incorrect information could affect your cover. Related: Home insurance with convictions Spent convictions A spent conviction is a conviction that no longer needs to be disclosed in many situations under rehabilitation rules. However, insurance questions should still be read carefully, and you should seek guidance if you are unsure how to answer. Related: Why do home insurance companies ask about criminal convictions? Bankruptcy Bankruptcy is a legal status that may affect how some insurers assess risk or payment options. If an insurer asks about bankruptcy, the question should be answered accurately. Related: Home insurance for bankrupt people Bad credit Bad credit can affect some insurance applications, especially where monthly payments or credit agreements are involved. It does not always mean home insurance is unavailable. Related: Bad credit home insurance High-risk occupation A high-risk occupation is a job that some insurers may view as increasing the chance of a claim, often because of public profile, security risks, working patterns or the nature of the work. Related: High-risk occupation home insurance Financial difficulty Financial difficulty means you may be struggling to pay household bills, credit commitments or insurance premiums. If this affects your policy payments, it is usually best to contact your provider as soon as possible. Related: Additional support Optional cover and add-ons Accidental damage Accidental damage is sudden and unexpected damage caused by an accident. For example, spilling paint on a carpet or accidentally breaking a sink. Cover depends on the policy and whether accidental damage is included or added as an option. Related: What is accidental damage cover? Personal possessions Personal possessions cover can protect belongings you take outside the home, such as jewellery, watches, phones, laptops, bags or cameras. Limits and exclusions apply, and some items may need to be specified. Related: Personal belongings insurance Home emergency Home emergency cover can help with certain urgent problems at the property, such as a sudden plumbing, heating, drainage or electrical emergency. It is different from a standard buildings or contents claim. Related: What is home emergency cover? Home Emergency Plus Home Emergency Plus is an enhanced version of home emergency cover. It may include extra features or higher limits, depending on the policy and cover selected. Related: Home Emergency Plus cover benefits explained Family legal protection Family legal protection can help with certain legal costs and advice for specified personal legal disputes. It does not cover every type of legal issue, and exclusions apply. Related: Home insurance legal cover explained Legal expenses cover Legal expenses cover can help with certain legal costs and advice, subject to the policy terms. It is important to check what types of disputes are included and excluded. Related: What is legal expenses cover? Alternative accommodation Alternative accommodation cover can help with the cost of somewhere else to stay if your home cannot be lived in after an insured event, such as a serious fire or flood. Trace and access Trace and access cover can help with the cost of finding the source of a leak, such as removing part of a wall, floor or ceiling to reach a leaking pipe. It does not always cover the cost of repairing the pipe itself. Matching sets Matching sets cover relates to items that form part of a set or suite, such as bathroom fittings, kitchen units or three-piece suites. Some policies limit how much they will pay if only one part of a matching set is damaged. New for old New for old means the insurer replaces a damaged or stolen item with a new equivalent, rather than reducing the payment because of age or wear. Limits and exclusions may apply. Related: What does new for old mean? Indemnity Indemnity means putting you back in the position you were in before the loss, as far as the policy allows. In practice, this may take account of age, condition or wear, depending on the cover. Index linking Index linking is when the insurer adjusts the sum insured to reflect changes in rebuilding costs, contents values or inflation. It helps reduce the risk of underinsurance, but you should still check your sums insured regularly. Drones Drones are small unmanned aircraft. Home insurance may treat drones differently from standard contents, especially if you want cover away from home or use the drone for anything other than personal use. Related: Are drones covered by home insurance? Final note This glossary is designed to help you understand common home insurance terms. It is not a substitute for your own policy documents. Always check your policy wording, policy schedule and any endorsements that apply to your cover. If your home is unusual, has a history of claims, is unoccupied, listed, non-standard construction or difficult to insure, speaking to a specialist home insurance broker can help you understand what information insurers need.

Home insurance excess can include both a compulsory excess set by the insurer and a voluntary excess chosen by you. Understanding the difference between compulsory and voluntary excess can help you know how much you may need to pay if you make a claim. Excess Defined An excess is the amount you must contribute towards a claim before your insurer covers the remaining costs. It consists of both compulsory and voluntary components. Compulsory Excess This is the mandatory amount set by your insurer, automatically applied to every claim. It is non-negotiable and forms part of the total excess. Voluntary Excess Unlike compulsory excess, this is an optional amount you can choose to pay voluntarily in addition to the compulsory excess. Opting for a higher voluntary excess may lower your premium but increases your upfront contribution in a claim. Combined Impact In the event of a claim, both compulsory and voluntary excess amounts are combined. For example, if the compulsory excess is £200 and you choose a voluntary excess of £100, you would pay a total excess of £300. Premium Considerations Selecting a higher voluntary excess might lead to a reduced premium, but it’s crucial to weigh the potential savings against your ability to cover the higher excess during a claim.

Key points: Market value is the price your home would fetch if you sold it today, it’s driven by land value, location, demand and overall condition. Rebuild cost is what it would cost to demolish what’s left, clear the site and rebuild the property to the same specification. Rebuild cost usually sits below the market value (though it can exceed it for listed or remote properties). Insurers base buildings cover on the rebuild cost, not the market value, get this wrong and you risk being under‑insured. Market value explained The market value is the figure a buyer is willing to pay on the open market at a given point in time. Land value, local amenities, school catchments and supply‑and‑demand trends all feed into it. Rebuild (reinstatement) cost explained Rebuild cost includes: Demolition and debris removal Site clearance and preparation Materials and labour to rebuild the structure like‑for‑like Professional fees for architects, surveyors and building regs approval Because it looks purely at reconstruction, it ignores land value and broader market sentiment. Why the difference matters for insurance Buildings insurance pays out on the rebuild cost, so that’s the figure to insure for. Over‑insuring wastes premium; under‑insuring could leave you thousands short in a claim. Use the free RICS BCIS rebuild calculator or commission a chartered surveyor if you’re unsure. Need more detail? See How do I work out my rebuild cost?. For a fuller explanation, including why rebuild cost matters for buildings insurance and how underinsurance can affect claims, read our rebuild cost guide for home insurance.