Your home & belongings

Buildings & Contents Insurance

Secure Your Home with the Right Insurance

Protecting Your Home & Belongings

Buying a home is a significant investment, and having the right insurance in place can help protect both your property and your possessions.

Buildings insurance is often a requirement of mortgage lenders and should normally be arranged before you become responsible for the property. If you are purchasing a property in Scotland, your solicitor can confirm the date from which cover should commence.

While contents insurance is not compulsory, it can provide valuable protection for your furniture, electronics, clothing, jewellery and other personal belongings.

The property

Buildings Insurance – Financial Protection for Your Property

Buildings insurance helps cover the cost of repairing or rebuilding your home following damage caused by an insured event.

The amount of cover required should be based on the reinstatement or rebuilding cost of the property rather than its market value or purchase price. This figure may be available from your Home Report, survey, mortgage valuation or a professional rebuilding cost assessment.

The rebuilding cost may include:

Demolition and site clearance costs
Architect, surveyor and professional fees
The cost of rebuilding the property to its previous condition

Imagine your home being severely damaged by a fire, flood or storm. Without adequate insurance, the cost of repairs or rebuilding could be substantial, which is why buildings insurance is an important consideration for homeowners.

What Does Buildings Insurance Cover?

Fire and smoke damage
Flooding, storms and escaping water
Vandalism or malicious damage
Subsidence (subject to policy terms and conditions)

Many insurers also offer optional accidental damage cover, which can provide protection against unexpected incidents around the home, such as damage caused while carrying out DIY or moving furniture.

The things inside

Contents Insurance – Protecting Your Belongings

Contents insurance helps protect the items inside your home, from high-value possessions to everyday essentials, including:

TVs, computers and electronic devices
Furniture and soft furnishings
Clothing, jewellery and personal possessions

Many policies operate on a 'new for old' basis, meaning damaged or stolen items may be replaced with equivalent new items, subject to the insurer's terms and conditions.

While replacing a few smaller items may be manageable, the cost of replacing the contents of an entire home can quickly add up. Contents insurance can help provide valuable financial protection and peace of mind.

What Does Contents Insurance Cover?

Fire, smoke and explosion damage
Flooding, storms and escaping water
Theft, vandalism and malicious damage
Subsidence (where applicable under the policy)

Many insurers allow you to tailor your cover with optional extras such as accidental damage protection, personal possessions cover and cover for items taken outside the home.

Policy features, cover limits, exclusions and optional benefits vary between insurers. You should always read the policy documentation carefully before taking out cover.

Need Help Finding the Right Insurance?

Choosing the best buildings and contents insurance can be overwhelming - but our expert team at Dunedin Financial is here to help. We’ll guide you through the options to find a policy that fits your home and lifestyle.

Talk to Dunedin Financial