Home Insurance gone through the roof!

[Enfield boy]

LV really peed me off about 18 months ago. After my Mum went into a nursing home in 2020 it wasn't easy to get insurance for her unoccupied property. LV sold me the insurance but it was quite expensive and with some (not unreasonable) conditions attached. Very shortly after Mum died the insurance was due for renewal so I thought I'd best ring and advise that the policy would need to be in my name. LV asked if my own property was insured with them and when I said it wasn't, they refused to insure. This left me but a few days to scratch around, although they did give me a number to ring for specialists in this insurance.
I ended up getting insurance that was only about 20% dearer, the only downside being I would only ever get 40% back if I cancelled and there was a £50 iirc cancellation fee on top.

 

[Mike Hughes]

Nowadays it’s yet another race to the bottom and they are largely much of a muchness. I am aware that I’ll be hit with a small cancellatiion fee by LV but noted immediately their failure to even mention it when I talked about cancelling yesterday and then did so. Not a peep out of them.

 

[hifinutt]

Yes unoccupied buding insurance is pretty expensive and less comprehensive cover than normal

 

[Bart]

Building insurance usually mandatory if you have a mortgage. What people often forget is that this doesn’t cover replacement of kitchen, bathroom and any other non part of the building fabric. This is why it is advisable to have contents insurance.

I have briefly queried this on the web and have results such as below which seems to indicate replacement of kitchen could be covered by building insurance (depending on the insurer)
I don’t know the answer but would be interested in further views.

’Insurance policies usually consider fixtures and fittings (for example a fitted kitchen or a bathroom suite) as buildings, while carpets are usually covered under contents insurance. Laminate flooring is likely to be considered part of the building, but it's worth checking your policy to make sure.’

 

[gavreid]

I have briefly queried this on the web and have results such as below which seems to indicate replacement of kitchen could be covered by building insurance (depending on the insurer)
I don’t know the answer but would be interested in further views.

’Insurance policies usually consider fixtures and fittings (for example a fitted kitchen or a bathroom suite) as buildings, while carpets are usually covered under contents insurance. Laminate flooring is likely to be considered part of the building, but it's worth checking your policy to make sure.’

If you turned the house upside down what would fall out? These are contents.

 

[Mike Reed]

What people often forget is that this doesn’t cover replacement of kitchen, bathroom and any other non part of the building fabric. This is why it is advisable to have contents insurance.

I thought the opposite. Buildings insurance covers fixed ancillaries; contents only moveable items (chattels). Not sure now, having said that,

Ah, Bart has confirmed that (re, fixed appliances etc.) Buildings insurance is also mandatory if you let a property as well, though if leasehold, the landlord would cover that.

 

[Mike Reed]

If you turned the house upside down what would fall out? These are contents.

I like that definition !!! Would that include the occupants ?

 

[Amormusic]

Building insurance usually mandatory if you have a mortgage. What people often forget is that this doesn’t cover replacement of kitchen, bathroom and any other non part of the building fabric. This is why it is advisable to have contents insurance.

This is not correct. My first job 20+ years ago was for an insurance company selling policies via telephone.

We were told to explain it that if you pick your house up and shake it, the stuff that moves is your contents. The stuff that is fixed in place, such as a kitchen or bathroom is your building.

 

[Rodrat]

Obviously a personal choice to have insurance, I don't like paying for it but wouldn’t take the risk not to have it.
I stand corrected regarding building insurance although I am sure I have had policies that excluded kitchen etc.

 

[Bob McC]

Building insurance usually mandatory if you have a mortgage. What people often forget is that this doesn’t cover replacement of kitchen, bathroom and any other non part of the building fabric. This is why it is advisable to have contents insurance.

Not what I found.
I was told anything fitted ie kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms are covered by building insurance. The rule o& thumb being turn your house upside down. If it stays put its buildings, if it falls its contents.
Indeed when I cracked an induction hob last year I had to claim for it on my building insurance.