FAQs
Purchasing My Policy
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Can I get immediate cover?
Yes, providing you have a debit or credit card we can start your cover immediately. If you wish to pay by direct debit you will also need to have your bank details to hand.
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What type of home insurance cover is available to me?
We offer 3 types of cover: Buildings Only, Contents Only and Buildings and Contents combined. You can only take out Buildings insurance if you own the property outright or have a mortgage. If you select the Buildings and Contents option, you will qualify for a combined discount of up to 20%.
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How far in advance can I take out my policy?
When you purchase a policy through us you can opt to start cover either immediately or at anytime up to 30 days in advance.
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My property is a grade 1 or an A listed building. Am I able to be covered?
We can cover any grade 2 listed building on a standard policy and can provide you with a bespoke quotation for any grade 1 or A listed buildings. Please call us on 0800 048 3136.
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Can I switch from my mortgage lender?
Yes you can. If you are already insured with another company, you'll find it easy to switch to us.
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My property is left unoccupied for more than 30 consecutive days during the year. Can I still get cover?
If your property is left unoccupied for over 30 consecutive days but under 60 we can provide you with cover on a standard policy. However, if it is left unoccupied for over 60 consecutive days you will need to call us direct on 0800 048 3136 for a specialist quotation.
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If my home shows signs of subsidence, landslip or heave, will you provide me with buildings cover?
We may be able to provide you with a bespoke quotation. Please call 0800 048 3136.
General Enquiries
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Can I insure my home if it is used for business?
We are happy to insure your home and it's contents if the business use is confined to routine paperwork, telephone calls and computer work. If any other types of business activities are carried out from your home, please call us on 0800 048 3136 to discuss your requirements.
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Is my pedal bike covered under Contents?
If your pedal bike is stolen from home this is usually covered. However, if it is stolen away from your home, it will only be covered if you have selected Personal Belongings cover. Limits and restrictions apply; please refer to policy wording for full details.
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What if I decide to let my property to tenants?
We may be able to provide you with a bespoke quotation, please call us on 0800 048 3136.
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Are my contents covered outside of my home or if I take them on holiday with me?
No, not automatically. Your contents insurance usually covers items that are temporarily away from home but in another building, like your office. You'll need Personal Belongings cover for items such as jewellery, money, credit cards, luggage etc.
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What is the meaning of a bedroom?
A bedroom is defined as a room used as, or originally built to be a bedroom, even if it's currently being used for another purpose such as a study.
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Does my buildings insurance cover my outbuildings?
All domestic garages, outbuildings, sheds, extensions and conservatories are covered under the Buildings section of your policy. You should make sure that your buildings sum insured includes the rebuilding cost of these structures.
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How much should I insure my Home and Contents for?
Building:
This should be insured for the cost of rebuilding (not the current market value) which can usually be found on the buyers' report or survey from when you purchased the property. If this was more than two years ago you will need to take increased inflation into account.
Contents:
As a guide, contents are all of the items you would be likely to take when moving out, including carpets, curtains, furniture, electrical appliances, valuables, clothing and personal items. You should insure your contents for the total amount it would take to replace them at today's prices. -
What is personal items cover?
If you add this optional cover it gives you extra protection for your portable possessions, such as pedal cycles, jewellery, glasses, laptops, cameras and mobile phones for when they are outside of your home both in the UK and abroad for the limit shown in your policy documents.
You will need to specify certain items to ensure they are covered by your policy including:- Any items individually valued over £1000
- Any pedal cycles, mobile phones, laptops, sports equipment, musical instruments, video cameras or contact lenses, regardless of their value.
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What is accidental damage cover and do I get it automatically?
Limited accidental cover, which includes damage to items such as fixed glass within your building, fixed sanitary fittings, ceramic glass in cooker hobs and some electrical items, is usually provided automatically. We do advise the inclusion of extended Accidental Damage Cover for peace of mind. This can be added to your policy for an additional premium and covers a wider range of damage. For example, if you put your foot through the ceiling whilst you're up in the loft, the extended Accidental Damage extension to your buildings policy would cover this. If you accidentally dropped a tin of paint onto your sofa whilst decorating, the extended Accidental Damage extension to your contents policy would ensure this was covered.
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Do I need to specify all my valuables such as jewellery and computers?
No, you only need to specify items that are worth more than £1500 and come under the definition of a 'valuable' - for example:
- Antiques
- Articles of gold, silver and other precious metals and stones
- Clocks
- Pictures, sculptures and other works of art
- Collections of stamps, coins or medals
Amending My Policy
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What if my circumstances change during my period of insurance?
You must tell us as soon as possible of any changes, including the sums insured and any other new facts we should take into account when providing you with insurance. We may then reassess your cover and premium. If you don't advise us of any relevant changes, we may reject or reduce any claim or even treat you as being uninsured.
My No Claims Discount
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Can I protect my No Claims Discount?
Yes, the discount will depend on how many years you have had a continuous claim free home insurance policy.
Payments
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What method of payment do you accept?
We accept most debit or credit cards (with the exception of American Express) for payment in full.
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What happens if I miss a direct debit payment?
Your policy will not be cancelled. However, you will incur a £10 fee and we will write to you to arrange collection of the failed payment.
Renewing my Policy
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Can I renew my policy online?
Unfortunately, we cannot currently offer this facility. Please call our contact centre on 0844 879 3015 to discuss your renewal.
Making a claim
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How do I make a claim?
You will need to call our claims line on 0800 048 2930. We will talk you through the claim details and tell you what will happen next. Please provide us with all the information we need, as this will help us settle your claim more quickly.
For claims relating to legal expenses or home emergency cover (if included in your policy) please call the claims helpline on 0844 581 0400. -
Do I pay an excess if I make a claim?
In most cases, an excess is payable and could vary by the type of claim. There are usually 2 types of excess applied:
Compulsory Excess
This is the amount set by your insurer and must be paid in the event of a claim. The amount varies, depending on the type of claim - please check policy documents for full details
Voluntary Excess
This is the amount you may choose to pay over and above the compulsory excess. The higher you set your voluntary excess, the lower your premium can be.
Other Services
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What is Family Legal Protection?
If you need legal advice you'll have access to a team of experts. You can talk through any private legal issues with them in confidence and, if you have a case for claiming for something like faulty goods or employment disputes, the policy will pay up to £75,000 of your legal costs.
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Why do I need home emergency cover?
Home Emergency cover offers you peace of mind when you need it most. Should you need emergency repairs in a hurry, one call to our helpline despatches a reputable contractor to carry out any immediate repairs. Your Insurer will arrange for emergency assistance of up to £750 per claim for the call out charges, parts, labour, materials and VAT costs to carry out an emergency repair.
We will provide this assistance if an emergency affects your home as a result of damage to your roof, plumbing and drainage system, main heating system, domestic power supply, toilet unit and home security.
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Doesn't my home insurance cover me for emergencies?
You will be covered for damage to your property and contents. For example, if your central heating system broke down, your policy covers you for any damage caused by leaked water to your carpet or other items. It will not, however, cover the repair, call-out charges and hourly rates.
Cancelling my policy
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What if I change my mind about my policy?
All products have a 14 day right of withdrawal but if you cancel after this period you will be charged by the insurer for any cover provided. Please refer to your policy documentation for full details, including any charges or fees that may apply. You will not get a refund of any of your premium if you have made a claim during the period of insurance, or if you have a pending claim. If you are paying by instalments you must pay the balance of the full annual premium.
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How do I cancel?
Please call us on 0800 048 3136.