| Because something like car insurance can often be a | | | | technically a legal requirement - there is merely a |
| bit tricky and more expensive to arrange, protection | | | | commonplace condition of a mortgage lender supplying |
| for the home can sometimes take a back seat. In | | | | a home loan. |
| particular people who are renting for the first time may | | | | As a result banks and other lenders can often actually |
| put little emphasis on getting insurance cover in place | | | | try to supply the mortgage applicant with their own |
| because the move and process itself is so unfamiliar. | | | | form of home insurance at the same time as they |
| Some people even end up moving into a house only to | | | | supply the lending. While it's always worth paying |
| realise after they have been handed the keys and | | | | attention to deals which are offered to you, this |
| they don't have any contents protection in place. But | | | | method of sale may not always provide the best |
| the UK home insurance market is straightforward and | | | | value and a potential policyholder may be best off |
| depending on someone's circumstances, insurance can | | | | looking elsewhere at a number of other different |
| be very cheap. | | | | policies. |
| Remember that home insurance is actually a term for | | | | Looking closely at buildings cover, this kind of policy will |
| two different types of cover, buildings protection and | | | | actually protect the structure of the property - that is |
| contents protection. Not everyone will need both types. | | | | the roof, four walls and its general integrity. The |
| Buildings cover refers to the actual structure of the | | | | circumstances normally protected against include |
| property, plus the fixtures and fittings, and may not be | | | | vandalism, fire, and flooding. However, because some |
| suitable for people who are renting, for example. | | | | parts of the UK are prone to flooding, protection for |
| Contents protection refers to the actual belongings | | | | this outcome can be more expensive in some areas |
| generally kept in the home, including furniture, | | | | than in others, and rarely may be completely |
| computers, books, CDs and DVDs, clothing and other | | | | unobtainable. This is always worth checking carefully. |
| general belongings. Likewise, people who own a | | | | Then there are some policies which pay out for |
| property and rent it out may not need this or may | | | | damage caused by earthquakes, and some that don't. |
| need a limited form of it. | | | | Something else which might worth checking is whether |
| A common misconception within the UK Home | | | | or not the property will be protected if it was damaged |
| Insurance market is that there is a law in place saying | | | | by a falling tree, or other forms of storm threat, for |
| somebody must have buildings cover if they are | | | | example. |
| buying a house. While of course this is sensible, it's not | | | | |