Buying your policy online

If you're not sure about any question on the online form, call us on the number below.

Assumptions about your home

Your quote will be based on some facts that we've assumed about you and your home.

Check that these statements are true for you, your home, and anyone else who lives with you.

Your home:

• is in good condition
• is built of bricks, stone and/or concrete
• has a roof of tiles, slate, asphalt, metal or concrete
• has no more than 20% flat roof
• the 150m surrounds have never been flooded or subject to coastal/river erosion, subsidence, heave or landslide
• is self-contained and has its own lockable entrance door
• is not registered as a business address or used in any part for business, trade or a profession, unless it's just for clerical work and no clients or customers visit
• is normally occupied at night or during the day (e.g. if you work on a night shift) and is not left unoccupied for more than 30 consecutive days
• is your main residence, and is only occupied by you and your immediate family either as homeowners or tenants
• is not let by you to tenants, and is not a weekend or a holiday home

You and your household:

• have never been refused or had special terms applied to your home insurance
• have never had your home insurance cancelled
• are currently not declared bankrupt or are not in the process of being declared bankrupt
• have never been convicted or are not about to be criminally prosecuted (excluding motor offences)

Can't confirm all of the assumptions?

Give us a call us and we should be able to find the right policy for you. We just need to ask a few more questions.

You can find our contact details below.

Home security intruder alarm contract

The intruder alarm in your home should have an annual inspection contract with an installer accredited by either the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) or the Security Systems and Alarms Board (SSAIB).

If the alarm breaks down, you must:

• tell the alarm company immediately
• arrange for repair work to begin as soon as possible
• tell us, and take any action we suggest to protect your property

Minimum security locks for doors and windows

Here are the door and window locks that you must have, so we can insure the contents of your home against theft, attempted theft or malicious damage.

External doors (the main exit doors that you leave your home by) should be fitted with:

• a mortice deadlock, with at least 5 levers, conforming to BS 3621
• or a rim deadlock conforming to BS 3621
• UPVC or aluminium doors should be fitted with a multi-point locking system, which incorporates a lever or cylinder deadlock that can be locked with a key from both sides

Other single external doors (including access door) should be fitted with:

• a mortice deadlock, with at least 5 levers, conforming to BS 3621
• or a rim deadlock conforming to BS 3621
• or a key-operated lock with bolts top and bottom (for solid doors, bolts should be at least 255 mm (10 inches) in length) 
• for glass-panelled doors, key-operated mortice rack bolts should be fitted
• UPVC or aluminium doors should be fitted with a multi-point locking system, which incorporates a lever or cylinder deadlock that can be locked with a key from both sides

Mortice deadlock

5 lever mortice key

Rim deadlock

255 mm bolt

Mortice rack bolt

Key-operated window lock

French windows (French doors or double doors) should be fitted with:

• a multi-point locking system with a minimum of 3 locking points
• or a lock conforming to British Standard 3621
• or a key-operated lock, and key-operated mortice rack bolts at top and bottom of both doors

Buildings insurance – accidental damage cover

Accidental damage cover extends your buildings cover beyond events such as fire or storm damage. For example, it covers accidents like putting your foot through a ceiling while you're in the loft, or hammering a nail into a pipe.

Accidental damage cover for your permanent fixtures and fittings includes items such as:

• built-in furniture
• built-in domestic appliances
• fixed glass and sanitary ware
• fixed pipes, ducts, tanks, wires, cables, switches, fires, central heating equipment, boilers and storage heaters
• fixed wall, floor and ceiling coverings (other than carpets)

Contents insurance – accidental loss or damage cover

Optional accidental loss or damage cover protects your valuables, personal belongings and money anywhere in the world while they're in your custody or control. You can find lists of the items we treat as valuables and personal belongings below.

Household goods such as a sofa, furniture, TVs and desktop computers are covered against fire, flood and theft within your chosen contents cover limit. And TVs and desktop computers are covered for accidental damage too.

For valuables and personal belongings worth up to £1,500 each, you need to select the total amount of cover you need for these items.

Items worth over £1,500 can be added separately on your policy.

Items we treat as valuables:

• jewellery, watches, furs (other than sheepskin)
• items made of gold, silver and other precious metals
• photographic equipment (including video cameras and camcorders)
• portable audio visual and gaming equipment; laptops, mobile phones, tablets; e-readers or other portable computer equipment (excludes items which need a mains plug)
• microscopes, telescopes, binoculars
• portable musical instruments
• paintings and other works of art
• collections or sets of stamps or coins or medals

Items we treat as personal belongings:

• clothing (including leather and sheepskin items) and personal items designed to be worn, used or carried
• pedal cycles
• sports equipment (except boats, boards and any other watercraft)
• camping equipment (except caravans and trailer tents)

We offer two home insurance products: Home Insurance and our Home Insurance Plus policy, which provides higher levels of cover. The table below shows the key differences in the cover levels.