Home Insurance

• Q: How do I calculate my rebuilding & contents sums insured?

  A: Contents can be calculated using our contents checklist. To request a checklist contact us on 0845 310 6300.
  
  You can calculate your rebuilding and contents sum insured using the following website www.bcis.co.uk. You will be required to enter details about your house including the area covered by the house, the type of property, the age of the property, the region it is in, if necessary a price figure for a garage and/or anything else covered by the policy and whether the property is index linked or not. All answers are estimates only and it is your responsibility to ensure that the sums insured are and remain adequate
  

• Q: What is my policy excess?

  A: The policy excess is the first part of any claim that you will be expected to pay in the event of a claim and it may vary depending on the type of policy and cover you have. The standard policy excess for buildings and contents insurance is £50 increasing to £1,000 in respect of subsidence, landslip and heave. The subsidence excess may be increased to £2,500 if the property is in an area with a poor history of subsidence.
  

• Q: What is my valuables limit under the contents section?

  A: Up to 35% of the contents sums insured.
  

• Q: What extra cover do I get if Accidental Damage cover is included?

  A: Damage to furniture, carpets and ornaments as a result of DIY accidents are covered. Accidental Damage to ornaments, glass, coffee tables etc. is also covered. Cigarette burns and wine stains to carpets/ furniture for example would be covered. If an accident occurs in the loft and someone puts their foot through the ceiling, it will be covered under the buildings section. These are common examples of the extra cover offered under the accidental damage section.
  
  Accidental Damage is automatically covered in a standard contents policy for televisions, satellite decoders, audio, video and DVD equipment, radios, home computers, video cassette recorders, fixed glass and double glazing, sanitary ware, mirrors, glass tops and fixed glass in furniture and ceramic hobs.
  

• Q: Can I pay the premium over 12 monthly instalments and if so, what is the interest charged?

  A: No. Monthly instalments come in sets of 4 or 10. If instalments are paid over 4 months, payments are interest free, however if instalments are paid over 10 months, interest is 5% (12% APR)
  

• Q: What is the limit of cover for possessions kept in my garage/shed/garden?

  A: £500 for contents left in the open i.e. garden. The limit is £2,500 for contents kept within detached domestic outbuildings and garages.
  

• Q: How long can I leave my home unoccupied before I have to inform my insurers?

  A: 30 Days.
  

• Q: Does having a lodger affect my policy?

  A: Yes. Depending on the age and occupation of the lodgers, our policy can accommodate up to a maximum of 2 lodgers, usually without any additional premium. However please make sure that you let us know if this happens.