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What is buildings only insurance?
Buildings insurance covers the main structure of your home - things like your walls and your roof. Permanent fixtures such as kitchens, bathrooms and fitted wardrobes are also included.
For major concerns such as fire, theft and escape of water, buildings insurance helps you fend off bigger costs, so it’s often required when you take out a mortgage.
Keep in mind that buildings only insurance won’t cover your belongings. You’ll need contents cover for furniture, electronics and any other possessions.
Buildings insurance for homeowners
Our home insurance comes in two parts, which can be bought separately or together. Which cover you'll need depends on a variety of reasons, including if you’re a homeowner or renter, and the type of property, such as a freehold house or leasehold flat.
Buildings and contents
This is your typical homeowner insurance, which covers damage to the property itself and the items inside the house.
Get a quoteBuildings only insurance
Covers the main structures of your home, including permanent fixtures. This is often a requirement of any mortgage.
Get a quoteContents only insurance
Covers your possessions within your home. This might be suitable if you rent, lease or already have buildings insurance.
Get a quoteWhat is covered by Direct Line Buildings Insurance
We offer three cover types with varying policy limits. Use the table to compare our cover levels.
What am I covered for?
- Somewhere for you and your family to stay if an insured event means you can't live at home
- Loss or damage to walls, roofs, driveways, patios, conservatories, outbuildings, and permanent fixtures caused by fire, lightning, smoke, storm or flood
- Damage to plumbing, such as pipes, caused by freezing
What am I not covered for?
- Wear and tear, maintenance and routine decoration
- The cost of repairing or replacing items following a mechanical or electrical fault
- Damage or theft if the house has been unoccupied for more than 60 days in a row
For full detaills, see our policy document (pdf)
Compare cover limits
Get to know what's included before you choose your cover.
Essentials | Home | Home Plus | |
---|---|---|---|
Buildings sum insured
More about buildings sum insuredThis is the rebuild cost for your home. It's different from your home's market value or council tax band, as those include the value of the land. If something happens to your home and the structure needs to be rebuilt, your buildings sum insured is is the upper limit of what you can claim. It covers permanent fixtures and fittings both outside and inside, including kitchen units, patios, garden walls, gates, fences and outbuildings. Get an idea of how much you might need using the rebuild cost calculator from the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS). Full details are in your policy document. |
Up to £500,000 | Up to £1 million | Unlimited |
Trace and access (buildings)
More about trace and accessIf a water leak or oil leak is causing damage and part of your building needs removing to get to the source of the leak, we'll cover the cost. That means both the removal, and the cost of getting things back to normal. We won't cover the thing that's leaking, such as a tank, pipe, appliance or heating system. Full details are in your policy document. |
Up to £2,500 | Up to £5,000 | Up to £10,000 |
Service pipes and cables
More about service pipes and cablesFor pipes and cables that run underground to service your home, and for which you're legally responsible, we'll cover accidental damage. The same goes for tanks and drains. Full details are in your policy document. |
Up to £2,000 | Included | Included |
Alternative accommodation for you and your pets
More about alternative accommodationIf we've accepted a claim, and the repairs mean you can't stay at home, talk to us about your plans for somewhere else to stay. Once we've agreed the costs with you, we'll cover where you're staying and kennel fees for any pets, as well as lost rent. The same applies if your home is occupied by squatters. Full details are in your policy document. |
Up to £25,000 | Up to £25,000 | Up to £50,000 |
Matching sets and suites
More about matching sets and suitesFor bathroom suites or fitted kitchens, if you've got a set or a suite of which one part is damaged beyond repair, we'll aim to replace that part. For bathroom suites or fitted kitchens, if you've got a set or a suite of which one part is damaged beyond repair, we'll aim to replace that part. Full details are in your policy document. |
Included | ||
Property Owner's Liability
More about Property Owner's LiabilityWe'll cover the damages you have to pay for accidental harm to someone else or their property, up to the relevant cover limit. We may also cover expenses and legal fees, where we've agreed this in writing beforehand. Full details are in your policy document. |
Up to £1 million | Up to £2 million | Up to £5 million |
Accidental Damage (buildings)
More about accidental damage (buildings)This covers things that happen to your buildings suddenly, unexpectedly and unintentionally. It’s not for general wear and tear, or things that just break down. Buildings examples include:
Full details are in your policy document. |
Optional | Optional | Included |
Home Emergency cover
More about Home Emergency coverNew parts, labour and callout charges are all included for emergency repairs up to £500 per callout. Examples include:
Full details are in your policy document. |
Optional | Optional | Included |
Family Legal Protection
More about Family Legal ProtectionGet cover for legal costs if there’s a greater than 50% chance of success. With 24/7 access to legal assistance. Examples include:
Full details are in your policy document. |
Optional | Optional | Included |
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