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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 |
Reasons to choose Direct Line Buildings Insurance
Direct Line has been selling home insurance for over 35 years, so we’re confident we know what we’re doing.
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We'll find somewhere for you to stay
If you can't live at your home while it's being repaired after an insured event, we'll find somewhere for you, your family and pets to stay.
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We fix your uncontrollable leaks
Worried about uncontrollable leaks in the home? With Home Emergency, we can send a plumber within three hours.
Excludes Highlands and Islands. Extreme weather conditions may extend response time. Terms and cover limits apply.
Direct Line has been selling home insurance for over 35 years, so we’re confident we know what we’re doing.
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We'll find somewhere for you to stay
If you can't live at your home while it's being repaired after an insured event, we'll find somewhere for you, your family and pets to stay.
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We fix your uncontrollable leaks
Worried about uncontrollable leaks in the home? With Home Emergency, we can send a plumber within three hours.
Excludes Highlands and Islands. Extreme weather conditions may extend response time. Terms and cover limits apply.
Are you a landlord?
Whether it's flexible options or specialist legal advice you need, our landlord insurance has been designed with buy-to-let owners in mind.
Find out more about landlord insurance
if you have Direct Line Car Insurance
This is an introductory discount and will be included in the price we quote. Excludes add-ons.
Get a home insurance quoteKey factors impacting the cost of your buildings insurance
If you're buying a new home insurance policy
There are many reasons why the cost of your buildings insurance premium may have changed on renewal, with some having a bigger impact than others.
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Where you live
It could be that you live in a city with a higher crime rate, a woodland area affected by tree roots, or a rural location exposed to severe weather conditions.
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Size of your house
If you live in a large house, the cost to have it rebuilt is likely to increase the buildings element of your quote.
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How close you are to water
Due to a higher risk of flooding, homes near rivers or coastlines are generally more expensive to insure.
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Age and property structure
The age of your property and materials used to build your house can have a huge impact on your quote. For example, wooded structures are particularly vulnerable to fire, termites and rot.
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Your lifestyle
Factors like your age, whether you’re married with children, or if you’re away from home for long periods of time can all have an impact on your quote.
If you're renewing your insurance
There are many reasons why the cost of your buildings insurance premium may have changed on renewal, with some having a bigger impact than others.
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Previous claims
Your claims history is taken into consideration when pricing your policy. If you’ve made a claim in the previous year this could result in an increased premium.
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Inflation
Inflation increases the price of goods and services, impacting Direct Line’s claims and general expenses. Policy premiums will reflect such changes.
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Crime rate
A spate of crimes resulting in more home insurance claims could see premiums increase to reflect the new risk level of your home’s location.
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Severe weather
Periods of extreme weather, such as prolonged cold or rain, can result in an increase in customer claims. This can lead insurers to review the likely cost of future claims.
-
Changes to Insurance Premium Tax (IPT)
You don’t pay VAT on insurance, instead you’ll be charged Insurance Premium Tax (IPT). This is included in your premium, so any changes to the rate will affect what you pay.
If you're buying a new home insurance policy
There are many reasons why the cost of your buildings insurance premium may have changed on renewal, with some having a bigger impact than others.
-
Where you live
It could be that you live in a city with a higher crime rate, a woodland area affected by tree roots, or a rural location exposed to severe weather conditions.
-
Size of your house
If you live in a large house, the cost to have it rebuilt is likely to increase the buildings element of your quote.
-
How close you are to water
Due to a higher risk of flooding, homes near rivers or coastlines are generally more expensive to insure.
-
Age and property structure
The age of your property and materials used to build your house can have a huge impact on your quote. For example, wooded structures are particularly vulnerable to fire, termites and rot.
-
Your lifestyle
Factors like your age, whether you’re married with children, or if you’re away from home for long periods of time can all have an impact on your quote.
If you're renewing your insurance
There are many reasons why the cost of your buildings insurance premium may have changed on renewal, with some having a bigger impact than others.
-
Previous claims
Your claims history is taken into consideration when pricing your policy. If you’ve made a claim in the previous year this could result in an increased premium.
-
Inflation
Inflation increases the price of goods and services, impacting Direct Line’s claims and general expenses. Policy premiums will reflect such changes.
-
Crime rate
A spate of crimes resulting in more home insurance claims could see premiums increase to reflect the new risk level of your home’s location.
-
Severe weather
Periods of extreme weather, such as prolonged cold or rain, can result in an increase in customer claims. This can lead insurers to review the likely cost of future claims.
-
Changes to Insurance Premium Tax (IPT)
You don’t pay VAT on insurance, instead you’ll be charged Insurance Premium Tax (IPT). This is included in your premium, so any changes to the rate will affect what you pay.
Latest articles
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