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Here's what our customers have to say about Direct Line Home insurance
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Get more when you buy from us directly

Direct customers can access cover options not available everywhere

Our highest limits for alternative accommodation

£1,000 Home Emergency limit (optional for Silver and Gold)

No admin fees for any changes made to an active policy

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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.

Buildings only insurance

Covers the main structures of your home, including permanent fixtures. This is often a requirement of any mortgage.

Contents only insurance

Covers your possessions within your home. This might be suitable if you rent, lease or already have buildings insurance.

More about contents only
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What am I covered for?

Included

Accomodation

Somewhere for you and your family to stay if an event means you can't live at home

Included

Damage

Damage caused by fire, lighting, storm or flood, theft, vandalism and more

Included

Locks and keys

Locks and keys for outside doors replaced if they're lost or stolen

What am I not covered for?

Not Included

Wear and tear

Wear and tear, maintenance and routine decoration

Not Included

Damage caused by any paying guest or tenant

Any damage caused by any paying guest or tenant is not covered.

Not Included

House unoccupied

Damage or theft if the house has been unoccupied for more than 60 days in a row

Direct cover levels

We have three cover levels available for each type of home insurance with varying policy limits. Use the table to compare and see whats right for you.

silver

Simple cover, higher excess

  • Lower limits and higher excesses (it will cost you more if you need to claim)
  • Optional extras to enhance your cover

gold

Go beyond the basics

  • Comprehensive cover limits
  • Optional extras to enhance your cover

platinum

All extras and max cover limits

  • Our highest cover limits
  • Includes Accidental Damage, Home Emergency cover and Family Legal Protection

Compare cover limits

Get to know what's included before you choose your cover.

Silver Gold Platinum
Buildings sum insured
More about buildings sum insured

This 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 £750,000 Up to £1 million Unlimited
Trace and access (buildings)
More about trace and access

If 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 cables

For 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 Up to £1 million Unlimited
Alternative accommodation for you and your pets
More about alternative accommodation

If 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 £50,000 Up to £75,000 Up to £125,000
Matching sets and suites
More about matching sets and suites

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 Liability

We'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:

  • A football accidentally breaking your window
  • Damage caused by an overflowing sink or bath

Full details are in your policy document.

 Optional Optional Included
Home Emergency cover
More about Home Emergency cover

New parts, labour and callout charges are all included for emergency repairs up to £1,000 per callout. (For customers that purchased a Direct Line Home Insurance policy with Home Emergency cover pre-15th August 2026 and are yet to renew, a £500 limit applies).

Examples include:

  • Boiler, electricity supply or water supply failure
  • External lock damage or failure

Full details are in your policy document.

 Optional Optional Included
Family Legal Protection
More about Family Legal Protection

Get cover for legal costs if there’s a greater than 50% chance of success. With 24/7 access to legal assistance.

Examples include:

  • Personal injury and clinical negligence
  • Employment and contract disputes

Full details are in your policy document.

 Optional Optional Included
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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.

  • 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.

  • 12 month buildings repair guarantee

    Trusted repairers, guaranteed peace of mind. If you make a claim on our Buildings cover, our verified repairers carry out the work - and it comes with a 12-month guarantee.

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ten percent off

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 quote
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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're buying a new home insurance policy

The greater the risk of loss and damage to your home and belongings, the higher your insurance quote is likely to be. Your premium is based on several factors relating to you, your home and the value of your items.

  • 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.

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