Flat insurance for buildings and contents
If you live in a flat instead of a house, you still need home insurance to cover the building itself and your contents inside. But are there any differences to be aware of?
What is flat insurance?
Flat insurance works like standard home insurance and comes in two types. Buildings insurance covers the structure and fixed parts, like kitchens and bathrooms. Contents insurance protects your belongings from damage, theft, or loss. If you own your flat, you’ll likely need buildings insurance. Sometimes, people choose to have both for full protection. If you rent, contents insurance is usually enough.
Buildings insurance for a flat
Your buildings insurance obligations for a flat depend on whether you own it – as a freeholder or leaseholder – or if you rent it.
If you’re a freeholder or leaseholder
If you own a flat on a leasehold basis, you own it for an agreed period of time. However, the landlord or freeholder owns the building itself. In this case, buildings insurance is usually arranged by the freeholder. You should check your lease to confirm your responsibilities.
- While the exterior of the building and roof are usually covered by the freeholder’s insurance, some elements inside your flat may be your responsibility.
- A fitted kitchen or other permanent fixtures could be considered part of the building and covered by buildings insurance, but you might be responsible for their maintenance under the lease terms.
If you own a flat on a freehold basis, you own it outright – until you decide to sell it. In this case, arranging buildings insurance is entirely your responsibility, covering the structure of the flat, including walls, ceilings, and fixed features.
If you’re a renter or tenant
If you rent your flat, buildings insurance isn’t usually your responsibility. This falls to the landlord. However, it’s important to check what their policy covers:
- The building itself should be insured by the landlord, but accidental damage may not be covered, which could impact your deposit if something happens.
- Your personal belongings won’t be covered by the landlord’s insurance, so you may want to take out contents insurance to protect items like furniture, electronics, and valuables.
What about students?
If you’re a student renting a flat, shared house, or university halls, buildings insurance remains the landlord’s responsibility. However, student accommodation could have a higher risk of theft or accidental damage, so it may be worth considering contents insurance. If you pay extra for optional cover, valuables like laptops, phones, and bikes can be protected against loss, theft, or damage.
Understanding what is and isn’t covered will help ensure you have the right protection in place, whether you own or rent your home.
Contents insurance for a flat
If you own a flat, the contents are definitely your responsibility. Contents insurance covers everything of yours inside the flat. These are your possessions, and so while contents insurance is optional, you should think carefully about the value of those possessions and how you’d feel if they were damaged or stolen. You should also consider how you’d be able to replace them if something did happen to them. Contents insurance offers protection for your belongings. They could be damaged accidentally - you might crack the screen of your TV – damaged due to a fire, or a flood because of a leaky water pipe, or stolen by a burglar.
Items of furniture are usually covered by contents insurance too, typically sofas, beds and wardrobes but also possibly fitted carpets. Taking out contents insurance provides a level of financial security and peace of mind. There’s more information about contents insurance here. Even if you rent a flat instead of owning it, you’ll still need contents insurance, to cover your belongings and everything in your home.
You'll need to calculate the value of your contents insurance to take out this type of policy.
What if I live in a high-rise block of flats?
According to the FCA, from the end of 2023, insurers must treat leaseholders fairly and design policies to the risks of high-rise living. The Grenfell Tower tragedy showed how gaps in insurance and rising costs can leave residents unprotected. In response, the FCA introduced new rules to make sure insurance providers act in the best interests of leaseholders. These changes help prevent unfair price increases and ensure flats in tall buildings get the right cover. If you live in a high-rise block, this means your insurance should be fairer and more transparent.
What's covered and what extras should I consider?
A standard combined home insurance policy for your flat typically includes cover against:
- Fire, theft and flooding
- Escape of water (e.g burst pipes)
- Subsidence
- Vandalism
Getting a quote for flat insurance
Whether you own a flat, or rent from a landlord, you’ll need some form of home insurance – buildings, contents, or both.
