Home Insurance

Storm and heat damage: what home insurance covers when the weather turns

Insurers often define a storm as involving wind speeds of around 55 miles per hour or more, or extreme rain, hail, or snow, and standard buildings insurance covers the resulting damage.

20 Aug 2026 · 7 min read

Subsidence Payouts Hit Record £20,000 in UK Heatwave

The average subsidence claim reached a record £20,000 in the second quarter of 2026, ABI figures show, with £72 million paid out. A fifth heatwave and widespread drought make a further surge in claims likely.

13 Aug 2026 · 8 min read

Home Insurance and Subsidence: Signs, Cover and Claims

Subsidence is when the ground under a property sinks and its foundations move, often after dry weather shrinks clay soil. Most standard buildings insurance covers it, though a high excess (typically £1,000) applies. In Q2 2026 the average subsidence claim hit a record £20,000 (ABI).

6 Aug 2026 · 7 min read

Home Insurance and Storm or Flood Damage: What Is Covered

Most standard home insurance covers storm and flood damage: buildings cover pays for repairs, contents for belongings. In 2025 the average home flood payout hit £30,000 and the average storm payout £2,450 (ABI). Cover, excesses and exclusions vary; gates and fences are often excluded.

5 Aug 2026 · 7 min read

Carbon Monoxide Alarm Rules UK: What Landlords Must Provide and Tenants Can Demand

Landlords in England must fit carbon monoxide alarms in every room with a boiler, fire or log burner, and councils can fine up to £5,000 per breach. The full rules, what tenants can demand, and what to do if an alarm sounds.

23 Jul 2026 · 8 min read

What Is Tenant Liability Insurance and Do You Need It?

Tenant liability insurance covers accidental damage you cause to your landlord's property: the carpet, fixtures and furniture. With deposits capped at 5 weeks' rent, it is what stands between an accident and losing the deposit or a larger claim. It usually comes bundled with renters' contents cover.

21 Jul 2026 · 6 min read

Is Contents Insurance Worth It? How to Decide Honestly

Contents insurance is the only product that protects your belongings: buildings insurance covers 0 of them. Whether it is worth it comes down to what replacing everything you own would cost after a fire or theft, versus a modest premium. For most households the honest sum says yes.

21 Jul 2026 · 6 min read

Aviva Launches Home Insurance App on ChatGPT

Aviva has launched a home insurance app on ChatGPT in 2026, the first product of its partnership with OpenAI. New customers answer a short set of questions inside ChatGPT and receive an initial quote for Aviva's Signature Home Insurance in a couple of minutes.

20 Jul 2026 · 3 min read

Does Home Insurance Cover Mobile Phones?

Home contents insurance covers phones inside the home, but cover away from home needs a personal possessions extension and accidental damage is usually optional. The Financial Ombudsman upheld 30 percent of resolved complaints in 2025/26, and phone claims can affect home premiums.

20 Jul 2026 · 6 min read

Heatwave 999 Calls: Which Ambulance Categories Run Highest

UKHSA data compared across 4 bulletins shows injuries, allergic reactions and collapsed with unknown problem are always above baseline, while heat-related calls just turned above baseline during this week's amber heat-health alert.

17 Jul 2026 · 6 min read

Central Heating Cover UK: What It Includes, What It Costs and How It Differs From Boiler-Only Cover

A primary-source guide to UK central heating cover in 2026: what's included beyond the boiler itself, radiators, pipework and controls, typical costs, and how it compares with narrower boiler-only policies.

3 Jul 2026 · 4 min read

What Does "Insurer in Default" Mean in the UK?

What it means when the FSCS declares an insurer in default, how that decision is made, and what happens to policyholders next.

1 Jul 2026 · 2 min read

Compulsory vs Non-Compulsory Insurance: The 90% and 100% Protection Rule Explained

Why UK insurance compensation protection splits into two tiers, 100% for compulsory and long-term cover, 90% for most general insurance, and what counts as which.

24 Aug 2026 · 2 min read

What Happens If Your Insurer Goes Bust in the UK?

How the Financial Services Compensation Scheme protects UK policyholders if an insurer fails, and why the protection level depends on the type of policy you hold.

1 Jul 2026 · 3 min read

Tumble Dryer Running Cost UK: How Much Does It Cost to Run a Dryer in 2026?

Last reviewed: June 2026 TL;DR * Heat pump dryers are the cheapest to run at approximately 25p to 37p per load, using

27 Jun 2026 · 7 min read

Fridge Temperature UK: Correct Settings for Food Safety and Energy Efficiency

Last reviewed: June 2026 TL;DR * The correct fridge temperature in the UK is 1 to 5 degrees Celsius. The Food Standards

27 Jun 2026 · 7 min read

Oven Temperature Conversion UK: Gas Mark, Fan Oven and Celsius Guide

Last reviewed: June 2026 TL;DR * Fan ovens run around 20 degrees Celsius cooler than conventional ovens -- reduce the temperature or cooking

27 Jun 2026 · 7 min read

Before You Buy Zurich Private Clients Home Insurance: What the Data Actually Shows

Zurich Private Clients HNW home insurance: agreed value, listed buildings, broker-only distribution and what to check before buying.

26 Jun 2026 · 8 min read

Before You Buy Hiscox Home Insurance: What the Data Actually Shows

Hiscox specialist home insurance for high-net-worth, listed buildings and high-value contents. What to check before buying.

26 Jun 2026 · 8 min read

Before You Buy Tesco Home Insurance: What the Data Actually Shows

Tesco home insurance: Clubcard discount, Barclays acquisition context, highest Which? score and what to check before buying.

26 Jun 2026 · 8 min read

Before You Buy John Lewis Home Insurance: What the Data Actually Shows

John Lewis home insurance: intermediary model, underwriter identification, 60-day quote lock and what to check before buying.

26 Jun 2026 · 8 min read

Before You Buy Policy Expert Home Insurance: What the Data Actually Shows

Policy Expert is an intermediary, not an insurer. What to check about the underwriter, FOS data and what to verify before buying.

26 Jun 2026 · 8 min read

Before You Buy NFU Mutual Home Insurance: What the Data Actually Shows

NFU Mutual: only Which? Recommended home insurer, 18% FOS rate, specialist rural and listed property cover. Independent analysis.

26 Jun 2026 · 8 min read

Before You Buy AXA Home Insurance: What the Data Actually Shows

AXA home insurance FOS trend, Which? customer score, tier differences and what to check before buying. Independent editorial analysis.

26 Jun 2026 · 8 min read

Before You Buy Churchill Home Insurance: What the Data Actually Shows

Churchill home insurance: same underwriter as Direct Line, comparison site accessible, FOS data and what to check before buying.

26 Jun 2026 · 8 min read

Before You Buy LV= Home Insurance: What the Data Actually Shows

LV= home insurance: lowest FOS upheld rate in the market, Allianz backing, claims quality and what to check before buying.

26 Jun 2026 · 8 min read

Before You Buy Admiral Home Insurance: What the Data Actually Shows

Admiral home insurance: More Than acquisition, MultiCover, Gibraltar underwriting and what to check before buying. Independent editorial analysis.

26 Jun 2026 · 8 min read

Before You Buy Direct Line Home Insurance: What the Data Actually Shows

Direct Line home insurance: not on comparison sites, FOS data, tier differences and what to check before buying. Independent editorial analysis.

26 Jun 2026 · 8 min read

Before You Buy Aviva Home Insurance: What the Data Actually Shows

Aviva home insurance: FOS complaint data, tier differences, rebuild cost methodology and five things to check before buying. Independent editorial analysis.

26 Jun 2026 · 9 min read

Swimming Pool Insurance UK: What Your Home Policy Does Not Cover

Standard home insurance often excludes pools, hot tubs and pool liability. Check your policy before installing. Specialist cover is usually required.

26 Jun 2026 · 8 min read