Rebuild cost vs market value
Why insuring for what it’s worth leaves you short.
BuildingsInsurance
Buildings Insurance
Covers the structure of your building, walls, roof, floors and permanent fittings, against fire, flood, storm and more.
Covers the structure of your building, walls, roof, floors and permanent fittings, against fire, flood, storm and more.
Fire, flood & stormSubsidenceEscape of water
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What is buildings insurance?
Buildings insurance covers the cost of repairing or rebuilding the physical structure of a property after an insured event. That means walls, roof, floors, windows, doors and permanent installations such as fitted kitchens and bathrooms.
It doesn’t cover contents, stock or anything moveable, and it should be set to the rebuild cost, not what the property is worth on the market.
The right buildings cover depends on:
Whether you own or lease the buildingRebuild cost, not market valueConstruction type and ageWhether it’s ever left emptyFlood and subsidence exposureNumber of buildings owned
Is buildings insurance right for you?
Is buildings insurance right for you?
If you own the structure of a building, whether you trade from it, let it out or manage it for others, this is the cover that rebuilds it.
If you own the structure of a building, whether you trade from it, let it out or manage it for others, this is the cover that rebuilds it.
Owner-Occupier Businesses
Where you own and trade from the same premises, a shop, workshop or office.
Commercial Landlords
Where your lease makes you responsible for insuring the structure.
Residential Landlords
Where a buy-to-let lender requires buildings cover at full rebuild cost.
Freeholders & Blocks
Where an entire building containing flats must be insured as a whole.
Mixed-Use Buildings
Where residential flats sit above shops or offices in the same structure.
Property Portfolios
Where several buildings are insured under a single policy.
What could put your building at risk?
What could put your building at risk?
Escape of water is the most frequent buildings claim, while subsidence is usually the most expensive.
Escape of water is the most frequent buildings claim, while subsidence is usually the most expensive.
How could a claim affect you?
How could a claim affect you?
Structural damage can stop you trading or letting entirely. Here are four scenarios and the cover that responds to each.
Structural damage can stop you trading or letting entirely. Here are four scenarios and the cover that responds to each.
Fire
A fire damages the structure and you can’t use the building.
What cover may respond?
Buildings + Business Interruption
Escape of Water
A burst pipe damages floors, walls and fitted kitchens.
What cover may respond?
Buildings
Storm Damage
Storm damage to the roof lets water into the building.
What cover may respond?
Buildings
Visitor Injury
Subsidence cracks walls and requires underpinning.
What cover may respond?
Buildings
Who needs buildings insurance?
Anyone who owns the structure of a building. It isn’t required by law, but a mortgage lender will almost always insist on it, and a lease may require it too.
This cover may be suitable for:
Businesses that own their premisesCommercial landlordsResidential and buy-to-let landlordsOwners of mixed-use buildingsOwners with a mortgage on the propertyOwners of empty or unoccupied buildingsCover often bought alongside buildings insurance
Cover often bought alongside buildings insurance
Buildings insurance covers the structure only. Most owners add contents, liability and interruption cover for everything it doesn’t reach.
Buildings insurance covers the structure only. Most owners add contents, liability and interruption cover for everything it doesn’t reach.
Business Contents
Covers stock, equipment and furnishings inside the building, which buildings cover excludes.
Property Owners’ Liability
Protection if someone is injured because of the condition of your building.
Business Interruption
Helps replace lost income and cover ongoing costs while the building is repaired.
Loss of Rent
For landlords, replaces rental income while a let building is uninhabitable.
Unoccupied Cover
Keeps full cover in force if the building is left empty, when standard policies restrict.
Engineering Inspection
Statutory inspection of lifts, boilers and pressure systems within the building.
How the quote process works
How the quote process works
Getting buildings insurance takes four steps: tell us about the building, set your rebuild cost, compare specialist insurers, then get covered, often the same day.
Getting buildings insurance takes four steps: tell us about the building, set your rebuild cost, compare specialist insurers, then get covered, often the same day.
1
Tell us about the building
Construction, age, use and whether it’s occupied.
2
Set your rebuild cost
What it would cost to rebuild, not what it would sell for.
3
We compare specialist insurers
We search our panel of specialist property insurers.
4
Get covered and get your documents
Receive your policy documents, usually the same day.
UK-based specialist advisersAccess to specialist insurersNo obligation, just expert helpTrusted by thousands of businesses across the UK
Trusted by thousands of businesses across the UK
From everyday business insurance to complex specialist cover, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to find the right protection and provide expert support when it matters.
From everyday business insurance to complex specialist cover, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to find the right protection and provide expert support when it matters.
Buildings insurance guides
Buildings insurance guides
Practical advice on rebuild costs, exclusions and who insures what.
Practical advice on rebuild costs, exclusions and who insures what.
Buildings insurance FAQs
Buildings insurance FAQs
Straight answers on rebuild costs, what’s covered and who insures what.
Straight answers on rebuild costs, what’s covered and who insures what.
It covers the cost of repairing or rebuilding the physical structure of a property, walls, roof, floors, windows, doors and permanent fittings such as fitted kitchens and bathrooms.
Still have questions?
Our advisers are here to help you find the right solution.