What’s the difference between home contents and buildings insurance
Insurance doesn’t have to feel like homework. If you’ve ever wondered whether your couch, your ceiling, or your gate motor is actually covered, you’re not alone. Home contents and buildings insurance are often lumped together, but they cover very different things.
Once you know the difference, choosing the right cover becomes a whole lot easier.
What buildings insurance actually covers
Buildings insurance covers the physical structure of your home and anything that’s permanently fixed to it. In other words, the bits that would still be standing if you moved out and took all your stuff with you.
This usually includes:
- Your house and attached structures.
- Garages, outbuildings and boundary walls.
- Built-in cupboards and fitted wardrobes.
- Fixed flooring like tiles or laminate.
- Permanent fixtures like taps and light fittings.
- Fixed extras such as electric gates and motors.
If your home is damaged by fire, a storm, flooding, or a burst pipe, buildings insurance is what helps pay for repairs or rebuilding. Without it, fixing structural damage can get very expensive, very quickly.
What home contents insurance covers
Home contents insurance protects the things inside your home that belong to you. These are the items you’d pack into a moving truck if you changed addresses tomorrow.
Home contents cover usually includes:
- Furniture like couches, beds and tables.
- Appliances such as fridges and washing machines.
- TVs, laptops and other electronics.
- Clothes, shoes and personal belongings.
- Items in your study or home office.
If your belongings are stolen, damaged by fire, or ruined by water, home contents insurance helps replace them. It’s about protecting your lifestyle, not just the building you live in.
The easiest way to tell the difference
Here’s the quickest test in insurance history.
Ask yourself:
If I turn my house upside down, would it fall out?
If the answer is no, it’s buildings insurance.
If the answer is yes, it’s home contents insurance.
Once you see it that way, it all clicks.
Do you need both
In many cases, yes.
If you own your home, buildings insurance protects the structure, while home contents insurance protects everything inside it. One without the other leaves a gap that could cost you plenty if something goes wrong.
If you rent, the building itself usually belongs to the landlord. But your belongings don’t. That’s where home contents insurance becomes essential, even if you don’t own the property.
Why accurate values matter
1 of the biggest mistakes people make with home insurance is under-insuring. If your contents are insured for less than they’re actually worth, a claim may only pay out part of the loss.
It’s worth taking the time to walk through your home and realistically estimate what it would cost to replace everything. Furniture, appliances, electronics, clothes. It adds up faster than most people expect.
The same applies to buildings cover. Your insured value should reflect what it would cost to rebuild, not what you paid for the property.
How King Price keeps it simple
King Price home insurance is designed to be clear, flexible, and easy to understand. You can choose buildings cover, home contents cover, or both, depending on your needs. And because life changes, your cover can too.
Whether you own or rent, live in a house or a complex, the right home insurance helps you sleep better at night. Because when the unexpected happens, you want cover that makes sense and works the way it should.
Protect your home properly
Your home is more than bricks and furniture. It’s where life happens. Making sure both the structure and the stuff inside it are properly covered is one of the smartest moves you can make.
Get a commitment-free quote from King Price and choose home insurance that fits your life, not the other way around.
FAQs
Is a fitted kitchen covered under buildings or contents insurance?
Fitted cupboards and built-in units are covered under buildings insurance because they’re permanently fixed.
Are appliances like fridges part of buildings insurance?
No. Appliances are part of home contents insurance, even if they’re heavy and hard to move.
Do I need home contents insurance if I don’t own much?
If replacing your belongings would cost more than you can comfortably afford, contents insurance is worth it.
Does buildings insurance cover outbuildings?
Yes, garages and outbuildings are usually included as part of buildings cover.
Can I have home contents insurance without buildings insurance?
Yes. This is common for tenants who don’t own the building they live in.