CoverMapWhat UK home insurance costs in 2026
Costs depend heavily on whether you need buildings cover, contents cover, or both, and where in the UK your home is. Based on ABI/industry data for Q2 2025:
| Cover type | Typical average premium |
|---|---|
| Buildings insurance alone | £265 / year |
| Contents insurance alone | £99 / year |
| Combined buildings & contents | £391 / year |
Location matters more than most homeowners expect. Premiums in Argyll and Bute have averaged around £1,522, while parts of Londonderry average closer to £599 — a gap driven by flood risk, subsidence risk, local claims history and rebuild costs, not just crime rates.
What tends to drive a claim
| Claim type | What it typically costs |
|---|---|
| Weather damage (flood, storm, burst pipes) | £585m paid out across the UK in 2024 |
| Subsidence | £17,264 average claim, H1 2025 (roughly 9,000 households) |
| Burglary & theft | Varies by contents value and security measures in place |
| Accidental damage (contents) | Usually an optional add-on, not included as standard |
Why underinsurance is the bigger risk
Rebuild costs have risen faster than many homeowners have updated their sums insured, and industry research now suggests as many as 76% of UK properties could be underinsured — meaning a full claim wouldn't actually cover the real cost of rebuilding or replacing everything lost. This matters even more if you already have a certified home security system, since insurers assess your overall risk profile together; see our Home Security guide for how that connects. We cover how to check and fix underinsurance in our underinsurance guide.
Other Types of Insurance
This page focuses on home insurance — buildings and contents cover. CoverMap also covers these other common UK insurance types:
Average premiums by age and region, and how to bring the cost down.
Term vs whole-of-life cover, and real cost-by-age data.
What private medical cover costs in 2026, by age and household.
Dog vs cat costs, and why lifetime cover is usually worth it.
Cover levels, use classes and what affects the price.
Costs, cover levels and what pushes the price up.
Bike and e-bike cover vs your home insurance.
What landlord cover includes and the 2026 rule changes.
Cover for retailers, from stock to employers’ liability.
Premises cover for medical, dental and other practices.
Car Insurance Guides
Van Insurance Guides
Motorbike Insurance Guides
Home Insurance Guides
How the main UK providers compare on price, cover and claims handling.
Every factor that changes your premium — location, rebuild cost, claims history and more.
What each actually covers, and whether you need one or both.
Why most UK homes are underinsured, and how to work out your real sum insured.
What to update, cancel or set up when you move.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need both buildings and contents insurance?
If you own your home, buildings insurance is usually required by your mortgage lender. Contents insurance is optional but covers your possessions separately — renters generally only need contents cover, since the landlord insures the building.
Will a home security system lower my home insurance?
It can, but only if it's installed and maintained by an NSI or SSAIB certified installer in most cases. See our insurance discount guide for details.
How do I know if I'm underinsured?
Compare your policy's declared sum insured against a current rebuild cost estimate (not market value) for buildings, and a genuine replacement-cost total for contents. If either figure hasn't been updated in a few years, it's worth reviewing — see our underinsurance guide.