Insurance When Moving Home: A Guide for UK Homeowners

Essential Tips on Protecting Your Belongings, Buildings, and Coverage During your House Move in the UK

Welcome to our ‘ Insurance When Moving Home: A Guide for UK Homeowners ‘ guide.

Moving home is one of the most stressful life events for many people. From organising the packing to dealing with estate agents, there’s a lot to manage. One important but sometimes overlooked aspect of moving is ensuring you have the right insurance in place.

Whether you’re a first-time buyer, upgrading to a larger property, or downsizing, it’s crucial to protect your belongings and new home during the transition. Here’s what UK homeowners need to know about insurance when moving house.

1. Home Insurance: Buildings and Contents Cover

Home insurance generally falls into two categories: buildings insurance and contents insurance. If you already have a home insurance policy, it’s essential to inform your insurer about your move.

• Buildings Insurance: This covers the structure of your home, including walls, roofs, floors, and permanent fixtures like fitted kitchens and bathrooms. If you’re moving to a new property, you’ll need buildings insurance from the day you exchange contracts, as this is when you become legally responsible for the property.

• Contents Insurance: This covers your personal belongings, from furniture and electronics to clothes and kitchenware. If you’re moving your possessions to a new home, it’s a good idea to check if your contents insurance will cover them during transit. Some policies offer this as standard, while others may require you to take out additional cover for moving day.

2. Check for Moving Day Cover – Insurance When Moving Home

Moving your belongings from one property to another can be risky. Items could be damaged or lost in transit, so it’s wise to ensure your contents insurance policy includes cover during the move. Most insurers provide this for removals done by a professional company, but you may need to double-check. If you’re planning to move your belongings yourself, you might need to extend your cover or take out a temporary policy.

3. Removal Company Insurance

If you hire a professional removal company, they may offer insurance as part of their service. This could include cover for damage or loss of your possessions during the move. However, it’s important to review the level of cover they provide. Some removal companies might only offer minimal coverage or exclude certain high-value items, like electronics, jewellery, or antiques.

For extra peace of mind, you might want to take out additional cover with your contents insurer or ask if they can increase the policy limit for specific items for Insurance When Moving Home.

4. Temporary Overlap in Insurance Policies

If you have a short period where you own two homes—perhaps due to completion dates not aligning perfectly—you may need home insurance for both properties. In this case, speak to your current insurer to arrange temporary coverage for the new home while you’re still residing in the old one. It’s essential to ensure both properties are adequately insured during this period.

5. Coverage for Your New Property

Once you’re settled in your new home, you’ll need to update your insurer with the details of your new property. Factors like the postcode, property type, and age of the building can affect the price and type of coverage you need. For example, homes in flood-prone areas or older buildings may require additional or specialist insurance.

If your current policy doesn’t cover the specific needs of your new property, it’s a good idea to shop around and compare different providers to find the right policy for you.

6. Specialist Insurance for Valuable or High-Risk Items

If you’re moving valuable items such as jewellery, artwork, or expensive technology, it’s essential to ensure they’re adequately covered. Standard contents insurance policies may have limits on high-value items, so you might need to list them separately on your policy or purchase specialist insurance to cover them during the move.

In addition, some insurers may require high-value items to be moved by professionals for the policy to remain valid. Check with your insurer if any special requirements need to be met for moving such items.

7. Accidental Damage Cover

Moving house is a prime time for accidents to happen—furniture could be scratched, walls scuffed, or fragile items dropped. If you’re concerned about this, consider adding accidental damage cover to your policy. This optional extra can provide protection for unforeseen mishaps, ensuring that you’re not left out of pocket for repair or replacement costs.

8. Unoccupied Property Cover

If your new home is going to be empty for a while before you move in, make sure it’s covered for unoccupied periods. Many standard home insurance policies only cover homes that are unoccupied for up to 30 days. If your new property will be vacant for longer, you may need unoccupied property insurance to cover risks like theft, vandalism, or burst pipes.

9. Liability Insurance

Public liability insurance is often included in home insurance policies and can be important when moving house. It covers you in case someone is injured or their property is damaged due to your actions. For example, if a removal worker is injured while moving your belongings or a neighbour’s property is damaged during the move, liability insurance could help cover any legal or compensation costs.

10. Updating Your Address with Insurers

Finally, once you’ve moved, remember to update your address with your insurance provider. Not only is this necessary to ensure you’re covered correctly, but failing to inform them of your new address could also invalidate your policy. This applies to any other types of insurance you have, including car insurance, pet insurance, and health insurance.

Conclusion – Insurance When Moving Home: A Guide for UK Homeowners

Moving home is a complex process, but ensuring you have the right insurance in place can help reduce the stress and financial risk involved. Make sure to review your home insurance policy, consider temporary or additional cover for the move, and inform your insurer about any changes in your circumstances. By taking these steps, you can protect your belongings and new home as you make the transition to your new life.

So we hope you found this ‘ Insurance When Moving Home: A Guide for UK Homeowners ‘ guide useful.