Should I Get Combined Buildings And Contents Insurance?
For most homeowners, yes. A combined buildings and contents policy is usually cheaper and simpler than buying two separate policies, giving you one insurer, one premium, one renewal date, and one claims process.
The decision depends on your property type, your contents value, and whether a standard combined policy meets your needs.
This guide explains when combined home insurance is the right call and when separate policies make more sense.
For most homeowners, a combined buildings and contents policy is cheaper and simpler than buying two separate policies: one insurer, one premium, one renewal date, and one claims process if a single event damages both. The exception is leaseholders, landlords, non-standard properties, or high-value collections, where specialist separate cover often fits better.
Run combined home insurance quotes alongside separate options to see which setup saves you more.
What is combined buildings and contents insurance?
A combined policy covers both the permanent structure of your home and your personal belongings under a single agreement with one insurer.
What each element covers
The buildings element pays to repair or rebuild the structure (walls, roof, plumbing, wiring, fitted kitchens, bathrooms, outbuildings) after an insured event. The contents element pays to replace your moveable belongings (furniture, electronics, clothing, kitchenware) after theft, damage, or destruction.
A combined policy wraps both into one product with a single premium, one renewal date, and one insurer to contact.
What are the advantages of a combined policy?
Combined policies offer cost savings, simpler admin, and a more coordinated claims experience.
| Advantage | How it helps |
| Lower premium | One insurer managing one account costs less to administer, and the saving is passed on as a lower combined price. |
| One renewal date | No risk of accidentally letting one policy lapse because you forgot a second renewal. |
| Single claims process | A fire or flood that damages both the structure and your belongings means one phone call, one claim, and one excess. |
| No coverage gaps | Both elements are designed to work together under the same terms, so there is no misalignment between buildings and contents cover. |
Are there any downsides to a combined policy?
Combined cover trades flexibility for simplicity. You are tied to one insurer for both elements, which may not suit everyone.
Less choice
With separate policies you can pick the best buildings insurer and the best contents insurer independently. A combined policy locks you into one provider for both.
Switching is all-or-nothing
If you are unhappy with one element, you cannot swap just that part. You would need to cancel the whole policy and start again.
Excess flexibility
Some combined policies apply the same excess to both buildings and contents claims. With separate policies you could set different voluntary excess levels for each.
When might separate policies be better?
Separate cover suits leaseholders, owners with specialist needs, and anyone who finds a measurably cheaper deal by splitting.
Leaseholders
If you own a leasehold flat, buildings insurance for the whole building is arranged by the freeholder or management company. You only need contents insurance (and possibly cover for internal fixtures), so a combined policy is unnecessary.
Landlords and unoccupied properties
If you let a property, landlord insurance is a separate product designed for rental risk. If a property sits empty for long periods, unoccupied property insurance replaces a standard combined policy that would exclude claims after 30 to 60 days.
High-value or specialist contents
Valuable jewellery, art, antiques, or collections may get better terms, higher single-item limits, and more appropriate cover from a specialist contents insurer than from a standard combined product.
Non-standard properties
Properties with timber frame, thatched roof, flat roof, or listed status may need a specialist buildings insurer. Pairing that with a mainstream contents policy from a different provider could give better overall cover than a combined policy from a generalist.
See our guide to non-standard home insurance for more detail on specialist cover options.
Pricing that genuinely splits better
Occasionally the best buildings quote and best contents quote come from different insurers and the combined total is lower than any single provider’s package. This is less common, but it is worth checking by running both options at renewal.
How do you compare combined home insurance quotes?
Compare on a like-for-like basis: same rebuild cost, same contents sum, same excess, and same optional extras across every quote.
Get the numbers right first
For buildings, use the BCIS rebuild cost calculator or your mortgage valuation. For contents, do a room-by-room inventory and total the replacement cost as new.
Entering the same figures across all quotes is the only way to make a fair comparison.
Compare cover, not just price
Check excess levels, single-item limits, exclusions, and what optional extras (accidental damage, home emergency) are included as standard. The ABI guide to home insurance explains what to look for.
Run both options
Get combined quotes and separate buildings-plus-contents quotes side by side. If the separate route is cheaper, make sure the saving justifies the extra admin of managing two policies.
FCA pricing rules
Under FCA General Insurance Pricing Practices rules (from January 2022), insurers cannot charge renewing customers more than equivalent new customers. Premiums still vary between providers, so comparing annually is still worth doing.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Usually, but not always. If you have specialist needs (non-standard property or high-value contents), separate policies from specialist insurers may offer better value than a generalist combined product.
Yes, at any time, though cancelling mid-term may incur fees. The simplest approach is to wait until one policy is due for renewal, take out a combined policy at that point, then cancel the remaining separate policy.
If you have a mortgage, your lender requires buildings insurance and contents is optional but strongly recommended. Tenants only need contents insurance, and leaseholders usually have buildings arranged by the freeholder.
You contact your single insurer, who handles the entire claim. If both the building and your contents are damaged in the same event, they manage both aspects through one process.
Some insurers allow different voluntary excess levels for each element within a combined policy, while others apply a single excess to both. Check before you buy if this flexibility matters to you.
You may get better buildings cover from a specialist insurer. Pair that with a mainstream contents policy from a different provider, or explore non-standard home insurance providers who offer combined cover designed for unusual properties.
For rebuild cost, use the BCIS calculator from RICS or check your mortgage valuation. For contents, walk room by room listing everything you own and estimate the replacement cost as new.