We can search through a range of policies to find the one that suits you best from our extensive list of insurers. So this year leave the shopping to us, as just one phone call could find the best cover and price for you.

Buildings insurance protects you against the cost of repairing or rebuilding your home if it is damaged. If you have a mortgage, your lender will insist that your property is protected by buildings insurance.

Most policies cover structural repairs, replacing fitted kitchens and bathroom suites, drying out or decontaminating the property, alternative accommodation if your home is uninhabitable as well as rebuilding the entire property if it is completely destroyed.

Buildings insurance policies cover damage to your home resulting from a range of perils such as flooding, fire, subsidence, storms, theft, burst pipes and water damage. Despite covering a wide range of risks, typical policies do not protect against everything. The following are generally not covered:

• General wear and tear
• Damage due to lack of maintenance (e.g. roof tiles not being replaced and then the roof leaking after a storm)
• Mechanical or electrical breakdown, such as appliances at the end of their life
• Restricted cover when your home is empty for a long period

If you purchase a leasehold property, the freeholder may have arranged buildings insurance for the whole block, in which case you may not need your own buildings policy.

How do insurers decide the cost of buildings insurance?

Insurers take into account a variety of factors when calculating a buildings insurance premium, with the key drivers being:

• Rebuilding cost - this takes into account the size of your home, if it is terraced, semi-detached or detached and its method of construction.
• Likelihood of a claim - especially relevant if your home is in an area with a flood risk or prone to subsidence.
• Your previous claims history