Buildings Insurance

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What's Covered?

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Multi cover insurance

Choose the right cover for you

Insuring your home can be confusing, which is why we offer three simple buildings packages for you to choose from.

Admiral Cover

Admiral Buildings Insurance covers your home's essentials.

  • Unlimited Buildings sum insured (eligibility criteria applies)
  • Alternative accommodation up to £30,000
  • Replacement locks / keys up to £500
  • Property owners' liability up to £1 million
  • 24-hour emergency helpline
  • Plumbing installation
  • Site clearance and building fees
  • Garages and outbuildings

What is buildings insurance?

Buildings insurance covers the costs to repair the structure and fittings of your home if they’re damaged in a natural or manmade disaster. Garages and outbuildings are also protected, as well as everything that’s permanently fixed.

What does buildings insurance cover?

What fittings are covered?

The following structure and fittings of your home are covered if they’re damaged in a natural or manmade disaster:

  • Walls
  • Roof
  • Ceilings
  • Fitted kitchens
  • Bathroom suites
  • Windows
  • Doors
  • Built-in cupboards and wardrobes

What events are covered?

Admiral will cover your house against natural or manmade disasters, including:

  • Fires
  • Water leaks
  • Vandalism
  • Malicious damage
  • Lightning strikes
  • Earthquakes
  • Floods
  • Subsidence

Cover for more than just your building

You’re covered up to the amount shown on your policy documents for:

Replacement keys

If your door keys are lost or stolen we'll replace them no matter what level of cover you choose.

Frost damage

Plumbing cover for your home's internal pipes if they're damaged by freezing.

Emergency access

If the emergency services damage the building or garden when entering due to a medical emergency or to prevent further damage.

Buildings Accidental Damage Cover

Accidental Damage cover is also available with our Buildings policy. It provides protection for:

  • Breakage of fixed glass in windows and doors
  • Damage to fitted sinks, toilets and showers
  • Ceramic hobs in fitted kitchens

Depending on the level of Buildings cover you choose, Accidental Damage may automatically be included as part of the policy. Click the link below for more information.

MORE ABOUT ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE

Non-standard home insurance

Not all houses are built the same, but what do insurers mean by 'non standard home insurance'? Simply put, a non-standard property is one without brick or stone walls, and a roof made from something other than tile or slate.

A thatched roof cottage, concrete prefabricated or timber frame homes are common examples of non-standard construction, as well as listed buildings.

Admiral Buildings Insurance has thousands of unusual, non-standard properties on cover, so if you're not sure about yours, just give one of our friendly team a call on 0333 220 2090 and we'll talk you through it.

Your questions answered

If you have any questions you'll find answers in this section.

Is buildings insurance compulsory?

If you are buying your own home, buildings insurance is usually a condition imposed by your mortgage lender. It will cover you for the cost of rebuilding your house if it is damaged or completely destroyed.

Is buildings insurance the same as home insurance?

Home insurance itself is a general term used to explain the combination of both buildings and contents insurance. Buildings insurance by itself covers you for the structure of the property.

Admiral Home Insurance offers a policy for combined buildings and contents insurance.

Do you need buildings insurance for an unoccupied property?

If you want to protect your unoccupied building, you need buildings insurance. As long as you let us know ahead of time, your unoccupied property is covered for 60 days on Admiral, Admiral Gold and Admiral Platinum.

For more information read our Insuring an Unoccupied House guide.

How do I calculate the rebuild cost of my home?

The rebuild cost is to completely rebuild an identical house to yours, including the cost of labour and materials.

Typically, the cost to rebuild your home is less than the market value, which you might find in your Structural/Building Survey or Home Buyers Report under 'Rebuild Value'. It's important to estimate the correct amount, so you don't pay too much for your insurance or be underinsured if you need to claim. Remember to include garages and outbuildings and consider any special features or materials.

The ABI offers a rebuild cost calculator to help you, or you can get an accurate calculation through a surveyor. You can find a local surveyor by contacting Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

How do I know when my property was built?

You will find this on the deeds or if you have a mortgage on the property you can contact your mortgage provider who will have this on record.

Is a garage considered a room?

A garage is considered an outbuilding. So a garage would not be considered as a room, but instead would be covered under the outbuildings cover.

What is landslip?

This is the downward movement of sloping ground.

What is subsidence?

This is the downward movement of the ground beneath the building where the soil is unstable. Read more on what is subsidence?

What is accidental damage cover?

Accidental damage is any unintentional one-off incident. Accidental Damage cover is available with our Buildings Insurance policy. Depending on the level of cover you choose Accidental damage may automatically be included as part of the policy. The cover can include:

  • Glass and sanitary accidental damage
  • Full buildings accidental damage

You can find out more here.

Do I have to get my buildings insurance through my mortgage provider?

No, your mortgage provider may advise that you must have this cover however it’s up to you where you buy it from.

It may seem like the easiest option at the time and not look that expensive when you’re working with mortgage figures but it’s definitely worth shopping around and looking at other providers.

Get a quote from Admiral.

Do you cover wear and tear?

No, an insurance policy is for the cover against loss or damage under the causes that you can find listed in your policy booklet. This does not cover maintenance of the home such as: 

  • wear and tear 
  • gradual decay 
  • defective rendering 
  • damp 
  • rot 
  • damage by vermin 
  • failure of grout

If I make a claim, can I use my own builder?

If you make a claim, we'll pay the cost of rebuilding, repairing or replacing any damaged part of your buildings covered under your policy. We'll decide how to settle your claim.

We have a network of approved builders, but if you have a preferred builder we're likely to let you use them if their quote is reasonable.

However, you'll also need to make sure the quality of work is acceptable, and if any problems arise due to poor workmanship, they'll need to be sorted by you and the builder.

Is buildings insurance the same as landlord insurance?

No, it’s not – if you're getting an income from letting a property, you’re classified as a business so standard home insurance doesn't cover you. Landlord insurance can cover accidental damage caused by tenants, legal cover and missed rent. For more information see our Landlord Insurance page.

Does building insurance cover flood and fire damage?

Yes, we will cover your house against natural or manmade disasters including fire, flood and lightning strikes.

Do leaseholders need buildings insurance?

It is the responsibility of the landlord who owns the freehold of the property to get buildings cover in place. However, many tenants/leaseholders cover the cost of the insurance in their annual service charge.



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Looking for something different?

If you own your home you may also need to insure your contents. Not to worry, Admiral offers great value with flexible options across all our Home Insurance products.

Award-winning cover

Awarded Commended Home Insurance Provider 2023

Buildings cover awarded Moneyfacts highest five star rating

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