Is home insurance mandatory?

Key points:

• You may be required to have buildings insurance in place from the date you exchange contracts as a condition of your mortgage

• Contents insurance can cover your belongings from damage, being destroyed or if they are stolen

• Landlords should consider buildings insurance, and may need it for a buy-to-let mortgage

• Tenants don’t need buildings insurance but contents insurance can cover their items

• If you’re a leaseholder, your flat might be covered already - but this isn’t always the case 

Do you need home insurance? 

You don’t need to have home insurance but if something happens, such as a fire, flood, or theft, it can be used to claim back the cost of repairing damage, replacing missing items, or in the worst-case scenario rebuilding your home. For example, the average home insurance claim was £6,340 between January and March 2026, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

It’s also worth noting that when you buy a new property, your mortgage provider will usually require evidence that buildings insurance is in place before the sale completes.

Is there a legal requirement to have it?

There is no legal requirement to have home insurance in place, so it’s your choice whether you buy it or not - unless you’re required to by your mortgage provider.

However, if you don’t have home insurance, you will be responsible for covering the costs if anything goes wrong with your home or the belongings inside. 

Do you need both contents and buildings insurance? 

Home insurance comes in two parts, building insurance which can cover the structure of your home - including fitted fixtures like the shower and bath - and contents insurance which can cover the things you own.

You can buy contents and buildings insurance separately, or together in a combined policy, but it’s your choice if you do this or not, unless you need to have buildings insurance as requested by your mortgage provider.

When you buy a new home, the mortgage provider is taking on a big investment lending you the money and they like to know that if anything happens - such as a fire or something like subsidence - the costs can be covered by your insurance.

A mortgage lender doesn’t have any say in whether you buy contents insurance or not. If you’re unsure if you need it, have a think about the value of everything you own in your home - including your clothes, books, tech and artwork - and how much these all cost. Without a contents policy you could be left paying for the replacement bill. 

Do I need it if I am renting a property or if I am a landlord? 

If you’re renting a home there’s no requirement for you to take out building insurance, as this is the job of the property owner. However, contents insurance is your responsibility and if you buy it, your personal items can be covered should anything happen. 

There is no legal requirement for landlords to have buildings insurance in place, but most buy-to-let mortgage providers will require it. Landlords who use letting agents or management companies may also need to show that buildings insurance exists. 

Do I need home insurance if I own a flat?

You might need to buy buildings insurance if you own a flat but it depends on the terms of the lease.

If you are a leaseholder, you may pay for buildings insurance, which the freeholder arranges, through a service charge. This isn’t always the case though so always check - as the freeholder may just cover communal areas of the property, such as the stairs and hallways.

The freeholder won’t cover your contents insurance though, so if you want to cover the cost of your items if they are damaged, destroyed in a flood or fire, or stolen, you can take out contents insurance. 

How can I get a home insurance quote with John Lewis Money?  

You can get a quote for home insurance with John Lewis Money to cover your home and your belongings.

Not only are our Gold and Silver home insurance policies five-star-rated by Defaqto, but our different levels of cover can be tailored to suit your property.