Home Buildings Insurance
Buildings cover for the home you’ve created
Choose from three buildings insurance cover levels to suit your needs
Tailor your policy with optional add-ons to protect your home
Defaqto 5-star rating on our Gold & Silver policies
Insurance is subject to terms and exclusions
5 Star Defaqto rating on our Gold and Silver policiesWhat is buildings insurance & how does it work?
Buildings insurance covers the physical structure of your home, including the walls, roof, floors and permanent fixtures. Your home is probably your biggest financial investment. If it gets damaged, the cost to repair or rebuild it can be significant. This type of insurance helps protect you from that risk.
It can cover many parts of your structure
Buildings insurance could be used to cover storm damage to a roof, fixing walls or floors after a flood, or even rebuilding parts of your home damaged by fire.
You can tailor your buildings policy
Customise your policy with optional extensions for extra protection where you need it, such as Home Emergency cover or Legal Expenses cover.
Get unlimited cover
We offer unlimited cover for repairing or rebuilding your home for valid claims with our Defaqto 5-star rated Silver or Gold policies.
Buildings insurance cover details
Take a look at the different levels of buildings insurance we offer, to see which one would suit your needs.
Buildings insurance
 | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum we'll pay for: | Bronze | Silver | Gold |
Repairing or rebuilding | £1,000,000 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Alternative accommodationIf you can’t stay at home during any repair work | £50,000 | £100,000 | Unlimited |
Accidental damage to drains, fixed glass and sanitaryware | Optional with Extended accidental damage cover | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Optional extensions
Tailor your policy with extra cover.
Extended accidental damage
This covers unforeseen and unintentional damage to your property, like cutting through a cable or putting your foot through the ceiling.
Home emergency cover
If you have an emergency in your home, such as a sudden water leak, we’ll arrange for a tradesperson to make things safe with a temporary repair.
Legal expenses
Get access to a 24-hour helpline and up to £100,000 towards the cost of pursuing relevant legal disputes.
Insight from our home insurance commercial lead...
Learn more about insurance and caring for your home
We have a wide range of guides and articles to help you understand how contents and buildings insurance works, and how you can keep up with the maintenance of your home.
Looking for a different type of home insurance?
Looking after your building
Dealing with damp
Learn about the different types of damp that can affect your home and how to deal with them.
Tree damage
Make sure you’re covered in the event that a tree damages your property.
Buildings insurance FAQs
Do I need a contents insurance policy too?
Buildings insurance covers the physical structure of your home. If you want things like your furniture, electronic devices and personal belongings to be covered then you’ll also need to have a contents insurance policy. These can be bought at the same time or separately from John Lewis Money.
What property types are covered by buildings insurance?
Most residential properties are covered by our standard buildings insurance, but if you have a high-value or unusual home, such as a thatched cottage, you’ll need to have a specialist home insurance policy.
Do I need specialist home insurance?
If you have a high-value home, or an unusual home such as a listed building or thatched cottage, then you will need to have specialist home insurance cover.
Do I need buildings insurance for a mortgage?
There is no legal requirement to have it in place, but some mortgage providers will require you to have it. For more information, take a look at our article ‘Is home insurance mandatory?’.
Do leaseholders need buildings insurance?
Usually leaseholders don’t need to buy their own buildings insurance as the freeholder normally insures the entire building and then sends you the bill. You will normally need your own contents insurance policy though.
When should buildings insurance start when buying a home?
Buildings insurance should be in place from the date you exchange contracts, as a condition of your mortgage.
Our partners for home insurance and claims
Enjoy the service you’d expect from John Lewis Money, alongside a policy underwritten by our specially selected insurers - Ageas Insurance Limited, AXA UK, Covéa Insurance and Prestige Underwriting, who will handle claims.
We don’t just do buildings insurance
Bronze / Silver / Gold Insurance cover
John Lewis Money Home Insurance is a trading name of John Lewis Finance Limited. Registered in England and Wales company number 15785347. Registered office: 1 Drummond Gate, Pimlico, London SW1V 2QQ. John Lewis Finance Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for insurance distribution and credit broking (Firm Reference Number: 1018169).
Pay monthly option for your home insurance is under a contract with Premium Credit Limited (a company registered in England and Wales with company number 02015200 whose registered office is at Ermyn House, Ermyn Way, Leatherhead, KT22 8UX). John Lewis Finance Limited acts as a credit broker when introducing you to Premium Credit Limited, not a lender. Premium Credit Limited will pay John Lewis Finance Limited a commission if your credit application is successful.
Home Emergency and Home Legal Expenses cover is underwritten by ARAG Legal Expenses Insurance Company Limited a company registered in England and Wales (company number: 103274) (FCA number 202106) having its registered office at Unit 4a Greenway Court, Bedwas, Caerphilly, Wales, CF83 8DW.
John Lewis plc. Is an appointed representative for John Lewis Finance Limited for insurance distribution and credit broking and registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm Reference Number: 416011). Registered in England and Wales company number 233462. Registered office: 1 Drummond Gate, Pimlico, London SW1V 2QQ.
Covea Insurance plc – our Specialist Home Insurance cover
John Lewis plc is an appointed representative (firm reference number: 416011) of Covea Insurance plc, which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (firm reference number: 202277).
John Lewis Money Specialist Home Insurance is underwritten by Covea Insurance plc. Registered Office: A & B Mills, Dean Clough, Halifax, HX3 5AX. Registered in England and Wales. Company Number 613259.