What Does Buildings Insurance Cover? rivr Explains
If you’ve ever wondered what buildings insurance actually covers, this guide breaks it down in clear, simple terms.
With rivr, buildings insurance is designed to protect the structure of your home, along with fixtures and fittings listed in your policy schedule. It sits alongside contents insurance, so both your property and your belongings are looked after.
In the sections below, we explain when buildings insurance pays out for repairs or rebuilding, what exclusions to watch for, how claims are settled, and which optional extras can make day-to-day life easier.
What is buildings insurance?
Buildings insurance is designed to protect the buildings at the insured address. In practice, buildings include the main house, walls, paths, drives, garages, and outbuildings.
The structure also includes decorative finishes that are part of the buildings, plus underground services at the property. When you read your buildings insurance policy, focus on how the wording defines buildings, then confirm any special features listed on your schedule.
Some providers offer blanket cover. If the rebuild value of your property is below this fixed amount, you'll be covered if your property is destroyed and you need to rebuild it.
Buildings insurance covers parts of the home that would normally stay if you moved out:
- Kitchens and fitted wardrobes as fixtures and fittings
- Bathroom suites are treated as part of the buildings because they are fixed in place
- The structure of your property, including your roof, floors, windows, doors and ceilings
- Permanent fixtures should be considered within scope once the buildings definition applies.
What events does the insurance cover?
Under rivr, buildings cover is on an all risks basis for loss or damage, other than what is excluded in the wording. Do not rely on a short list of named perils.
Where accidental damage is included, cover for unintended one-off breakages to the structure also applies, subject to the policy exclusions.
Always check your policy limits and any area where exclusions apply.
Where buildings cover stops and contents begin
Buildings insurance and contents insurance operate side by side.
Contents insurance addresses the items you would take with you, such as furniture and clothing. Buildings insurance covers fitted parts and the structure.
A useful example is a burst pipe that damages ceilings and sofas. Buildings insurance covers the ceiling and repairing the damage, while contents insurance covers replacing items like the sofa.
Another example is leaking water that damages timber floors and a rug.
Buildings insurance covers the cost of repairing the building's floors, while contents insurance pays for replacing items that are not repairable. This split helps avoid gaps so your insurance covers the full situation across buildings and contents.
Accidental damage, wear and tear, and maintenance
Accidental damage is sudden and unexpected. For rivr home insurance, the buildings section includes accidental damage cover, not a paid-for add-on.
Wear and tear, general wear, and routine upkeep sit with the owner, so the insurance will not pay for the cost of repairing deterioration that happens over a long period.
Maintenance activities are not claims. If tiles age or sealant perishes, exclusions apply. The insurer will assess the damage caused by an insured event, not pre-existing defects or poor workmanship.
Keep records of upkeep to support the assessment of your claim.
Escape of water, trace, and access
A common claim involves leaking water from a pipe or appliance. Buildings insurance covers repairing or rebuilding the damaged parts of the structure when escape of water is covered.
rivr also covers detecting and repairing leaking pipes outside your home up to £10,000.
Check how your buildings insurance policy treats outdoor supply pipes. Some wordings include underground services within buildings.
Good prevention reduces risk, but claims teams can still pay reasonable costs for repairing damage caused by leaking water when covered.
Alternative accommodation and living costs
If your home is not fit to live in after an insured event, alternative accommodation may be needed. With rivr, alternative accommodation cover can help pay for a similar standard of living while repairs take place, for up to 3 years. Confirm the period, any cap, and what evidence is needed.
Home emergency cover is different. It is designed for urgent help, such as a blocked drain or failed heating.
Home emergency cover provides rapid assistance so you can protect your property and avoid extra costs. A buildings claim may also be considered subject to cover.
Rebuild cost and sums insured
The rebuild cost is the amount needed to rebuild the buildings to their previous size and quality using modern methods.
It is not the market value. Use reliable calculators or a professional assessment. Review the rebuild cost after significant works so the insurance covers the full standard of repairing or rebuilding if a loss occurs.
Many policies apply index linking so sums insured track inflation. Even so, you should still review the figure at renewal.
If your home is listed or has specialist features, speak to your insurer about materials and methods so policy limits remain appropriate.
Excess and policy limits, and how claims get settled
Every claim has an excess. Read your documents to see how excess and policy limits apply across the sections. If more than one section responds to the same loss or event, rivr applies a single excess.
rivr also waives the excess where a covered claim exceeds £25,000, except for any subsidence excess or where an increased excess is endorsed.
Keep invoices and photos to support the assessment of your claim. If a contractor is appointed, agree on the scope before work begins.
Buildings insurance work should return the structure to its previous condition using materials of similar quality. The insurer may pay you or the supplier.
If a dispute about legal liability arises from damage to a neighbour’s property, your policy may include cover for legal liability, which can help defend or settle claims.
Do you need buildings insurance?
There is no legal requirement to hold cover, but most mortgage providers require you to arrange it from the exchange. MoneyHelper advises you to organise buildings insurance so it is valid from your exchange date.
Even cash buyers need buildings insurance in practice because the financial risk sits with the owner. If you plan to buy buildings insurance, do it at the exchange so the insurer can protect the property as soon as you are responsible for it.
A buildings insurance quote will ask for basic details about the structure of your home, previous claims, and security.
Be precise about the structure of your home so the insurance covers what you expect.
If unoccupied for a long period, note that certain perils are excluded when a home is unoccupied for over 45 consecutive days, and escape of water cover requires heating to be maintained at 15°C with the loft hatch open, or the system drained. Speak to your insurer if works are planned.
Optional extras that can add value
Protect your home and belongings for less by comparing home insurance policies to cover a range of property types and individual circumstances.
Consider home emergency cover for rapid assistance and family legal protection for dispute support. With rivr these are included features, not paid-for optional extras.
Family legal protection provides a 24-hour legal advice helpline and cover for legal expenses up to £100,000, with identity fraud up to £25,000.
Final checklist
Protect your home with the right cover
rivr is a high-value, digital-first home insurance provider built around the needs of modern lifestyles. We provide tailored home and contents cover for primary residences, with a focus on clarity, speed, and simplicity.
rivr can help ensure your buildings insurance policy is set at the right level, so the structure of your home remains protected even when you are not living there.
For commercial premises, our partner PolicyPowerhouse provides specialist solutions for unoccupied shops, offices, warehouses, and mixed-use buildings.
Get in touch with the rivr team to discuss the best cover for your property.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes we can insure Grade 1 or A Listed, Grade 2 or B Listed or Grade 2* Listed buildings.
Yes, most standard buildings insurance policies in the UK include cover for subsidence. However, it's often subject to a higher excess and may be excluded entirely if the property is in a high-risk area. Always check your policy documents for specific terms, conditions, and any exclusions related to subsidence.
It depends on the cost of the damage and your policy excess. Claims for minor damage may not be worthwhile, as they can lead to higher premiums and may fall below the excess. For significant structural damage or costly repairs, a claim is often justified. Always check your policy and consider long-term costs before claiming.
Combined building and contents insurance covers both the structure of your home and your personal belongings inside it. This means that if your home is damaged by events like fire, floods, or storms, and your possessions are lost, damaged, or stolen, you can claim for both under the same policy.
Generally, you need high-value buildings insurance if your home has a rebuild value over £1 million or it is built of non-standard materials or is Listed.
Premiums vary based on factors like property value, location, length of vacancy, and security measures. Generally, unoccupied building insurance costs more than standard home insurance due to the higher risks involved, but obtaining multiple quotes can help find competitive rates.
