Home Insurance FAQ's

Our standard Buildings and Contents policy covers damage to your buildings (the main structure of the property, including fixtures and fittings) and damage to your contents (your furniture, possessions and carpets). As with all insurance policies there will be general limits and exclusions so it’s important to read your documents.

This is a policy you have when you want to insure both your house and its contents in one policy. There is sometimes a discount applied for combining the two areas of cover into one policy.

The most common thing that isn’t covered on a home insurance policy is damage from wear and tear. There will always be general exclusions on a home insurance policy so it’s important to check your documents.

What is deemed the ‘best’ home insurance for you, will depend on your personal circumstances and how much cover you require. Make sure your policy provides enough cover for all of the contents in your home. Buildings cover needs to be enough to support a complete rebuild of your property.

Yes. As soon as your payment information has been set up and you have agreed to the terms of your policy with one of our advisors, your insurance will commence immediately.

Policy limits and exclusions may apply, please see the policy wording for full terms and conditions.

To help prevent fraud - before requesting your bank details to provide you with a refund by phone, we will always validate with you information that we hold on file; information that only you would know. This information could include your address or specific policy details. Any refund we provide will only be for one of three reasons: overpaid funds, a reduction in your cover, or cancellation. If you receive a phone call and are unsure it is from us you can always call us back on 0800 29 88 707 to verify we are who we say we are.

Our standard Buildings policy automatically covers accidental breakage to fixed glass in windows and sanitary ware in bathrooms, but you can choose to include full Accidental Damage cover for unintentional damage such as accidentally putting a hammer through a wall doing DIY, or your foot through the ceiling while in the loft, for example.

Kitchen units are covered on our standard Buildings Insurance policy against damage from fire, flood and escape of water. If you require further cover, you can choose to add the full accidental damage cover which would cover you if accidentally scorched your worktops with a hot pan.

Our standard Buildings policy covers your windows against damage caused by the usual perils, such as storm damage, fire, flood and break-ins. We also cover accidental breakage of your windows on our standard policy.

The cost of your Buildings Insurance will largely be down to your personal circumstance and the size and location of your property. There are some factors associated with an older property that could increase your premium, such as your property being a listed building or built out of non-standard materials.

Our standard Buildings Insurance covers structural damage caused by incidents such as storm damage, impact (a vehicle crashing into the property), subsidence, fire and flood.

Unlike car insurance, Buildings Insurance is not a legal requirement. However, if you own your property on a mortgage it may be a contractual requirement from your mortgage provider that you keep your building insured.

Gallagher's specialised over 50s insurance will cover your home against damage caused by:

• Storms, floods or weight of snow
• Subsidence, heave or landslips
• Water escape
• Theft, or attempted theft
• Fire, smoke or explosions
• Lightning or earthquakes
• Riots and vandalism

In addition, we can provide up to £40,000 to cover rent or alternative accommodation if you cannot live in your home whilst any repairs are being carried out. You are also covered up to £2,000,000 property owner’s liability insurance and protection for outbuildings.

Our insurance excesses start from £75. For escape of water claims excesses start at £250 and for subsidence claims excesses start at £1,000.

Accidental Damage Insurance

With accidental damage insurance your home can be covered for loss or damage caused by accident to the following:

• Fixed glass; windows and patio doors and solar panels
• Cables
• Underground pipes
• Drains and inspection covers
• Bathroom fixtures and fittings
• Fixed stair lifts in your home

You can increase this cover to Full Accidental Damage to cover other mishaps such as accidentally damaging a wall or ceiling while doing DIY, or burning a kitchen work surface with a hot pan.

Policy limits and exclusions may apply, please see the policy wording for full terms and conditions

Our Contents Insurance covers your furniture, carpets and possessions against theft, fire, flood and water damage. We also automatically cover accidental damage to home entertainment equipment such as TVs and stereos.

Yes, in most cases your contents are covered on a replacement basis. This means that our insurers will replace your old items with new ones (where possible) without making any value deductions for depreciation. The exceptions are clothes, linen and furs the insurer will make a reduction for wear and tear, unless you can prove the item is less than three years old.

Yes. Loss and damage to contents stored in an outbuilding can be protected up to 10% of your contents sum insured. For more information, please refer directly to your policy documentation.

Should you want cover for every eventuality and customise your Contents Insurance policy, Gallagher also offers a range of insurance add-ons applicable to your needs and lifestyle. Check your policy schedule to see if you have any of the below already included in your policy, or call us to discuss your requirements:

• Home Emergency – which provides a 24-hour emergency helpline and engineer service for home emergencies
• Personal legal protection – which provides up to £50,000 to help you and family members deal with legal matters
• Garden secure cover – which covers your garden and fences in the event of damage
• Key Cover – which protects house, office, garage and car keys up to £1,000

Yes. Many people believe carpets are covered under the buildings insurance because they are fitted, however this is not the case. If you want cover for spillages or burns on carpets you would need to include full accidental damage on your contents policy.

Knowing the entire value of contents in your home can be difficult. This is why we automatically provide you with up to £100,000 cover for your contents so you don’t need to go room to room tallying up the value of your possessions.

In insurance, the term ‘high-risk items’ or ‘high-risk property’ refers to possessions you own such as jewellery, precious stones, watches, works of art, and stamp/coin/medal collections. If they are worth under £2,000 each they will automatically be covered under your policy.

• £100,000 worth of cover for the contents of your home
• £10,000 to cover rent or alternative accommodation if you cannot live in your home whilst repairs are being carried out
• 10% of your contents sum insured for loss or damage to contents left in an outbuilding
• £500 to cover your items left in the open, such as garden furniture
• £1,000 for the accidental loss of metered water or oil in your domestic heating system
• £2,500 for loss of downloaded electronic data
• £2,500 in the event of loss or damage to the deeds of your property or other legal documents
• £500 worth of money, in the event of loss

Policy limits and exclusions may apply, please see the policy wording for full terms and conditions.

No. Our policyholders are only required to declare items that are worth more than £2,000 and are defined as ‘valuable’. Items we consider to be ‘valuable’ are as follows:

• Clocks
• Antiques
• Stamp collections, coins and medals
• Pictures, sculptures and other works of art
• Gold, silver and other precious metals and stones

Please note that your insurer may require proof of valuation for items worth over £2,000 in the form of a purchase receipt within the first few weeks of your policy. This is to ensure that any claims you make are not unnecessarily delayed or rejected.

Policy limits and exclusions may apply, please see the policy wording for full terms and conditions.

Should you wish to make an amendment to any of your existing policies with Gallagher, please log into your self service portal or contact our customer service team on 0800 29 88 707 who will be happy to discuss any changes you may require. When making an amendment you will be advised of any changes to your policy terms and endorsements. A fee and premium change may also be applicable, which will be outlined to you.

Yes. If you have opted for Personal Belongings cover, your mobile phone will also be protected under this policy. However, it is worth noting that mobile phones used for business purposes will not be covered.

To ensure you have the best cover possible, you will need to inform your insurer of any business equipment you own and would like to be included in your cover. Please note that there are limits to the highest amount of cover available.

Policy limits and exclusions may apply, please see the policy wording for full terms and conditions

You can pay for your policy monthly or yearly. To spread the cost of your home insurance and pay monthly you can set up a Direct Debit on your bank account. You can also use Direct Debit to pay annually if you wish, or pay by debit or credit card to renew your policy each year.

First you will need to register an insurance quote with Gallagher either online or by speaking to one of our UK-based advisors on our helpline 0800 29 88 707. You will then receive a quotation pack in the post which will include a change of insurer form. Fill this form in and then send it on to your previous insurers to notify them that you have decided to switch providers.

In most of our policies an excess will be required when making a claim, though this can vary depending on the nature of the claim at hand. It’s worth noting that there are two different types of excess that are applied to an insurance policy: voluntary and compulsory excess. Voluntary excess is an agreed amount that each customer voluntarily contributes towards any claims made – this generally helps to reduce the overall cost of your insurance. Compulsory excess is the amount you are required to pay as stipulated by your insurer with regards to claims where the customer has some degree of responsibility for any damage incurred. Details about your policy’s excess will be shown clearly on your insurance quote, in writing (if requested) and also on the policy documentation once purchased.

Yes, you can opt to pay a voluntary excess on top of your compulsory excess and in return you may receive a discount on your premium.

Yes. You will need to inform us if you are planning on leaving your home for more than 60 days as your insurer may need to add new terms to your policy to cover your home while you are away so as not to invalidate your insurance.

Yes. We require all of our policyholders to alert us at once to any planned structural changes you are making to your property. This is because work undertaken can sometimes alter the layout of a property, change the electrics or plumbing, and even lead to incidents like injury or structural damage. If you don’t tell us about your renovations, it may result in your current cover becoming void.

We charge administration fees in respect of the operational cost of setting up, administering or cancelling your policy, e.g. postage, stationery and licensing fees. Administration fees are not subject to Insurance Premium Tax and are separate to any commission earned for our services.

Should you wish to make an amendment to any of your existing policies with Gallagher, please contact our customer service team on 0800 519 0729 who will be happy to discuss any changes you may require. When making an amendment you will be advised of any changes to your policy terms and endorsements. A fee and premium change may also be applicable, which will be outlined to you.

You can cancel your policy within 14 days of the date you first receive your policy documentation or the start of your insurance cover, whichever is later, by calling us on 0800 519 0729. If no claims have been made we will refund the premium you have paid. You may terminate your cover any time after this period by telling us either in writing or by telephone. A £30 administration fee will be incurred. If you have already submitted a new claim or are intending to make a claim during the period you have been on cover, Gallagher will keep an amount of premium in proportion to the time you have been on cover. If you are paying by instalments, you must also continue to pay your premiums up to your agreed policy expiration/renewal date.

As you approach the end of your policy we will send you a renewal invitation by email or by post. Existing customers will receive their renewal quote in the mail 6 weeks before the policy’s expiration date. You will receive a call from one of our advisors should you wish to address any questions or changes to your cover. If you do not pay monthly through Direct Debit, please contact our customer service team on 0800 519 0729 who will be able to renew your insurance for you there and then. We do charge a £50 renewal fee, to cover the costs of administering your policy.

Policy limits and exclusions may apply, please see the policy wording for full terms and conditions.

Premium Credit Limited (PCL) is Gallagher’s chosen financial partner. They are specialist financiers in managing insurance premiums and high street store purchases. PCL covers insurance payments for all of our customers who opt to pay their premiums on a monthly basis through an agreed instalment scheme. For more information please visit http://www.premium-credit.co.uk/

If you would like to contact PCL you can do so by telephoning 0844 736 9836 or by mailing their head office at: Premium Credit Limited, Premium Credit House, 60 East Street, Epsom, Surrey, KT17 1HB.

Your credit agreement will arrive with a covering letter from Premium Credit Limited on a double-sided A4 document.

Your credit agreement will be dispatched separately from your policy documents, usually within 2 – 4 weeks of your cover’s start date. However, if your policy is set up 4 weeks or more before the start date of your insurance, your credit documents will be sent out 4 weeks before your cover starts.

If you opt to pay via Direct Debit, Premium Credit Limited (PCL) will provide finance for your insurance premiums and collect payments on our behalf. PCL therefore requires signed confirmation of your agreed payment plan before assisting with your monthly payments.