Expert answers for common home insurance questions

Your home may be your most valuable asset, so protecting it should be a priority.

Here we answer your questions about home insurance, to look after your four walls - and the things you love inside it.

How much should I insure my home for? 

We’re buying our first house, a three bedroom semi, for £329,000, but our buildings insurance quote covers a cost of up to £225,000. Do we need to take out a higher level of cover?

Pritesh, Birmingham

Understanding the cost of rebuilding

Buildings insurance will pay for your home to be completely rebuilt if necessary. The cost of rebuilding is different to the market value, as it does not have to cover the price of the land your home sits on.

You can check your rebuild cost using the Association of British Insurers calculator here.

What do I need to insure when working from home? 

I have switched to working from home since the pandemic began - does my home insurance cover computer equipment supplied by my employer?

Monika, Bristol

It’ll depend on your employer

Your work equipment should be covered by your employers business insurance - check this is the case as it is unlikely to be covered by your home insurance.

You may also need to tell your insurer you are working from home, if your circumstances have changed since you took out the policy.

There should be no extra cost if you are carrying out standard office and admin tasks, but you may need extra cover, such as public liability insurance, if you are meeting clients in your home.

Your policy may also exclude "items used for business purposes". Many insurers waived this exclusion during lockdown, but you should check your policy documents as workplaces return to pre-pandemic practices.

What insurance do renters need? 

I'm renting my own flat for the first time. What insurance do I need?

Claire, Manchester

Contents insurance covers your stuff

The building should be insured by your landlord, but they are unlikely to provide contents insurance to cover your possessions if they are lost, stolen or damaged.

Cover available varies widely - and so does the cost - so think carefully about the level of protection you actually need.

TSB's Essential and Enhanced home insurance lets you choose the level of cover that suits your needs. 

Read policy documents carefully, so you know what is excluded, and what you may want to add, such as accidental damage or additional cover for pedal cycles. 

You may also need to tell your insurer about high value single items such as jewellery.

TSB's comprehensive guide to home insurance is here.

TSB Essential and Enhanced home insurance is brought to you by TSB Bank plc and underwritten by Aviva Insurance Limited. Terms, conditions and policy exclusions apply. 18+ and UK resident only.

Do I need to insure my child at university? 

Do I need to insure my child at university? My daughter is going away to university. Are her possessions covered on my home insurance policy?

Geoff, Wakefield

It’ll depend on your insurance policy

Some home insurance policies allow you to add cover for a childs possessions while they are studying away from home. 

Cover available varies widely - and so does the cost - so think carefully about the level of protection you actually need.

TSB's Essential and Enhanced home insurance lets you choose the level of cover that suits your needs. 

Read policy documents carefully, so you know what is excluded, and what you may want to add, such as accidental damage or additional cover for pedal cycles. 

You may also need to tell your insurer about high value single items such as jewellery.

TSB's comprehensive guide to home insurance is here.

TSB Essential and Enhanced home insurance is brought to you by TSB Bank plc and underwritten by Aviva Insurance Limited. Terms, conditions and policy exclusions apply. 18+ and UK resident only.

*These questions and answers are based on frequently asked questions and are not attributable to actual customers.

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