Moving to the UK means sorting out a lot of practical things at once. One that often gets pushed down the list is home insurance. The UK has the largest insurance market in Europe and the fourth largest on the planet, so there is no shortage of options. But for someone arriving without a UK credit history or a local understanding of how buildings and contents cover work, it can feel like a maze. The average annual home insurance premium in the UK lands between £200 and £400, yet the difference between a policy that pays out when you need it and one that leaves you exposed comes down to a few specific details that many expats miss.
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This article is general information only and does not constitute professional advice. For your specific situation, consult a qualified professional.
What those numbers don’t tell you is that not all insurers welcome expats equally. Some require a UK credit history or a permanent address history that new arrivals simply don’t have. Others, like Lemonade, have built their products specifically around the fact that a person can arrive in the country with a valid visa and a rental contract but no credit footprint. The difference between a policy that accepts you in ten minutes and one that rejects you on an automated check can be the difference between being covered and being completely uninsured when something goes wrong. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) regulate the industry, so the same baseline consumer protections apply regardless of which provider you end up with. Understanding whether your home is underinsured is a good place to start before you even begin comparing quotes. Here’s what you actually need to know.
If you are new to the UK housing market, the first term you need to get straight is contents insurance.
What I tend to notice is that people who have rented in other countries often assume contents cover is the landlord’s responsibility. In the UK, it is almost always the tenant’s job. Landlords insure the building. You insure what is inside it. That distinction is worth getting right on day one, because a single claim for a stolen laptop or a burst pipe in the kitchen can easily run into thousands of pounds — far more than the annual premium you were trying to save.
Which home insurance providers actually score well, and what you get for your money
Not all home insurance policies are created equal. The consumer group Which? regularly reviews and scores providers based on buildings cover, contents cover, customer service, and claims handling. The average combined score across all providers sits at 69%, which means a lot of policies are delivering a mediocre experience. The ones that break above that average tend to share a few things in common: clear policy wording, decent claims processes, and cover limits that actually match the value of what is being insured.
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| Provider | Combined Score | Buildings Score | Contents Score | On comparison sites? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFU Mutual Bespoke | 86% | 82% | 90% | No |
| LV Home Plus | 81% | 78% | 85% | No |
| M&S Bank Premier | 80% | 77% | 83% | Yes |
| Aviva Signature | 77% | 74% | 79% | Yes |
| AXA Premier | 76% | 85% | 68% | Yes |
| Direct Line Home Plus | 74% | 71% | 77% | No |
What the table shows is that the top-rated provider, NFU Mutual, isn’t available on any comparison site. You have to go direct or through a broker. That alone creates a blind spot if you only use Compare the Market or Go Compare and assume you have seen the whole market. M&S Bank Premier, which scores 80%, does appear on comparison sites, so it is easier to find. But the difference between 80% and 86% is not just a number — it reflects a higher claims satisfaction score and better cover terms for buildings and contents alike.
For an expat renting a flat in London with £15,000 worth of belongings, a contents policy from a provider scoring 68% on contents cover might cost £180 a year. A policy from a provider scoring 90% on contents cover might cost £250. The extra £70 is buying you a significantly better chance of actually being paid out in full if your flat is burgled or a pipe bursts. That is a trade-off worth weighing against your budget, not dismissing.
Where expats trip up on UK home insurance
Assuming your landlord’s insurance covers your stuff
This is the most common mistake, and it is entirely understandable. In many countries, the building owner’s policy extends to tenants’ belongings. In the UK, it almost never does. A landlord’s buildings insurance covers the walls, the roof, the windows, and the fitted kitchen. Your laptop, your sofa, your clothes, and your phone are not covered. If you do not take out a separate contents insurance policy that spells out what is covered, you are effectively self-insuring every item you own. A single burglary in a UK city flat can easily result in £5,000–£10,000 of losses. That is a lot to absorb because you assumed the landlord had it handled.
Not checking the “unoccupied” clause
Many expats rent out their UK property while they are abroad, or they leave it empty for a few months between tenancies. Standard home insurance policies typically limit cover if the property is unoccupied for more than 30 or 60 consecutive days. Exceed that limit and your cover for escape of water, theft, and vandalism can be voided entirely. The fix is straightforward: either switch to a policy that allows longer unoccupancy periods, or take out a specific unoccupied property insurance policy. The cost is higher, but it is cheaper than coming back to a flooded house with no cover.
Underinsuring by guessing rebuild costs
When you own a property, the buildings sum insured should be based on the rebuild cost, not the market value. Market value includes the land. Rebuild cost is just the bricks and mortar. Many expats, especially those buying sight unseen or through a remote process, use the purchase price as the insured amount. That can mean you are paying for cover you do not need, or worse, you are underinsured because the rebuild cost has risen faster than the market value. The Association of British Insurers recommends using a rebuild cost calculator from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors or your insurer’s own tool. Getting it wrong by even 20% can mean a shortfall of tens of thousands on a claim.
Ignoring the excess when comparing quotes
Comparison sites default to a standard excess, typically £50–£150. But the cheapest quote often comes with a higher voluntary excess — sometimes £250 or £500. On a £300 annual premium, a £500 excess means you are covering the first £500 of any claim yourself. If you claim for a £600 repair, you get £100 back. That is a bad deal. I always look at the total excess (voluntary plus compulsory) before I look at the monthly premium. A policy with a slightly higher premium and a lower excess can save you real money when something actually goes wrong.
How to get the right expat home insurance, step by step
Start with what you actually need to insure
Make a list of everything you own that would cost significant money to replace. Furniture, electronics, clothing, kitchen appliances, bicycles, and any high-value items like jewellery or musical instruments. Give each item a rough replacement value. That total is your contents sum insured. If you own the property, get a rebuild cost assessment from your lender or a surveyor. That is your buildings sum insured. Having these numbers ready before you start comparing quotes means you can assess policies on cover quality, not just price. You can use a home inventory app to keep track of everything and make the process easier.
Use comparison sites, but go beyond them
Start with Compare the Market, Go Compare, or Uswitch to get a sense of the market range. Then check the providers that do not appear on comparison sites. NFU Mutual, LV, and Direct Line all sell directly. Their quotes may be higher, but their cover terms and claims scores tend to be better. If you are an expat without a UK credit history, check whether the provider asks for a credit check. Lemonade explicitly does not require one, and some other digital providers are also flexible. If you get rejected by one insurer, do not assume you are uninsurable — try a specialist broker like Adrian Flux or a provider that markets to expats.
Check the exclusions that matter for your situation
Standard policies exclude wear and tear, deliberate damage, and some types of subsidence. But the exclusions that catch expats out are more specific. If you let your property through Airbnb or another short-term let platform, standard home insurance will not cover guest damage or liability — you need specialist short-term let insurance. If you are renovating a property, accidental damage cover is often excluded during building works. If you work from home, your business equipment may not be covered under a standard contents policy. Short-term let risks are a common blind spot that is worth checking before you list your property.
Upcoming changes and what they mean for expats
The FCA has been pushing for greater transparency in insurance pricing, including rules around auto-renewal and loyalty penalties. From 2024, insurers must offer renewing customers a price that is no higher than what a new customer would pay for the same policy. That is good news for expats who tend to stay with the same insurer out of convenience. But it also means you should still shop around at renewal, because the starting price for a new customer may have dropped. The FCA’s Consumer Duty rules, which came into effect in 2023, also require insurers to deliver fair outcomes for customers. That includes making policy documents clearer and ensuring that claims are handled fairly. For expats, this should mean fewer cases of being penalised for a non-UK address history or a lack of local references.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need home insurance if I rent in the UK? ▾
Can I get home insurance as an expat without a UK credit history? ▾
What is the difference between buildings and contents insurance? ▾
How much does home insurance cost for expats in the UK? ▾
What happens if my UK property is empty for several months? ▾
Are comparison sites the best way to find expat-friendly home insurance? ▾
Getting your cover right before you need it
The UK insurance market is deep and competitive, but that depth only helps you if you know where to look and what to ask. The providers that score highest on claims satisfaction and cover quality are often the ones that do not appear on comparison sites. The policies that look cheapest on paper can carry excesses or exclusions that make them poor value when something actually happens. For an expat arriving in the UK, the smartest move is to invest an hour upfront — get a rebuild cost if you own, list your belongings if you rent, and check the unoccupancy and subletting clauses before you sign. A Yale Smart Home Alarm can also help reduce your premium by improving security, and many insurers offer discounts for approved devices.
Remember: this article is general information only. For advice on your specific situation, speak to a qualified professional.
If this was useful, you might also want to read Smart Tips for Disaster Recovery Rental Insurance.
Sources and Further Reading
Accidental Damage Insurance: Is It Worth the Extra Cost for UK Homes? — A closer look at whether adding accidental damage cover makes financial sense for your policy.
Escape of Water Cover: Why Every UK Home Needs It and Why It’s Often Overlooked — Explains one of the most common and costly claims and why it is frequently excluded from basic policies.
Expatica (2024). Insurance in the UK. 🔗
Which? (2024). Home Insurance Reviews. 🔗
Moving to the UK (2024). Insurance Companies for Expats and Residents in the UK. 🔗
