Buildings insurance covers the cost of rebuilding or repairing for damage or loss to the structure of your property. At Zurich, our home insurance covers your buildings, where "buildings" is selected as part of your policy.
What is buildings insurance and what does it cover?
Buildings insurance is a cover that can pay to rebuild or repair the structure of your property if it’s damaged or destroyed, including the cost of site clearance and architect's’ fees. It covers the physical structure of a property– such as walls, floors and roof – against damage, loss, and theft. Permanent fixtures and fittings within your home, including bathroom suites, fitted kitchens and built-in wardrobes as well as external structures – such as outbuildings, garages, garden sheds, boundary walls, fences, hedges, plants etc., are also covered by buildings insurance.
Buildings insurance can cover against damage caused by events such as fire, storms, or floods, as well as vandalism or subsidence.
Keep in mind that buildings insurance is usually required if you are buying you home through a mortgage lender.
The amount you insure your home for is the buildings sum insured. The buildings sum insured is the cost to rebuild your home and not the market value or the amount your paid for it. If your property is underinsured, you may not receive the full amount necessary to rebuild, repair or replace it in the event of partial or complete damage. Make sure you review the buildings sum insured each year.
How much buildings insurance do you need?
How much buildings insurance cover do I need?’ is a common question many people ask and making sure that your property is adequately insured is crucial. The amount you insure your home for is the buildings sum insured. The buildings sum insured is the cost to rebuild your home and not the market value or the amount your paid for it.
To be totally confident that your home is fully insured, contact an independent surveyor, who will calculate the exact rebuilding cost of your home. The Society of Chartered Surveyors provide a rebuild calculator to give you an indication of the rebuilding cost of your house.
If your property is underinsured, you may not receive the full amount necessary to rebuild, repair or replace it in the event of partial or complete damage. It's important that you review the buildings sum insured each year.
Home insurance with buildings cover
With Zurich you can take out buildings cover together with contents cover, as part of a comprehensive home insurance policy, to insure both the structure of your property and your belongings.
Buildings-only insurance
If you are a landlord and only need to insure the property you rent out – without covering the contents – you can do so as part of a landlord insurance policy, instead.
Home Emergency Assistance
Whether it’s a case of burst pipes, a leaking roof or electrical failure, our experienced staff will offer you immediate assistance, day or night, 24/7 by calling 0818 208 408.
Zurich, along with our assistance company, provide an Emergency Helpline, to ensure that customers get the assistance they need. In the event of a household emergency, we will arrange for an approved contractor to call to your home and assist you. This benefit – once included as per your Policy Booklet – will cover you for up to 4 incidents per year, up to €300 per incident. Please note this cover applies to your Home only, and not your garage or any outbuildings.
Save up to 29% online*
Save up to 29%* when you get an online home insurance quote and use the promocode “Protect”. For more details, call us in Wexford on 0818 400 700 or (053) 911 0442.
When you take out Home Insurance with Zurich, you can be confident that you are receiving a quality product at a competitive price. With Zurich, you are guaranteed a prompt, timely and efficient service in the event of a claim because we know you want to get your life back to normal with as little fuss and inconvenience as possible.
*Save up to 4% with the 'Protect' promocode discount and up to a further 10% discount when you get an online quote and buy a new home insurance policy online from Zurich. Simply enter ‘Protect’ in the promotional code box when you get your online home quote. This offer is available to new customers in the first year only and not available to existing Zurich home insurance customers. We offer an additional 5% discount on your home insurance if you have an existing insurance policy with Zurich. We also offer a minimum additional discount of 10% if you have been claims free for 4 years or more. Offer is valid until 31st December 2024. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other Zurich home insurance offer. All premiums including discounts are subject to the minimum premium. Discounts do not apply to optional add-ons.