Home insurance is designed to protect your property’s structure and contents against loss, theft or damage caused by flooding,  fire or storms. In recent years it become compulsory requirement to insure your home. In case of emergency you’ll be able to claim repair or replacement costs for  the following, depending on your policy

• Furniture,
• Gadgets: laptops, mobile phones, tablets, games consoles, TV’s
• Home appliances like kettles toasters, microwaves, pots and pans
• Doors or locks as a result of theft or vandalism
• The entire cost of rebuilding your home
• Garden contents, like tools, fencing, sheds, pipes, drains

Contents insurance covers the cost of replacing your possessions if they are damaged, destroyed or stolen. It includes everything you would take with you if you moved home including:

• furniture,
• kitchen appliances,
• curtains,
• bedding,
• clothing,
• television,
• computing equipment and jewellery

Limited accidental damage is covered under home insurance policies, but more comprehensive cover for accidents costs extra. Your contents policy may protect you for mishaps that damage your stereo equipment, while your buildings insurance may include cover for windows and skylights.

You can use your home insurance to cover your portable items, such as your handbag, mobile phone or tablet, while you are outside of the home and overseas under a personal possessions extension (sometimes called an all-risks extension). However, there are restrictions on what’s covered, so check with the insurer to make sure you know what you are paying for.

As leaving your home empty is likely to make it more at risk from thieves and more susceptible to damage, insurers can restrict your cover in these circumstances. Most insurers will cover your home on the condition that it will not be left unattended for more than 30 consecutive days, so, if this is likely to be the case, let your insurer know.

There is usually a limit on the amount of cover for high-value items, such as jewellery or audio-visual equipment. If you have expensive possessions, check your policy carefully.

Some policies won’t cover any liability arising from your business or trade if you run it from your home.

An excess is the amount you have to pay towards any claim you make on your home insurance policy. For example, if you have a claim worth £250 and you have a £50 excess, you’ll only receive £200 from your provider.

Most home insurers have two types of excess: a compulsory excess, which the insurer sets and can’t be modified; and a voluntary excess, which you can set yourself.

Remember to set your voluntary excess carefully. If you’re willing to contribute a large amount towards a claim, your insurer will reward you with a lower premium, but this could make claiming on your policy very expensive.