Household building insurance provides financial protection against unpredictable risks. The insurance pays for the cost of repairing or rebuilding your home if it is damaged by unforeseen events (as detailed in the insurance policy).
Home building insurance protects you when unexpected damage happens to your home.
It pays to fix or rebuild your home if something goes wrong, that is covered by your policy.
We provide building insurance for all leasehold properties as part of your lease agreement. This is because the council is responsible for maintaining the building structure and shared areas.
Our insurance policy is like other comprehensive plans. You do not need extra insurance from your mortgage provider.
Building insurance certificates are included with your service charge estimates. These are sent to all leaseholders at the beginning of each financial year and to all new leaseholders in their welcome pack.
Buildings insurance cover
Your buildings insurance is with Protector Insurance (Policy number: 2803010). It is renewed every year on 1 April.
The insurance will cover:
- the building's structure including walls and foundations
- shared areas of the building
- internal decorations and fixtures in flats
- outbuildings, garages, driveways and patios
- walls and gates you own or are responsible for
The insurance does not cover personal belongings. We recommend you get separate contents insurance to protect your possessions.
The risks covered under the policy for loss or damage to the building include:
- fire, lightning, explosion, aircraft crashes, earthquakes
- electrical power surges
- water or oil leaks
- break-ins or attempted break-ins
- civil unrest, strikes and protests
- malicious damage
- damage from vehicles, animals, storms and floods
- ground movement (subsidence, landslip and heave)
- damage from falling equipment like aerials, satellite dishes, solar panels, wind turbines and security devices
- accidental breakage of fixed glass and double glazing (including the cost of replacement frames) in doors or windows, ceramic hobs, sanitary ware and solar panels fixed that are part of the building
- fallen trees, telegraph poles, pylons or lampposts
- damage to underground pipes and cables (oil, water, gas, electricity, phone lines and drains)
- accidental damage
The insurance does not cover the cost to repair or replace things that are old or worn out.
More information
For information, read the policy summary booklet (PDF, 257KB)
Full terms, conditions and exclusions are set out in the policy document (PDF, 311KB)
Other rules that apply
If you rent out your property, the policy does not cover any damage caused by your tenants, whether it is on purpose or by accident. You may want to get a separate landlord insurance to protect yourself.
If no one lives in your property for 30 days or more in a row, your standard excess fee for all claims will increase from £50 to £250, if you make a claim. Additional conditions and exclusions also apply which are explained in the policy document.
If your home will be empty for more than 30 days, contact home ownership services.
Increasing insurance cover
Your mortgage lender may ask you to increase the buildings insurance cover when you buy a leasehold property or if you are re-mortgaging.
You will need to pay for the buildings insurance premium.
Apply for building insurance increase
Payment and premium
Your annual building insurance premium is charged yearly from April to March and is included in your monthly service charges
Your home has an insurance value based on how much it would cost to rebuild, not its market value. We update this rebuild value each year using the house rebuilding cost index.
Making a claim
To make a claim you will need ro contact Protector insurance:
- telephone 0161 274 9077
- email claims@protectorinsurance.co.uk
- website: www.protectorinsurance.co.uk
A claim must be reported right away, even if the cause of the damage has not been resolved.
In emergencies, Protector can help with urgent repairs and temporary housing if you cannot stay in your home.
You will need to:
- get permission from Protector insurance before making any repairs, even emergency repairs
- report all claims, if you delay reporting a claim it may be denied
- pay £50 excess for most building insurance claims
- pay £1,000 excess for subsidence, landslip, or heave claims
Terrorism protection
Your home is protected against terrorism damage through Ascot via Bowring Marsh. Full details can be found in your policy
If there is a terrorist incident, we will deal with Bowring Marsh on behalf of residents.