What is high-value home contents insurance?

Key takeaways

• You might need high value home insurance if you own a very expensive home or very valuable items, as standard home insurance is likely to have a limit

• You’ll typically need specialist cover if you have single items worth £25,000 or more, or the combined value of your valuable items is £50,000 or more

• You will most likely need specialist insurance if your home has a rebuild cost of over £1 million, has a swimming pool, gym, or home cinema, or is made from non-standard materials or is listed

What is high-value home insurance?

High-value home insurance is specialist cover for expensive homes and contents, which exceed the typical value limits set by standard home insurance policies.

It’s also referred to as high net worth home insurance.

Top tip: For buildings insurance, if you have a high-value property or non-standard home, read our guides: ‘How to insure a listed building’ , ‘How to work out the rebuild cost of your home’, and/or ‘Understanding non-standard home insurance’

Do I need high-value home insurance?

You might need high-value home insurance cover, depending on your home’s:

• Rebuild cost: Most standard home insurance policies have a rebuild limit of £1 million (note that your home’s rebuild value is different to its market value)

• Amenities: If you have a swimming pool, gym or home cinema

• Construction: If your home is built from non-standard materials or is a listed building

• Type of contents: If you own expensive fine art, antiques, jewellery, gold and other valuables or collectibles which cost more than £50,000 combined or you have a single item that is worth £25,000 or more

Did you know?

The average property value in England is £291,000, according to the UK House Price Index for January 2025.

How much cover do I have with standard contents insurance?

Cover levels for standard home insurance can vary between insurance companies. Most home contents insurance policies have a maximum sum insured of £50,000, although some offer higher or unlimited cover.

Even if you have unlimited cover there will be a single item limit or policy exclusions so read your policy documents carefully.

Can I get home insurance for single valuable items?

Yes, even with standard home contents insurance it’s possible to get cover for certain valuable items for an extra cost.

Each policy will have a single item limit, usually £1,500 or £2,000. If you have single high value items worth more than the limit you will normally need to list them on your policy and pay more to protect them. This might apply to:

• Expensive bikes and e-scooters

• Jewellery, especially engagement and wedding rings

• Luxury watches

• Pricey cameras, laptops and other electronic equipment

• Valuable artwork

• Antiques

• Large TVs and home cinema set-ups

Your insurance provider will take the value of these items into account when calculating your insurance premium.

How do I work out the total value of my home and contents for insurance?

If you have standard home:

• Use a tool like the the BCIS rebuild cost calculator to work out the rebuild cost . This is the sum to rebuild your house from scratch if it is destroyed not its market value

• Keep a detailed inventory of your contents to ensure that all your valuables are accounted for

If you have an expensive or non-standard home:

• Use a specialist surveyor to physically or virtually appraise the rebuild value of your property. If you use the standard BCIS calculator, it might undervalue your home and you might end up being underinsured

Top tip: Don’t forget to include any outbuildings when working out the total value of your home and its contents

Can I cover more than one property with a high-value home insurance policy?

Yes, some specialist insurance providers will cover multiple properties such as second homes, holiday homes, and rental properties. You may even be able to add high value cars or yachts.

Are my valuables covered away from home?

You’ll need to check your policy documents. Some high-value home insurance policies include cover for possession away from your home as standard, and this may even extend to worldwide cover.

However, other insurance providers might require you to add on personal possession cover to protect them outside the home.

Does high-value home insurance include accidental damage?

Yes, accidental damage is often included in high-value home insurance and can include damage to furniture, carpets, jewellery and other contents, as well as damage to the building itself.

However, it won’t cover wear and tear or damage caused by pets. Read your policy documents carefully to check what is and isn’t covered.

Will high-value home insurance cover my home if it’s in a flood-risk area?

You’ll need to check your policy wording but it is possible to get high-value home insurance if you live in a flood-risk area.

If you’re having difficulty getting cover, contact an insurer which is part of the Government-backed Flood Re scheme - provided your home was built before 1 January 2009.

How can I keep my possessions secure?

• Invest in home security measures such as a burglar alarm and keep certain high value items in a locked safe - these measures might be required by your insurer

• Keep your insurer updated with any new purchases

• Regularly revalue assets as their worth may fluctuate

• Keep receipts, professional valuations and photos of your possessions as you may need them to claim for the loss of a high value item

How can I compare high-value home insurance?

When comparing high-value home insurance make sure you look at the policy exclusions and inclusions to find the right cover for you.

For instance, some policies may include home emergency cover and legal expenses as standard while others may offer these as optional extras.

It’s also worth checking the cover limits for standard home insurance. MoneySuperMarket streamlines the process by gathering information about you, your property, and the items you wish to insure, helping you find the best possible deal.