Home insurance for moving house
Key takeaways
Your contents insurance policy might protect your belongings while you move house if you have the right cover - if not you should be able to take it out as an extra
You won’t usually be covered for things like dents or scratches, or damage to important financial documents, or items valued over your single item limit
Once you’ve moved home, you can transfer your insurance policy over - but you might also want to insure your old home while it’s unoccupied
What insurance do I need when moving home?
Contents insurance
If you’re moving to a new home, you will want to make sure your belongings are covered should any of them be lost, stolen or damaged during the move.
Your current contents insurance may already protect you. Check if you have a policy that allows for your belongings to be ‘temporarily removed from your home'.
Removals insurance
If you’re using a removals company to help you move home, check if they provide insurance as standard or as a paid extra. If it’s not included then it’s worth looking around and comparing quotes.
Goods in transit insurance
Goods in transit insurance may be included as part of your home insurance, but if not you can add it as an extra.
It will insure your belongings while they’re being moved - but to be eligible they must be moved by a professional company.
Storage insurance
You might need to keep your belongings in storage between moves, and it’s unlikely your standard contents insurance will cover this. Some policies may offer it as an extra, or you can also take out separate cover, or your storage company may offer their own insurance.
Can I transfer my home insurance policy to my new house?
Yes, you can transfer your home insurance policy to your new home - it’s vital you inform your insurer before the exchange date to ensure you’ll be covered in time.
Remember your premiums are likely to change based on the new property and its location, while any purchases you make for your new home should also be reported as they could affect your contents cover.
When should I cancel my old policy?
If you’re buying a fresh home insurance policy for your new home, the best time to cancel your old home insurance policy is when you’re no longer legally responsible for it, which is usually when you exchange contracts with the buyer of your old property. It's wise to have overlapping cover to account for any delays or complications that may arise during the property transaction.
Do I need to insure my home while it’s unoccupied?
Standard home insurance policies won’t cover unoccupied homes for longer than 30 days. If you know either your new or old home will be empty for longer than this, you should take out separate unoccupied home insurance cover to protect against things like theft or burglary, or damage caused from things like burst pipes.
What other insurance do I need for my new home?
Once you’ve moved home, it’s worth considering the following types of cover aside from your standard home insurance policy:
Income protection insurance can help cover mortgage repayments if you're unable to work due to injury or illness
Life insurance provides financial protection for your loved ones in case of your death or critical illness
There are also optional extras that can be added to your policy for additional peace of mind, such as accidental damage cover, legal protection cover, and home emergency cover
Compare home insurance quotes
Finding affordable home insurance for your valuables is easier when you compare quotes with MoneySuperMarket. Just tell us about yourself, your buildings, contents and valuables, and the type of cover you want to take out, and we’ll show you a list of deals from providers across the market.
You’ll be able to compare deals by the overall cost, the excess you’ll pay and the cover you’ll get, and once you’ve decided, just click through to finalise your purchase.
Who is responsible for insuring the new property between exchange and completion?
The person who is responsible for insuring the property is usually outlined in your contract with the seller (or with the buyer, if you are the one selling the property).
Usually it's the buyer who is responsible for keeping the property insured after the exchange, even if you haven't moved in yet, but there are some exceptions to this. For example, the seller may have a separate contract or a leasehold agreement that requires insurance.
Can I get temporary home insurance while I move in?
For standard home insurance cover, the minimum length of a policy is 12 months. If you only want temporary home insurance, this is still a good length of time to keep you and your home protected while you move in and get settled.
However, if you're looking for a policy that has an even shorter term, the only available type of short-term policy is for unoccupied properties. Unoccupied home insurance will provide you with short-term buildings insurance while the property is empty, lasting a maximum of 60 days. This type of cover does not come with a standard home insurance policy, so you will need to purchase a separate policy for it. Some providers, however, may offer it as an add-on that can be added to your home insurance policy at a cost.
Can I transfer an existing home insurance policy to a new home?
Whether you can transfer your policy will depend on your provider. Some will allow you to transfer your policy to your new home but that doesn't mean that your insurance price will be the same. Your insurer will likely recalculate the cost of your insurance to factor in the value and risks of your new home.
So, before you commit to transferring your old policy, it may be worthwhile to check the market and see if you can get a better deal for a new home insurance policy elsewhere.
Can I keep insuring my old property if I'm renting it out?
If you are moving out of a property with the intention of renting it to someone else, you will need to take out a new insurance policy. Standard home insurance won't cover you in situations like this. Instead, what you will need is landlord insurance. Landlord insurance will still insure the building and contents that belong to you, but it can also cover lost rent, liability claims, and emergency call-outs.
