Home legal expenses
Covers legal costs for issues like conveyancing, probate, and disputes with neighbours.
Direct: Optional add-on
Essential: Optional add-on
Premier: Included
Hastings Direct home insurance
Compare Hastings Direct home insurance quotes.
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How good is Hastings Direct home insurance?
Hastings Direct has more than 25 years’ experience in insurance, and it scores an Excellent 4.4 out of 5 from around 192,000 Trustpilot reviews across all products. It offers Essential, Direct and Premier policies, with buildings-only, contents-only or combined cover, while extras include home emergency and legal cover.
Hastings Direct underwrites 90% of their policies through a Gibraltar-based insurer, Advantage Insurance Company Limited. Data from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) shows that Advantage Insurance Company Limited accepted 60-65%[2] of combined buildings and contents insurance claims.
Is Hastings Direct home insurance highly rated?
Hastings Direct's highest-tier contents and buildings policy, Premier, receives the maximum five-star Defaqto rating for features and benefits, while its standard tier home insurance policies are rated five stars for buildings cover and four stars for contents. Defaqto is a leading independent reviewer of financial products.
Does Hastings Direct offer contents insurance?
Yes, Hastings Direct offers contents-only insurance as well as combined buildings and contents cover. You can choose from Hastings Essential, Hastings Direct and Hastings Premier, depending on the level of protection you need.
All three tiers cover your belongings against insured events such as theft, vandalism, fire and smoke. They also include new-for-old replacement and alternative accommodation for you, your family and your pets if your home cannot be lived in.
Higher tiers come with broader cover and additional benefits. Hastings Premier includes home emergency cover and home legal expenses as standard, including up to £100,000 towards eligible legal costs, while these can be optional extras with other policies.
What will a Hastings Direct home insurance policy cover me for?
All Hastings Direct contents and buildings home insurance policies include some cover for damage and loss caused by the following events:
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Theft and attempted theft
Stolen items and break-in damage
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Fire
Fire, smoke, lightning and explosion damage
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Alternative accommodation
Temporary housing if your home can't be lived in
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Escape of water
Leaks from pipes, tanks and appliances
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Liability cover
If you are responsible for a third party injury or property damage
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Locks and keys
Replacement locks for lost or stolen keys
What extras can I add to my Hastings Direct home insurance?
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Home emergency cover
Covers emergency callouts and services from tradespeople, like plumbers, electricians.
Direct: Optional add-on
Essential: Optional add-on
Premier: Included
What is included in Hastings Direct Home Insurance Direct and Premier?
Hastings Direct and Hastings Premier provide more comprehensive protection than Hastings Essential. Buildings cover rises to as much as £1 million with Direct and Premier, compared with £500,000 on Essential. Contents cover is also higher on Premier, reaching up to £150,000, while both Essential and Direct offer up to £75,000.
Premier includes additional benefits that are not standard on the lower tiers. These include up to £100,000 of home legal expenses cover and built-in home emergency cover. It also carries a Defaqto 5 Star rating for its buildings and contents insurance, reflecting its broader level of protection.
However, home legal expenses and home emergency cover can be added as optional extras to Essential and Direct policies. This means you may not need to choose Premier if you only want one of these features, as you can tailor a lower-tier policy to suit your needs.
Is it worth upgrading to Hastings Direct or Platinum Home Insurance?
Upgrading to Hastings Direct may be worthwhile if your home would cost more than £500,000 to rebuild, as it doubles the buildings cover available with Essential. However, both tiers have the same £75,000 contents limit.
Hastings Premier may suit you if you have belongings worth more than £75,000 or want home emergency and legal expenses cover included as standard. Compare the price difference with the cost of adding these products separately before choosing.
If the Essential limits are enough and you do not need the extra features, sticking with the cheapest tier could save you money while still providing benefits such as alternative accommodation, new-for-old contents cover and access to a 24-hour claims helpline.
Is Hastings Direct the best company to insure my home with?
Which home insurer is best for you will depend on your own needs and circumstances. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of Hastings Direct home insurance to help you make your decision:
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Pros of Hastings Direct home insurance
Hastings Essential, Hastings Direct and Hastings Premier give customers a choice between basic protection and more comprehensive cover.
Its highest tier includes home emergency cover and up to £100,000 of home legal expenses cover as standard
Hastings Premier provides up to £200,000 for alternative accommodation if an insured event leaves your home uninhabitable
Contents cover automatically increases by £7,500 during holidays, religious festivals, weddings and other special events
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Cons of Hastings Direct home insurance
Advantage Insurance Company Limited, Hastings Group’s underwriting business, accepted 65-70%[2] of combined home insurance claims in 2024, below the industry average of 70.7%[2]
Hastings Direct received a Which? claims score of 53%[5], placing it 21st out of 24 brands. It received one-star ratings for communication clarity and how well its claims service was coordinated
Unspecified valuables and personal possessions are limited to £1,500 per item, accidental damage remains an optional extra and some cover is restricted once the home has been unoccupied for 30 days
Hastings charges 26.9% APR for monthly payments, £35 for cancelling after the cooling-off period and £12.50 when a policy is arranged or renewed through its call centre
How does Hastings Direct home insurance compare to other home insurance policies?
Data below is for standard combined buildings and contents home insurance policies. Ratings and inclusions may be different for individual policy types and for higher-tier policies with more features and inclusions.
Hastings Direct | Admiral Standard | Saga Select | Esure | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Defaqto Rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Which? claims rating[6] | 53%[5] | 68%[5] | 51%[5] | N/A |
Claims payout rate[2] | 65-70%[2] | 50-55%[2] | 70-75%[2] | 55-60%[2] |
Single item limit | £1,500 | £2,000 | £2,500 | £1,499 |
Office equipment covered? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Administration fees | £20 for certain changes, others are free £35 to cancel | £25 to change policy £39.50 to cancel | No fee to change policy £35 to cancel | £20 to change policy £58 to cancel |
Further information |
How do I contact Hastings Direct?
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Online Portal
You can use the MyAccount portal to:
Make changes to your policy
View policy documents
Change payment details
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Phone
The customer service number is: 0333 321 9801
Opening hours: Mon-Fri: 8am-7pm, Sat: 9am-5pm, Sun: 9am-1pm
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App
You can also reach out to the Hastings Direct customer service team any time though the mobile app - you can find a QR code on the provider's website.
How do I make a home insurance claim with Hastings Direct?
If you need to make a claim on your Hastings Direct home insurance policy, contact Hastings Direct as soon as possible after an incident.
You’ll usually need your policy number, details of what happened (date, time, location), and evidence of the damage. This could include photos, videos, receipts, repair estimates or, if a crime was involved, a crime reference number from the police.
Hastings Direct claims line:
0333 003 2336
Claims lines are open 24/7
You can also start a claim online, by logging into your MyAccount.
How do I cancel my Hastings Direct home insurance?
🚩 You will not get any money refunded if you have already made a claim on your home insurance
You can cancel your Hastings Direct home insurance online or you can call them.
The number is 0333 321 9801
I'm coming up for renewal
You can tell Hastings Direct at any point up until your renewal date that you do not wish to renew your policy.
There is no charge for not renewing.
I've just taken out a policy
If you cancel your Hastings Direct home insurance within the first 14 days of your policy starting you will be entitled to a refund of the premiums you paid minus a pro-rated amount for the days you were covered.
Hastings Direct will charge you a £35 admin fee, which will be taken out of your refund.
If you wish to cancel your policy at any time later than 14 days after it has started, you may be entitled to a partial refund of the premiums you paid, minus a pro-rated amount for the days you were covered.
Hastings Direct will charge you a £35 admin fee, which will be taken out of your refund.
My policy has auto-renewed
If you cancel your Hastings Direct home insurance within the first 14 days of your policy auto-renewing you will be entitled to a refund of the premiums you paid minus a pro-rated amount for the days you were covered.
Hastings Direct will charge you a £35 admin fee, which will be taken out of your refund.
If you wish to cancel your policy at any time later than 14 days after it has auto-renewed, you may be entitled to a partial refund of the premiums you paid, minus a pro-rated amount for the days you were covered.
Hastings Direct will charge you a £35 admin fee, which will be taken out of your refund.
What other products does Hastings Direct sell?
Alongside home insurance, Hastings Direct offers a number of other insurance products:
Who underwrites Hastings Direct home insurance?
Hastings Direct arranges home insurance through a panel of insurers, so the company underwriting your policy can vary.
Around 90% of Hastings Group policies are underwritten by Advantage Insurance Company Limited, its own underwriting business. However, you should check your quote or policy documents to confirm which insurer covers you.
Can I pay Hastings Direct home insurance in monthly instalments?
Yes, Hastings Direct lets you pay annually or spread the cost through monthly instalments.
Monthly payments are provided through a credit agreement and include interest, so paying annually is usually cheaper overall. The exact rate and total cost will be shown before you buy.
Does Hastings Direct home insurance cover subsidence?
Yes, Hastings Direct home insurance can cover damage caused by subsidence as standard, provided the property meets its eligibility requirements.
You may not be offered cover if the property has previously suffered subsidence or has had a related claim. A higher excess normally applies to subsidence claims.
Does Hastings Direct home insurance cover home emergencies and boiler breakdowns?
Home emergency cover is included as standard with Hastings Premier and can be added to lower tiers for an additional cost.
It provides up to £500 of cover for emergencies such as the breakdown of your main heating system or a failure of your electricity, gas or water supply. It is intended for sudden emergencies rather than routine maintenance, servicing or gradual wear and tear.
Does Hastings Direct home insurance cover belongings away from home?
You can add personal possessions cover to protect belongings taken outside your home, including items such as jewellery, bicycles and sports equipment.
The standard single-item limit is generally £1,500. Higher-value belongings must be individually listed, while laptops and bicycles worth more than £350 may also need to be specified on the policy.
Does Hastings Direct home insurance cover gardens and outbuildings?
Hastings Direct buildings insurance can cover sheds, garages and other permanent outbuildings within your property’s boundary.
What is the excess on Hasting's home insurance ?
The excess you pay depends on your policy, underwriter and type of claim. It can include:
A compulsory policy excess
Any voluntary excess selected when buying cover
A higher escape-of-water excess
A separate subsidence excess
Which? found that the Hastings Premier policies it assessed had an escape-of-water excess of between £500 and £750, depending on the policy, and a £1,000 subsidence excess. Check your quote and policy schedule for the amounts that apply to you.
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At MoneySuperMarket, we want to give you clear, accurate and trustworthy information so you can make confident financial decisions for your circumstances.
Every page on our website goes through a careful editorial process before it is published. It’s written or reviewed by one of our experienced experts, checked for accuracy, and updated regularly to reflect the latest information.
We do use AI tools to support our research and drafting, but a human editor is always in the loop to review, fact-check and approve everything before it’s published, so you can trust that what you’re reading is both reliable and up to date.
You can read more in our editorial guidelines.
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We get paid by the companies we work with, but the payment we get doesn’t have any bearing on the information we provide. We get paid in different ways, depending on the type of product or service you buy through us. Our goal is to search deals from as wide a range of companies as possible, but we only show results from our partner providers.
Our comparison service is, and will always be, free to use.
Why should I use a price comparison website?
One of the best ways to get the lowest prices and best deals is to compare quotes from different companies. We do the work for you, comparing quotes side-by-side and giving you all the information you need so you can choose the right deal for your needs and your wallet.
We don’t give recommendations or financial advice, but we give you clear information so you can choose financial products that suit your circumstances.
Does MoneySuperMarket work with all the providers on the market?
No, not every company can be included in our service. This is because some companies don’t want their products included on comparison sites, and some decide that they would rather not pay a fee. There are also a few smaller providers who can struggle to cope with the volume of customers that can find their products if they appear on MoneySuperMarket.
Our goal is to search deals from as wide a range of companies as possible so that you can choose the deal that suits you.
Is home insurance eligible for SuperSaveClub and rewards?
Yes, you can earn SuperSaveClub rewards when you buy home insurance through MoneySuperMarket.
This includes:
Up to £15, which you can withdraw as a pre-paid Mastercard or a gift card for brands like Sainsbury's and Amazon.co.uk
Free Days Out pass (worth £180), which gives free entry to a range of UK attractions
Cashback of up to 10% when you spend at brands including eBay, Just Eat and Argos
To earn SuperSaveClub rewards on purchases you must:
Sign up to SuperSaveClub (it's free)
Be signed in to your account when you make the purchase
More information can be found on our SuperSaveClub homepage.
Is home insurance eligible for Price Promise?
Yes, home insurance is included in our Super Save Price Promise.
If you buy through us then find the same deal for less we will:
refund the difference
give you a gift card worth £15
Terms and conditions apply. More information can be found on our Price Promise page.
Reviewed on 16 Sep 2026 by
Sources and supporting information
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[1]
YouGov Survey 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025. Net Recommend score derived from “Which of the following online service websites would you recommend to a friend or colleague, or tell them to avoid?” Base: Current Customers of (MoneySuperMarket n=18,382, Compare the Market n=16,802, Go.Compare n=10,162, Confused.com n=8,229, Uswitch n=528).
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[2]
Source: Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), 2025. 'General insurance value measures data 2024' https://www.fca.org.uk/data/general-insurance-value-measures-data-2024#revisions
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[3]
Defaqto is a leading independent reviewer of financial products. Five stars is for 'an excellent product with a comprehensive range of features and benefits'.
Individual insurance products from Hastings Direct may have different ratings. Data from the Defaqto website. Data from June 2026.
-
[4]
Defaqto is a leading independent reviewer of financial products. Four stars is for 'A product with a good level of features and benefits'.
Individual insurance products from Hastings Direct may have different ratings. Data from the Defaqto website. Data from June 2026.
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[5]
Source: Which?, 2025, Best UK home insurance policies and providers compared?, https://www.which.co.uk/money/insurance/home-and-mobile-insurance/home-insurance-reviews/best-and-worst-home-insurance-abtdC2Z1qveJ
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[6]
The independent review site Which? has created claims scores for 35 leading home insurers based on interviews with 2,804 members of the public who had made an insurance claim in the last two years. Claim scores are based on how satisfied these claimants were with their provider and how likely they would be to recommend them in the future. You can see more on the Which? website: https://www.which.co.uk/money/insurance/home-and-mobile-insurance
