Home Insurance Jargon Buster

Getting a quote for buildings and / or contents insurance can be extremely time-consuming if you visit each provider individually. That’s why we recommend you use a site like moneyhelpline.com. We ask you just one set of questions, and then provide you with quotes from a whole range of different providers.

If you’re unsure about some of the technical terms that insurers use, then help is at hand. We’ve put together this home insurance jargon buster to help explain some of the most common terms.

If you’ve got any more suggestions for the jargon buster, please let us know.

A – D | E – M | N - Z

Accidental Damage

Typically offered as an extension to standard cover on both buildings and contents insurance. This covers your buildings and / or contents for damage caused by incidents of an accidental nature, such as spilling wine on carpets or putting your foot through the ceiling while in the loft.

Buildings Cover

Cover for the building itself, together with its permanent fixtures and fittings, which usually includes:

domestic outbuildings
swimming pools
tennis courts
paths, drives, patios and terraces
walls, gates and fences
fixed fuel tanks

Broker

Brokers or intermediaries are used by many insurance companies to sell their services. They have access to a number of companies and their products, and in some cases can negotiate better deals directly with the insurance company.

Claims

An application to an insurance company to compensate you for a loss.

Contents Cover

Cover for the household goods and personal property within your home, which usually include:

furniture
cash, credit cards, deeds, registered bonds and other personal documents
jewellery, articles made from gold, silver and other precious metals, watches and furs
clocks, collectors’ items, pictures and other works of art
photographic equipment, binoculars, guns, telescopes and musical instruments

to start a comparison and get a home insurance quote.