Home FAQs
Find out what you're covered for.
- What is covered by standard Contents Cover?
- What is covered by standard Buildings Cover?
- Do I receive a discount for buying both Buildings and Contents from you?
- Do I receive a discount for buying online?
- I have a desktop PC, is it covered?
- I have a laptop PC, is that covered under my Contents Insurance?
- Do you offer a new for old policy?
- What is a policy excess?
- I work from home will I be covered for liability?
- Do you give a no claims discount on home insurance?
- Is bicycle theft covered by my home insurance?
- What does Personal Possessions cover me for?
- If my credit card is stolen and used am I covered?
- How do I make a claim?
- How do I get cover for my belongings when I travel?
- Are my golf clubs/ski equipment covered?
- I am a student in a shared house will you be able to cover me?
- Our daughter is going to university next month; does our policy cover her belongings whilst she is away from home?
- How much is available to cover valuables?
1. What is covered by standard Contents Cover?
Our policy covers loss or damage by specified causes to your personal effects, clothes, valuables, home entertainment equipment, money, furniture, fittings and equipment inside the home. DirectCover Home Insurance is designed to provide £60,000 worth of cover automatically. Please ensure that this is adequate to replace the full value of all your contents, possessions and effects as new.
2. What is covered by standard Buildings Cover?
It covers loss or damage to your buildings by specified causes. Our policy automatically provides cover for £500,000. Please ensure that this is adequate to cover the full reinstatement cost of your property. You need to take care that you insure for the full cost of rebuilding your property in the same form, size and condition as new. This is not the same as the market value of your property. To obtain a rebuild cost, either refer to your mortgage documentation, have a survey carried out on your property or use the ABI calculator (www.abi.org.uk)
3. Do I receive a discount for buying both Buildings and Contents from you?
Yes. If you take both our Buildings and Contents cover together, you will receive a discount of 15% on your Buildings premium and a discount of 12.5% on your Contents premium.
4. Do I receive a discount for buying online?
Yes. You will receive an automatic 10% discount for buying a DirectCover Home Insurance policy online.
5. I have a desktop PC, is it covered?
Yes under our Contents Cover, provided it is mainly used for personal use. If the PC is used in conjunction with any business activities, cover is limited to £5000.
6. I have a laptop PC, is that covered under my Contents Insurance?
Yes, inside the home, providing it is mainly used for personal use. Again, if the laptop is used in conjunction with any business activity, cover is limited to £5000. If cover is required away from the home, the Personal Possessions section must be selected.
7. Do you offer a new for old policy?
Yes. With our Contents Cover there is no deduction for contents provided they have been maintained in good repair. We will however, apply a deduction for clothes, furs and household linen.
This is the first part of any claim that you will be expected to pay in the event of a claim and it may vary depending on the type of policy and cover. The higher the excess you choose, the better value the policy.
9. I work from home will I be covered for liability?
Yes. As long as you do not have more than 10 business visitors to the home per week and they are by appointment only.
10. Do you give a no claims discount on home insurance?
Yes. There is a no claims discount available on both Buildings and Contents.
11. Is bicycle theft covered by my home insurance?
Yes. Pedal cycles are covered as standard as they are part of your Contents Insurance. However, if you require cover for these away from the home you will need to make sure that you have adequate Personal Possessions Cover.
12. What does Personal Possessions cover me for?
Personal Possessions covers you for loss or damage to valuables, money and personal effects belonging to you or your family whilst anywhere in the world.
13. If my credit card is stolen and used am I covered?
Yes. If you or a member of your family's credit card is lost or stolen then you will be covered for any liability up to the value of £1,000 under the terms of any credit card, cheque card or dispenser card agreement. If the theft or loss occurs outside the home you will need to have the necessary Personal Possessions Cover in place.
When you need to make a claim or you think you do, please call our Home Insurance claims team on 0845 602 0021, who will immediately take action to help you. To make the claims process quicker, please have your policy number to hand and a full description of the incident.
When you phone us we will take the details of the loss or damage caused, instruct an approved supplier to contact you if appropriate, where necessary arrange for someone to call or contact you by phone as soon as possible to discuss your claim.
If the property is lost or theft or malicious damage is suspected, you must immediately inform the police and obtain a crime or lost property reference number.
15. How do I get cover for my belongings when I travel?
You would need to take out adequate Personal Possessions Cover. DirectCover Personal Possessions Cover includes your clothes, valuables and money, and other personal items used, worn or carried anywhere in the world. Also, why not take a look at our travel insurance
16. Are my golf clubs/ski equipment covered?
Yes your sports equipment is covered under the contents section of our policy as these are classed as personal effects. In order to have cover away from the home you will need to ensure that you have adequate Personal Possessions Cover. If these items are used for professional use or for financial gain, they will not be covered.
17. I am a student living in a shared house. Can I take out a policy with you?
Our policy will not cover you if you are a student under 25 years of age and you are living in shared accommodation, we would suggest you try an Insurance Company that do insurance more specifically designed for Students. Or speak to your college/University who may be able to recommend someone.
18. Our daughter is going to university next month; does our policy cover her belongings whilst she is away from home?
As long as your daughter resides at the private residence (the parent's home insured by DirectCover) outside term time, cover will include her possessions in student accommodation including halls of residence under the temporary removal section, providing she brings her belongings back home at the end of term. Our policy does not cover for loss or damage:
By theft unless it involves forcible and violent entry to or exit from a building
By any cause unless the items are in a bank or safe deposit, an occupied private dwelling, or any building where your daughter is working or temporarily residing.
theft cover is restricted to a maximum of £2,500 whilst in student accommodation
Please note that if any cover is required outside of the student accommodation, then adequate Personal Possessions cover should be in place.
19. How much is available to cover valuables?
The total maximum amount for any one claim for all valuables is £24,000 (£12,000 for a single article) . Valuables are defined as: Jewellery (including costume jewellery), articles of or containing gold, silver or other precious metals, camera (which includes video cameras, camcorders and digital cameras), binoculars, watches, furs, paintings and other works of art, collections of stamps, coins and medals.
