Home Insurance Ireland
Compare home insurance quotes today and save. We are an insurance comparison site for Irish residents. We aim to find you the cheapest home insurance on the market. Review prices online or phone us now, and we will compare policies and benefits to get you a great value deal. It only takes a few minutes!
Household insurance premiums have been increasing due to a rise in claims caused by adverse weather conditions such as snow and flooding. It’s now more important than ever to shop around for a competitive quote. We have outlined some tips on how to reduce your premium below.
Get Cheap Home Insurance
Review our cheap house insurance tips. These suggestions will help you find the best home insurance quote. It is good to know what to look for when buying property insurance. This guide will give you a better understanding of what you can do to reduce your premium.
Rebuild costs
Insure your property for the right amount. The current market value of your property is a reflection of what your home is worth today. When choosing the level of cover, you need to estimate the cost of rebuilding your house; this cost is usually lower than your home’s market value. Submitting the correct rebuild cost could help reduce your quote by up to 20%.
Contents cover
Review the value of your household items yearly to confirm you are insuring your contents for the right amount. Over-insuring will cost you money, and ultimately you are insured only for the value of replacing your items in the event of a claim. Buying cover for the right amount could reduce your home insurance premium by up to 10-15%.
All risks cover
All risks cover is an optional benefit that will protect your valuable items against theft, accidental damage & loss. Valuable items are not usually covered automatically under the contents as they are expensive. This add-on will lead to a higher premium. You must decide if you need this additional cover.
Home insurance excess
You should review the excess amount on your policy; this amount may range from €125 to €1k. By choosing to pay for a larger share of the risk, you may get a cheaper insurance quote. Generally, the higher the excess, the lower the premium. The excess is the amount you must contribute towards the claim.
Burglar alarms
Most home insurance companies will offer a more competitive premium if you install a monitored burglar alarm. The insurance provider may request details such as the make, model and details of the security company.
Smoke detectors
If you do not have a smoke alarm fitted, we highly recommend installing one as it may reduce your household premium and, more importantly, it could save your life. You should also consider installing a carbon monoxide detector for your own safety.
Claims for small items
A good no claims history may lead to cheaper home insurance as you may be entitled to a No Claims Discount. You should consider the premium before submitting a claim for small items. You may wish to cover minor damage yourself. Some companies may not be willing to quote if they see a high claims history. A history of claims may make it expensive to take out a policy.
Shop around
Know your rights; you do not have to buy a home policy from your mortgage provider. Shop around for the best house insurance cover; some insurance companies offer special discounts for purchasing online. Always compare like with like to ensure you are getting the best deal. Compare home insurance quotes today; you may be surprised how much you can save!
What Does Home Insurance Cover?
What does home insurance cover? In Ireland, a home insurance policy provides financial protection for your property in the event of damage or loss. Household insurance will cover contents and structural damage. The plan should include contents, buildings, all risks and liability insurance.
You can buy a policy for your house, buy to let and holiday home. You are not obliged by law to purchase insurance; however, if you have a mortgage, the bank will insist that you insure the reinstatement value. The reinstatement value is the cost associated with rebuilding your property.
Remember to check out our car and travel insurance!
Buildings & Contents Insurance
Buildings insurance
Buildings cover insures structural damage to the building. This cover generally includes doors, windows, roofs, walls, and permanent fittings such as a fitted kitchen, hardwood, and tiled floors. It may also include garages. See below for details:
- Cover for explosion, earthquake, lightning or fire.
- Riots or vandalism.
- Alternative accommodation.
- Cover for an attempted robbery or burglary that caused damage to the property.
- Oil or water leaks from a damaged tank or burst pipes.
- Fire brigade charges. Criteria may vary.
Contents insurance
Contents insurance will insure loss or damage to your belongings. Please note there is a limit on the value you can claim for any single item, so we suggest you list expensive items separately, such as antiques, electronics or jewellery. See below for details.
- Cover for loss or damage to items on a ‘new-for-old’ basis up to certain limits.
- Accidental damage to household equipment.
- Cover for loss or damage to belongings you temporarily remove from the property. It does not generally include glass or fragile objects.
- Cover for food that has spoiled in a fridge because of a power failure or freezer breaking down.
Your Household Insurance Policy
Read your home insurance policy carefully and review the schedule of benefits so you understand what is and what is not covered. If you are unfamiliar with some terms, look at the insurance glossary document or call us at 042 935 9090.
- If you are planning to take holidays and will leave your house unoccupied for an extended period, ensure that all electrical appliances, water and heating are off. Some insurance companies will not cover claims that arise from properties vacant for 30 days or more due to the increased risk factor.
- We also recommend notifying your local Garda Station and neighbours to let them know you will be away so they can keep an eye on your property.
- Check the policy schedule to know what extras are covered, such as a 24-hour helpline that could be useful for property damage like a burst pipe.
- Does your home insurance include liability cover? Liability insurance will cover you if visitors or contractors (electricians, builders, plumbers) sustain an injury while on your property or their belongings are damaged.
- It is advisable to review your policy yearly and to notify the insurance company of any material changes within the property, such as new windows or the addition of a conservatory, as this may affect your cover.
- We also recommend that you review the claims process so you know what to do in the unfortunate event you need to make a claim.
- Keep receipts for expensive items that you purchase. Many householders take photographs or use identity markers for valuable items to confirm ownership in the event of theft. Receipts should be placed in a fireproof box or stored away from the property.
- Terms and conditions may change from year to year, so it is worthwhile reading over the document when it arrives to make sure you know the criteria and cover levels.
Home Insurance FAQs
What is all risks cover?
All risks cover is optional; it will cover loss or damage to valuables and personal belongings inside and outside your home. When purchasing a policy, you can decide what you want covered. All Risks Cover should have extensive geographical coverage for your valuables if you take these items (jewellery, laptop, etc.) on holidays or a trip outside the country. Some insurers may offer you an overall value for unspecified belongings and an option to cover individual valuables such as jewellery, i.e. engagement and wedding rings.
What is liability insurance?
Liability insurance will cover you if visitors are injured, have an accident, or their belongings are damaged while on your property. Most household insurance policies include public liability cover up to certain limits.
The insurance policy should cover costs, fees, or expenses that you could be legally liable to pay in certain circumstances. You should always check that contractors working in your home have public liability insurance.
How do I submit a claim?
- If you need to make a claim, firstly, check that your policy covers the risk.
- Phone the insurance claim number to confirm what has happened.
- If items have been stolen or deliberately damaged or you have lost valuables, inform the Gardai immediately.
- Keep the damaged items, if possible, as your insurer may need to inspect them.
- Get repair estimates for the damaged items.
- You should inform the insurance company if you have a problem with a submitted claim. If you fail to get a satisfactory response after escalating your complaint, you can take it to the Financial Services Ombudsman.
How do I make a complaint?
If you are unhappy with an insurance company’s decision about a submitted claim, you should send a written complaint. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of this complaint, you can approach the Financial Services Ombudsman by telephone at 1890 88 20 90.
We have teamed up with O’Callaghan Insurance Ltd for home insurance quotes. We have automated decision-making in place. If you want a decision reviewed, please phone 042 935 9090 to discuss. Thank you for visiting our home insurance comparison site. We hope you found it helpful and informative.