Home Insurance > Glossary

The home insurance glossary contains the following terms

Accidental damage cover

This is an optional extension to the policy to cover your property for damage caused by unexpected and unintended incidents. For example, if you accidentally put a foot through the ceiling whilst in the loft, this would be covered under the buildings accidental damage extension. If you accidentally spilt paint on your carpet, this would be covered under the contents accidental damage extension.

Some accidental damage cover is provided free - see your insurer's policy documents for details.

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Buildings

The home together with its permanent fixtures and fittings, usually including:

which you own or which you are legally responsible for, within the premises.

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Cash / money

This usually includes:

all held solely for private and domestic purposes.

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Claim

A claim is an application to an insurance company to compensate you for a loss. A loss is where an event has occurred that has resulted in damage to or loss of use of something. You may not be insured for all losses or you may have chosen not to make a claim for a loss, even though it was insured.

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Contents

Household goods and personal property within the home, which belong to you or for which you are legally responsible, usually including:

It is important to check the limits of these items in your insurer's policy documents.

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Credit cards

Credit cards, charge cards, cheque cards, debit cards, bankers cards and cash dispenser cards all held solely for private and domestic purposes.

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Excess

The amount that you have to pay towards each and every claim that you make.

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Heave

See subsidence.

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Home / property

The private dwelling, in which you live, and its garages and outbuildings, used solely for domestic purposes.

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Home Emergency Service

One of our home insurance optional extras - an insurance policy to cover immediate repairs (subject to a maximum of £150) in the event of an emergency.

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Joint proposer

An additional policyholder or joint owner of the home to be insured.

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Landslip

See subsidence.

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Leased

See rented.

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Legal Protection

One of our home insurance optional extras - an insurance policy which covers you for the legal costs involved in defending or taking action against an infringement of your legal rights.

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Let

See rented.

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Listed building

A building that is 'of special architectural or historic interest' and has been included on a list kept by the Secretary of State for the Environment.

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Loss

See claim.

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New for old

Settlement of claims will be at today's values, without making a deduction for wear and tear or age of your property. Some exclusions apply such as clothing over two years old and pedal cycles (subject to limits - see your insurer's policy documents).

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Part-time occupation

For example, working part-time in a public house or working part-time as a sales representative in the evenings.

Although we are currently unable to offer a quotation for part-time occupations on-line, if you contact us on 00800 11 22 33 05, one of our insurance advisors will take down all relevant details and find you the most competitive quotation.

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Period of insurance

The length of time for which this insurance is in force. This is usually for one year from the date you requested the policy to start.

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Personal possessions

Clothing (including your uniform and mess dress), tool kit, baggage, cash/money, credit cards, sports equipment, prams, pedal cycles and other personal belongings that you wear or take with you in everyday life (subject to limits - see your insurer's policy documents).

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Proposer

The main policyholder and owner of the property to be insured.

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Rented / leased / let / sub-let

Rented - The property or part of a property that is owned by a third party which is rented to you for a stated time in exchange for a regular payment.

Leased - Under a contract by which land or property is rented for a stated time by the owner to a tenant.

Let - When the home that you own is being lived in or used by a third party in exchange for a regular payment.

Sub-let - To lease or rent all or part of a property, to a third party in exchange for a regular payment, which is already leased or rented to you.

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Sanitary ware

Washbasins, sinks, bidets, lavatory pans and cisterns, shower trays, shower screens, baths and bath panels.

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Standard construction

Built of brick, stone or concrete and roofed with slates, tiles, asphalt, metal or concrete. Some timber-framed properties are also considered standard.

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Sub-let

See rented.

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Subsidence / heave / landslip

Subsidence - A gradual sinking to a lower level or the sudden collapse of something into a hollow beneath it.

Heave - An upward motion or horizontal displacement caused by faulting of rock masses.

Landslip - A downward slip or movement of a mass of rock, earth or artificial fill.

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Sum insured

The amount for which each section is insured.

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United Kingdom

England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, and journeys between these countries.

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Valuables

Items which belong to you or for which you are legally responsible, usually including:

Pairs or sets of items will be treated as one item.

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You / your

The proposer, joint proposer and all family members who permanently live in the home.

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