Everything you need to know about updating your home insurance when changing address

Moving house is an exciting but often stressful time. Alongside packing boxes and arranging removals, there are a number of practical things to sort out and your home insurance is definitely one of them. You might wonder if your current policy can simply move with you to your new address, or if you'll need to set up another one altogether. Understanding how home insurance works when you move home can save you time, money and hassle as your settle into your new place. 

Speak to your insurer early 

Every insurer is different, so your first step should be to get in touch with your provider as soon as you know you're moving. Many home insurance policies can be amended to cover your new property, though this might involve changes to your premium or excess, depending on the new location, property type and value.

Contents insurance can usually move with you

Most contents insurance policies can be transferred to your new address. It's important to let your insurer know about your move in advance and provide accurate details about the new property, as this can affect your level of cover and what's included. 

Buildings insurance is more complex

Buildings insurance is tied to the property itself, so you can't necessarily transfer it directly. Instead, you'll need to cancel the existing policy (usually from your completion date) and take out a new one for your new home - ideally starting on the same day to avoid any gaps in cover.

Don't leave it too late!

Insurers need accurate details to offer the right protection and leaving it until the last minute could put your cover at risk. Give yourself enough time to update or switch policies ahead of your moving date. 

Need help with an upcoming move?

At Pickfords, we make moving home simple. Whether you're heading down the road or across the country, our professional removals team will take care of all the logistics for you, so you can focus on settling into your new home.