Home insurance renewal

When your home insurance policy is approaching its end date, your provider will usually contact you with a renewal invite and policy documentation. This will include the premium for the upcoming year, a comparison with the previous year’s premium, and details of the cover included.

At this stage, it’s important to review the renewal documents carefully to ensure the level of cover still meets your needs. You can also make changes to your policy, such as adjusting your excess, adding or removing cover options, or updating your details - but keep in mind that these changes may affect the price you pay.

You’re not obliged to accept the renewal offer. If you find a better deal elsewhere, you’re free to switch providers. Comparing prices and cover levels from other providers can help you make sure you’re getting the best value for your money. 

Does home insurance automatically renew? 

This depends on the option you’ve selected. The majority of home insurance providers will offer automatic renewal, and if you’ve opted in, your policy will usually renew without you needing to take any action - unless you cancel or make changes beforehand.

Even if your policy is set to auto-renew, it’s important to review your renewal invite and policy documentation carefully to make sure the level of cover still meets your needs.

Can you opt-out of automatic renewal?

Yes, you can. If you don’t want your policy to renew automatically, you’ll need to opt out of auto-renewal. In some cases, auto-renewal may be the default setting, so it’s worth checking your policy documents or contacting your provider directly to confirm.

When you renew your home insurance, check your renewal documents to make sure your contents cover still suits your needs.

Most insurance policies include a single article limit, meaning you’ll need to list high-value items individually, especially if you want them covered for theft, damage, or loss outside the home. If you’ve previously insured specific items, it’s worth double-checking they’re still covered for the correct value, particularly when inflation may have increased the worth of things like jewellery or gold.

You should also disclose if anything has changed to the exterior of your house. Ensuring you disclose these changes would lower any risks of you not being able to make a claim if you ever needed to. It’s also a good idea to review your renewal documents and compare the price and level of cover with other providers to ensure you’re getting the best deal for your needs.

When is the best time to renew my home insurance? 

You don’t get to ‘choose’ when you renew your home insurance, as it’s usually on the anniversary of when you initially purchased it. Often, your provider will send you a reminder roughly a month before you’re due for renewal. You might want to start thinking about renewing when you get your renewal invite, as it gives you time to make sure any and all changes are correct. 

Should I let my home insurance auto-renew? 

It’s up to you whether you want your home insurance to auto-renew. It can be a convenient option, as it helps ensure you’re always covered. However, if you opt into auto-renewal, please note that policies are not always guaranteed to renew automatically - for example, if the product has been withdrawn or if you've since opted out. That’s why it’s important to check your renewal documents carefully, whether your policy is set to auto-renew or not.

Even if your policy is set to auto-renew, you should still take time to review your documentation and make sure the cover is still appropriate for your needs, especially if there have been changes to your home or its contents.