Homeowner Advice

General tips and advice for homeowners covering maintenance, seasonal tips and everyday property care.

Home Improvements To Reduce Your Insurance Premium

2nd July 2019

Previously we have looked at factors you need to consider to find the best value home insurance. However, there are some simple things you can do to lower your existing premium. The amount you pay for your insurance takes in a number of factors, including the potential cost to the insurer, and the security of your home. So, it makes sense that the more secure your home, the more you can reduce your insurance premium.

Install Smoke Alarms

Fire alarms are a no-brainer: they could save your life. However, lots of insurance providers ask if you have smoke alarms fitted in your home – if you can honestly answer “yes”, this will reduce your insurance.

Install Burglar Alarms

Burglar alarms work as a deterrent as well as raising the alarm if you do have any unwanted visitors. Some insurers offer a discount for homes fitted with burglar alarms. They help you to feel more secure, too. Check out our directory of trusted burglar alarm fitters.

Check Your Locks

If you are the victim of a burglary, your insurance could be invalid if your home was not secured at the time. Make sure that your door and window locks function to keep your home secure. If you are in doubt, contact a local locksmith for advice.

Insulate Your Pipes

Insulating your pipes won’t necessarily result in lower insurance premiums, but it can protect your pipes from bursting. This will prevent an insurance claim as the result of flooding which will, in turn, save you excess fees, save your no claims bonus and prevent your premium from rising as the result of a claim.

Play It Safe

Most insurers will charge extra to insure high-value items. By keeping these items in a safe, you can significantly reduce the insurance premium.

Secure Your Garden

Home and contents insurance doesn’t just cover your house, it includes your garden, too. You can reduce your premium by removing tall trees, as they increase the risk of subsidence. If you store tools and garden equipment, bikes or toys in an outside shed, make sure the shed is securely locked; if anything is stolen from your garden and it wasn’t securely locked away, your insurance claim could be rejected.

Ask A Professional

DIY is a great way of maintaining your home, but DIY disasters can be costly and are probably not covered in your insurance policy. If you are in any doubt about carrying out the above measures, or you want help undertaking a DIY project at home, take a look at our directory, where you will find local, trusted handymen (and women), builders, and more.

For more tips and information, follow us on Facebook or Twitter for more advice on reducing your insurance premium.

Related tags

Looking for more homeowner advice advice?

Find clear, practical answers to common homeowner advice questions, helping homeowners understand everyday issues, know what checks they can carry out safely, and when it is best to contact a qualified professional.

What home repairs should I never attempt myself?

Gas work - full stop. Any work on gas appliances must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer by law. Structural changes like removing walls, altering roof timbers, or touching anything load-bearing need professional assessment and often Building Regulations sign-off. Electrical work involving the consumer unit or new circuits must meet Part P. And if your property was built before 2000, be aware asbestos may be present - it can only be handled by a licensed specialist.
Which home improvements add the most value to a property?

Improvements that add usable space or modernise the rooms buyers scrutinise most tend to deliver the strongest returns. Loft conversions consistently top the list - adding a bedroom and bathroom can add more value than the work costs in many areas. Kitchen and bathroom updates are next. Open-plan ground-floor extensions connecting to a kitchen-diner have become one of the most sought-after layouts in UK family homes. And energy improvements - insulation, a new boiler, solar panels - are increasingly influencing buyer decisions as running costs become a bigger part of the conversation.
Should I renovate my home or move house?

There's no universal right answer - it depends on your situation. Moving gets you what you want without living through a building site, but stamp duty, estate agent fees, and moving costs can easily add up to tens of thousands of pounds. Renovating lets you stay put and invest in your own property, but comes with disruption and unexpected costs. The most useful comparison: get a clear view of what your home could realistically be worth after the work, and what a move would actually cost end to end. A local estate agent and a builder's quote can give you those two numbers.
What does a home survey actually cover and do I need one when buying?

A survey is an independent assessment of a property's condition carried out by a qualified surveyor - separate from the mortgage valuation, which only tells the lender what the property is worth, not what's wrong with it. A HomeBuyer Report flags visible defects and anything that needs further investigation. A Full Building Survey goes deeper and is worth the extra cost on older, larger, or unusual properties. Given that a house is likely the biggest purchase you'll ever make, skipping the survey to save a few hundred pounds is a false economy - a single missed issue can cost far more to put right.
What should I do before starting any major home improvement project?

Get your paperwork in order before anyone picks up a tool. Check whether you need planning permission or Building Regulations approval. Find out whether a Party Wall Agreement applies. Confirm your home insurance covers you during the works. Get at least three written quotes and make sure the scope of work is clearly agreed in writing with whoever you hire. And have a contingency budget - on almost any renovation, something unexpected comes up. The projects that go smoothly are usually the ones that were properly planned before they started.
What is the difference between freehold and leasehold and why does it matter for home improvements?

If you own the freehold, you own the property and the land it sits on outright - you can generally do what you like subject to planning rules. If you own a leasehold property (common with flats), you own the right to live there for the remaining lease term, but the freeholder owns the building. This matters for home improvements because many leases require you to get the freeholder's written permission before making alterations - sometimes even internal ones. Always check your lease before starting any work, as doing alterations without the required consent can cause problems when you come to sell.

Have a question about TrustATrader?

If you have a question in relation to TrustATrader specifically, please check out the TrustATrader FAQs, with separate lists tailored to consumers and tradespeople. Alternatively, get in touch with our team. We're happy to help!

Read FAQs Contact TrustATrader