Moving home often raises a key question: can you transfer your home insurance to your new address? This guide explains what “transferring” usually means, when you can update a policy versus when you’ll need a new one, and practical steps to avoid gaps in cover around exchange and completion.
You’ll find clear guidance on how buildings and contents cover work at key stages, what insurers commonly expect for goods in transit, and a short checklist for notifying insurers and managing any overlap.
The advice reflects UK practice and includes simple actions to reduce risk during the move, plus ways professional removals and secure storage can work alongside your personal policies. Read on for quick comparison tables, straightforward checklists, and key questions to ask your insurer so you can move with confidence and continuous cover.
Can You Transfer Your Home Insurance Policy to a New Property?
“Transferring” home insurance usually means telling your insurer about the new address and getting an updated quote or endorsement, not literally moving the old contract untouched. Insurers set premiums based on property-specific risks such as postcode, rebuild cost, construction, and past claims, so changes to those factors often affect price and terms.
In practice, you have a few sensible options: keep the same insurer and amend the policy, ask that insurer for a fresh policy, or take out a new one with a different provider. Some people also arrange temporary dual cover to avoid gaps. The table below gives a quick comparison to help you choose the best route for your move.
| Option | What changes | Suitability |
|---|---|---|
| Update the existing policy with your current insurer | Insurer updates the address and premium; some admin required | Good when the new property has a similar risk and your insurer can maintain comparable cover |
| New policy with the same insurer | New quote and policy documents; you may need a survey or inspection | Useful if the rebuild cost or property type means you need different cover |
| New policy with a different insurer | New pricing and terms set by the new provider | Best for shopping the market, or if your current insurer can’t meet your needs |
| Temporary dual cover | Two active policies for a short overlap period | Helps bridge exchange/completion gaps, but usually costs more |
Use this comparison to balance continuous protection with cost. The next section explains what “transferring” means in practical UK home-insurance terms.
What Does Transferring Home Insurance Mean In The UK?
In the UK, “transferring” a policy generally means advising your insurer of a change of address and receiving an endorsed policy or new quote. Insurance contracts describe a specific property and its risk, so insurers need to check the next property before confirming full cover.
A straightforward address change to a similar home can often be handled by endorsement; a different property type, postcode, or occupancy status will usually require a new policy. Knowing the difference helps you avoid accidental gaps or breaches of policy terms when you move.
When Is A New Home Insurance Policy Required?
You’ll usually need a new policy when the new property has materially different characteristics or risks. Common triggers include switching from owner-occupied to buy-to-let, moving to a higher-risk postcode, a big change in rebuild cost, or leaving the property vacant for a long time.
Mortgage lenders will often insist on new buildings cover from exchange if their security has changed; this can force a new policy even if you planned to stay with your current insurer. Spotting these triggers early lets you approach insurers with the right information and avoid last-minute surprises. With that in mind, the next section explains building insurance at the exchange of contracts.
How Does Building Insurance Work When Exchanging Contracts?
Buildings insurance is usually needed from the moment contracts are exchanged because the buyer takes on legal risk and lenders need protection for their mortgage. This cover protects against structural damage, such as fire, flood, or storm, that could happen between exchange and completion.
Arranging buildings cover quickly avoids financial exposure if the property is damaged after exchange, and most insurers can set up cover promptly once you give them the exchange date and property details. Below are the main reasons lenders and the contract require buildings cover, plus a short checklist to arrange it efficiently.
Here’s why building cover is generally required at the exchange.
- Lenders need security: they often require building cover to protect the mortgage.
- Legal risk shifts at exchange: buyers become contractually bound and may bear the risk of loss.
- The property can be damaged pre-completion: having cover helps avoid uninsured costs during the gap.
These points show why arranging building insurance at or before exchange is sensible. The next subsection explores whether cover can overlap between old and new homes.
Why Is Building Insurance Needed From The Exchange of Contracts?
Because exchange creates a binding contract and often shifts financial risk to the buyer, it’s sensible, and commonly required, to have building cover in place from that date. Lenders usually make building insurance a condition of the mortgage offer to protect their interest in the property.
Without appropriate cover, you could face repair bills or breach lender conditions if damage occurs before completion. Putting a cover in place as soon as the exchange is confirmed ensures you meet lender rules and avoid being uninsured.
Understanding lender requirements helps when deciding whether to keep both old and new buildings policies active for a brief overlap.
Can Building Insurance Overlap Between Old And New Homes?
Yes, temporary overlap is possible and often used to eliminate gaps. But overlapping policies have cost and administration implications. Overlap protects you for days or weeks when both properties are at risk (for example, if move and completion dates don’t match), yet you should check cancellation terms to avoid unexpected fees and confirm how refunds are handled.
Our practical tip: arrange overlap only for the shortest necessary period and get written confirmation from both insurers about cancellation and claims procedures. Planning overlap carefully balances continuous protection with cost and reduces moving-day stress.
Knowing how building cover works at exchange naturally leads to questions about contents insurance during the move.
Does Contents Insurance Cover Your Belongings During A House Move?
Many contents policies include goods-in-transit cover, but there are often limits, conditions, and exclusions that matter on moving day. Policies can cap the total value in transit, set per-item limits, or require high-value items to be declared.
Some insurers only offer full transit cover if you use professional removals or packing services, which affects DIY moves. The checklist below helps you confirm whether your contents policy will protect items in transit and what extra steps to take to document them.
Check these common conditions that affect your contents cover during transit:
- Goods-in-transit limits: policies may set a maximum payable amount while items are in transit.
- Per-item limits: valuables such as jewellery or high-end electronics can have lower per-item caps unless declared.
- Professional mover requirement: Some insurers require professional removals for full cover; you may need proof of a booked, insured mover.
Confirming these points will tell you whether you need extra removals insurance or professional packing to keep your cover valid. The table below compares typical cover for a DIY move, professional removals with packing, and a removals company’s insurance.
| Scenario | Typical goods-in-transit cover | Common exclusions |
|---|---|---|
| DIY move | Limited transit cover; per-item caps are common | Some policies exclude accidental damage during loading/unloading |
| Professional removals with packing | Stronger transit cover if the mover meets your insurer’s requirements | May still exclude certain valuables unless specifically listed |
| Removals company insurance | Commercial goods-in-transit cover often has a wider scope | May have liability limits; always check per-item and total caps |
This quick comparison should help you decide if professional removals and packing services are necessary to preserve your ability to claim. The next subsection explains how contents insurance typically protects items in transit.
How Does Contents Insurance Protect Items In Transit?
Contents insurance can extend to items in transit, but coverage depends on the policy wording and whether any conditions, like using professional movers, are met. Insurers usually ask for evidence such as inventories, photos, and receipts when handling claims, and they may apply per-item limits or an overall transit cap.
Making a detailed inventory and photographing valuable items before you pack improves the chance of a successful claim and helps prove the condition before loss. Good documentation reduces disputes and speeds up claims handling.
Clear documentation and an understanding of your policy conditions explain why professional removals insurance can matter.
Is Professional Removals Insurance Important For Contents Cover?
Professional removals insurance matters because many home policies only accept full goods-in-transit cover when items are moved by insured professionals. Removals firms carry commercial insurance that can provide complementary protection, and using a BAR-member company backed by insurance increases the odds that transit damage meets insurer conditions.
Professional packing also reduces accidental damage risk by using suitable materials and techniques. We’re Stokes Removals & Storage, a family-run, fully insured BAR-member removals company in Leicestershire offering packing, removals, and secure storage; using a professional team can reduce claims risk and provide commercial transit cover as an extra layer. For practical help, request a no-obligation quote from us to discuss insured transit and packing options.
When Should You Notify Your Insurer And Cancel Your Old Home Insurance?
Tell your insurer as soon as exchange details are confirmed and then again at completion to keep cover continuous without unnecessary duplication. Ideally, contact insurers before the exchange so they can price building cover correctly, then update details on completion and cancel the old policy once the move is finished.
If you use storage or have staggered occupation, consider a temporary storage cover or a short overlap to avoid gaps. Planning these steps cuts the risk of uninsured exposure and avoids paying twice. The timeline below gives clear actions for exchange, completion, and move day.
Use this timeline to coordinate insurer notifications and cancellations:
- Before exchange: get quotes and give the intended exchange date so the building’s cover can start from that date.
- At exchange: put building insurance in place and agree on any short overlap if needed.
- At completion/move day: update contents details and finalise cancellation once your belongings are moved.
- After the move, check refunds and keep policy documents in case of later claims.
Following this timeline helps you avoid gaps and unnecessary costs. The final subsection lists key questions to ask your insurer when moving.
What Is The Best Timeline To Update Or Cancel Home Insurance?
The best approach is to get quotes and notify insurers before exchange, arrange buildings cover from exchange if needed, then finalise contents changes and cancel the old policy after completion and occupation.
Tell insurers the exchange date early so they can underwrite the cover and flag any special conditions, and confirm details on move day so declarations match where and how you’re storing or living in the property. If you expect temporary storage or delayed completion, ask for specific bridging cover and the likely extra premium.
These steps help ensure you meet lender and insurer requirements while avoiding unnecessary dual premiums.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Should I Do If My New Property Has A Higher Rebuild Cost?
If the rebuild cost at your new property is higher, you’ll likely need a new policy or an amendment to your existing one. Insurers set cover by reference to the property’s rebuild cost, so tell your insurer about the change to make sure you remain adequately covered. Being underinsured can lead to major out-of-pocket costs if you need to claim.
How Can I Ensure My Belongings Are Covered During The Move?
Check your contents policy for goods‑in‑transit cover and its limits. Document your items with an inventory and photos, especially high-value pieces, and declare any valuables as required. If your policy is limited, consider extra removals insurance or a professional removals company that offers commercial transit cover.
What Happens If I Forget To Notify My Insurer About The Move?
If you don’t tell your insurer about the move, you risk a gap in cover and possible claim rejection. Notify them as soon as your exchange details are confirmed so your cover remains continuous and you don’t face avoidable problems on a claim.
Are There Any Penalties For Cancelling My Old Home Insurance Policy?
Some policies charge cancellation fees or retain part of the premium, depending on the terms. Check your policy or ask your insurer before cancelling. Planning cancellation after your new policy is active usually avoids unnecessary charges.
Move With Continuous Cover, Not Guesswork
Get in touch with Stokes Removals & Storage for a free, no-obligation quote. Our fully insured, BAR-member team in Leicestershire can handle packing, removals, and secure storage in a way that works with your home insurance, so your property and belongings are protected from exchange to move-in day.