Home insurance when buying a house.
Learn about home insurance for a new house. Find out when to get cover and what your options are with Tesco Home Insurance.
Published: 24 April 2026
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Your new house - and your home insurance
Buying a new home is an exciting time, but there’s a lot to organise. From removals to utilities, it’s important to have everything ready for moving-in day. But it's also important to arrange home insurance when buying a house.
In this guide, we go over:
- when to buy home insurance when buying a housewhen to buy home insurance when buying a house
- what cover you might needwhat cover you might need
- what your options are with Tesco Home Insurancewhat your options are with Tesco Home Insurance
If you sort out your home insurance in plenty of time, it can help to protect your investment from the start.
When to get home insurance during the buying process
If you’re buying a new home, you might be wondering: "When do I need home insurance when buying a house?"
The simple answer is this: You usually need home insurance on the day you exchange contracts. That’s when you become legally responsible for the building.
What you need to know about arranging cover
Buying a house involves a few key legal steps. Knowing when to arrange cover can make the process smoother.
- You normally need buildings insurance from the moment you exchange contracts.You normally need buildings insurance from the moment you exchange contracts.
- At this point, you become responsible for the property, even if you’ve not moved in.At this point, you become responsible for the property, even if you’ve not moved in.
- Your mortgage lender will probably want you to have buildings cover as part of the loan agreement.Your mortgage lender will probably want you to have buildings cover as part of the loan agreement.
- Contents insurance is optional at this stage but can be added when you move in.Contents insurance is optional at this stage but can be added when you move in.
Bear in mind, combined home insurance covers your building and contents in a single policy, which can be cheaper.
Choosing the right cover for your new home
When buying a house, choosing the right home insurance means thinking about:
- your propertyyour property
- your belongingsyour belongings
- the level of protection you wantthe level of protection you want
Tips for first-time buyer’s home insurance
If you’re buying your first home, or even if you’ve bought before, start by thinking about what matters most.
- Choose a type of cover - Check if you need buildings insurance, contents insurance or both.Choose a type of cover - Check if you need buildings insurance, contents insurance or both.
- Check what cover’s included as standard.Check what cover’s included as standard.
- Consider optional extras - like Home Emergency Cover and Family Legal Guard.Consider optional extras - like Home Emergency Cover and Family Legal Guard.
- Work out how much cover you need - Make sure your rebuild costs and the value of your contents are correct.Work out how much cover you need - Make sure your rebuild costs and the value of your contents are correct.
- Look at limits, excesses and features - not just the price of the policy.Look at limits, excesses and features - not just the price of the policy.
- Check your mortgage lender’s requirements.Check your mortgage lender’s requirements.
- Choose a policy you can manage online - for easier updates when you move.Choose a policy you can manage online - for easier updates when you move.
If you’re a first-time buyer, you can learn more in our guide - Home insurance for first-time buyers.
Tesco Home Insurance when buying a house
With Tesco Home Insurance, you can choose from 3 options for your new home. And you’ll save money with your Clubcard.
- Buildings Insurance. This covers the main structure of your home and anything that’s built in - like your fitted kitchen. It’s the stuff that stays put, even if you move.Buildings Insurance
This covers the main structure of your home and anything that’s built in - like your fitted kitchen. It’s the stuff that stays put, even if you move. - Contents Insurance. This covers the things you’d take with you if you moved - like your furniture, clothes, freestanding appliances and laptops.Contents Insurance
This covers the things you’d take with you if you moved - like your furniture, clothes, freestanding appliances and laptops. - Combined Buildings and Contents Insurance. This covers the structure of your home and the things inside it in a single policy.Combined Buildings and Contents Insurance
This covers the structure of your home and the things inside it in a single policy.
Our Home Insurance optional extras
For more cover, you can pay to add optional extras to your Tesco Home Insurance policy.
Our Home Insurance optional extras include:
- Home Emergency Cover. 24-hour support and cover for a range of emergency repairs. From plumbing to electrical and security, and more. Choose Essentials or Full Cover and save with your Clubcard.Home Emergency Cover
24-hour support and cover for a range of emergency repairs. From plumbing to electrical and security, and more. Choose Essentials or Full Cover and save with your Clubcard. - Family Legal Guard. Provides up to £100,000 in legal expenses. To help you or your family with personal injury claims, contract and employment disputes, and more.Family Legal Guard
Provides up to £100,000 in legal expenses. To help you or your family with personal injury claims, contract and employment disputes, and more. - Bicycle Cover. Extra cover for bikes kept at home or when you're out and about.Bicycle Cover
Extra cover for bikes kept at home or when you're out and about.
Home insurance you can trust
Tesco Home Insurance is 4-star rated by Fairer Finance.
We're also Which? Recommended Provider for Home Insurance. Highly rated for affordability. With 5 stars for customer service.
Home warranty insurance when buying a house
You might have been told about home warranty insurance when buying a house. Here's how it differs from home insurance.
A home warranty is often provided with new-build properties. It protects you against certain structural defects for a set period of time. But it’s not the same as buildings insurance or contents insurance.
What is a home warranty?
- Usually applies only to new-build homes.Usually applies only to new-build homes.
- Often provided by the builder or developer.Often provided by the builder or developer.
- Covers specific defects in the structure for a fixed period, such as 10 years.Covers specific defects in the structure for a fixed period, such as 10 years.
- Doesn’t cover accidental damage, theft, storms, floods or your belongings.Doesn’t cover accidental damage, theft, storms, floods or your belongings.
- Your home warranty doesn’t replace standard home insurance.Your home warranty doesn’t replace standard home insurance.
How home insurance works alongside a home warranty
A home warranty can give you peace of mind, but it usually only covers problems with construction. Home insurance protects you from everyday risks such as fire, escape of water or burglary.
Even if your home includes a warranty, you might still want:
- Buildings insuranceBuildings insurance
- Contents insurance (once you move in)Contents insurance (once you move in)
- Optional extras - like Home Emergency Cover - for extra support and protection.Optional extras - like Home Emergency Cover - for extra support and protection.
Do you need to have home Insurance?
You don’t have to have home insurance by law in the UK. It costs money. But it means you won’t be out of pocket if something goes wrong.
Most mortgage lenders also need you to have buildings cover when you take out a loan with them.
You can learn about what is and isn’t covered by home insurance in our guide - What’s not covered by your home insurance.
Summary: home insurance when buying a house
Buying a house is a big step. Arranging the right home insurance at the right time keeps your new property safe from day one.
Tesco Home Insurance offers flexible cover options to help protect both your home and your belongings. This can give you confidence as you settle into your new place and start a brand new chapter in your life.
The benefits of Tesco Home Insurance
Here are just some of the benefits that come with Tesco Home Insurance.
- Clubcard Prices. Save money on Tesco Home Insurance and Home Emergency Cover with your Clubcard.Clubcard Prices.
Save money on Tesco Home Insurance and Home Emergency Cover with your Clubcard. - Flexible contents cover. Cover to meet your needs of up to £50,000, £75,000 or £100,000.Flexible contents cover.
Cover to meet your needs of up to £50,000, £75,000 or £100,000. - Unlimited buildings cover. As standard, on all our buildings cover products.Unlimited buildings cover.
As standard, on all our buildings cover products.
If you need to talk to someone about your policy, our friendly, UK-based customer service team is here to help.
You can also manage your policy easily online in Your Insurance Account. And make changes without paying an admin fee.
Help for Home Insurance customers
If you have any questions about your cover, or need to make a claim, we’re here to help.
Important information
Tesco Home Insurance is arranged and administered by Tesco Insurance and is underwritten by Tesco Underwriting Ltd.
Home Emergency cover is underwritten by Inter Partner Assistance S.A.
Family Legal Guard is underwritten by AmTrust Specialty Limited.
You'll find complete details of the cover, monetary limits, exclusions, excesses and terms in our policy documents.
Learn more about Home Insurance when buying a house
Find the right cover for the place you call home. Choose Tesco Home Insurance and save money with your Clubcard.