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Over 50s home insurance

Over 50s home insurance

Compare home insurance for over 50s

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Compare quotes from up to 81 home insurance providers including specialist over 50s providers¹

**Single annual policy. New and former Paramount+ subscribers only who sign up at ParamountPlus.com. Subscription required. Auto-renews unless cancelled. 18+. Just Eat website account required, geographical exclusions apply. The year-round reward is provided by Greggs, and consists of one regular hot drink per month for a year, only available via the Confused.com app. T&Cs apply.
¹Correct as of October 2024

Is over 50s home insurance cheaper?

Our research shows that over 50s pay around £32 less for their home insurance than younger homeowners*.

Average cost for over-50s

£177

Average cost for under-50s

£209

*Based on Confused.com data, January - March 2024. The average combined buildings and contents home insurance policy for over 50s was £177.08. Those below the age of 50 paid an average of £208.53 for the same type of policy.

There are several reasons for this:

Over 50s are typically more experienced home owners, so are likely to have more knowledge of home maintenance and upkeep.
They're usually more experienced at buying home insurance. So, they're likely to be more accurate when estimating how much buildings and contents cover they need.
They're more likely to have invested in home security. Such measures may help deter thieves. They can also help the claims process by providing evidence of break ins.
Over 50s are more likely to work part-time or be retired, meaning they spend more time at home. This means less opportunity for burglars or vandals to strike.

How can I get cheaper home insurance?

Although home insurance is generally cheaper for homeowners over 50, there are still ways you can save.

Pay annually

If you can afford it, it always works out cheaper to pay annually for your insurance if you can. This is because insurers add interest when you choose monthly payments. You could save 9%* by choosing to pay annually.

Increase your voluntary excess

Excess is the amount you have to pay towards any claims. Typically, the more you're willing to pay, the lower your insurance could cost. Just make sure you set it at a level you could afford if needed. The most common excess with our customers is £250*. Setting your excess at this level could save you 10% on your insurance compared to having no excess.

Compare quotes

Shop around and compare quotes from different providers. Even if your renewal price hasn't increased much from last year, you might still find a better deal by shopping around.

Consider a combined policy

It usually works out cheaper to buy combined buildings and contents insurance rather than buying separate policies from different providers. Choosing a combined policy could save you £50*, compared to buying separate buildings and contents insurance.

Build your no-claims bonus (NCB)

Every year you go without making a claim on your home insurance, you get a year added to your NCB. Insurers offer a discount for your NCB. The more years you have built up, the bigger your discount could be.

Improve security

Improving your home's security could mean cheaper prices. Having secure door locks and a burglar alarm can reduce the risk of burglary.

*Based on Confused.com data, January - March 2024

Our expert explains

Matt Harwood, our home and lifestyle expert, explains how to get cheaper home insurance. The information in this video is also available as a text transcript.

Compare home insurance quotes from up to 81 insurance companies¹

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¹Correct as of October 2024

What are the benefits of over 50s policies?

Over 50s cover often comes with a range of benefits you don't normally see on a standard home insurance policy.

Depending on your policy details, these can include:

Higher levels of cover as standard, with extras you might normally pay for included at no extra cost. Single item limits may be higher too.
Extended unoccupied home cover for longer than the usual 30 days, making it easier to spend time away from home.
Cover for mobility aids like scooters, stair lifts or electric wheelchairs.

You might also have a wider range of insurers to choose from. There are specialist providers who only offer insurance to over 50s and over 60s, such as Saga and RIAS.

You aren't limited to these specialist policies either - you can buy a standard policy too, and you might still pay less than younger homeowners.

When you get a quote, we'll show you prices from both specialist and standard insurers. So you can be sure you're making the right choice and getting the best price available to you.

What add-ons are available with an over 50s home insurance policy?

Many of the optional add-ons available with over 50s cover are the same as those for standard home insurance policies. Some may already be included in your policy or it may be added for an extra cost

High-value items cover

This protects individual items in your home that are worth over £1,000. These items might not be covered by your standard contents insurance policy as they often exceed the single item limit.

Home emergency cover

Home emergency cover provides cover for any issues within your home that could affect your health or safety. For example, if a broken boiler leaves you without heat or hot water.

Accidental damage

Covering you for unexpected, unintentional damage, accidental damage cover is available for both contents and buildings insurance. Contents accidental damage covers things like carpets, furniture and fixtures. Buildings accidental damage covers the structure of your home itself.

Legal protection

This provides cover for any legal expenses relating to your home. This includes any legal disputes with your neighbours or tradespeople. It can also cover employment disputes.

Personal possessions cover

Possessions cover insures your belongings when you take them out of the home. This can include things like laptops, phones or expensive jewellery such as wedding or engagement rings.

Alternative accommodation cover

This add-on means that your insurer will help you find alternative accommodation and cover the costs if your home suddenly becomes uninhabitable.

What our home insurance expert says

"Specialist over 50s home insurance policies can be a good option as they often include extras you don't get with standard home insurance. You might want to consider one if you have any mobility aids that need covering, or want to spend longer periods away from home.

However, your age and experience as a homeowner normally mean you see lower insurance prices regardless of the provider you go with. We compare prices from up to 81, including specialist insurers, to help you make the right decision."

Matthew Harwood Home & lifestyle insurance expert

How much cover do I need?

The amount of cover you need depends on your circumstances.

For buildings insurance, it depends on the rebuild cost of your home. This is how much it would cost to rebuild your home from scratch.

For contents insurance, you should calculate the value of everything you own. This includes anything you would take with you if you moved house, including curtains and food in your freezer. Go room by room and make a list of everything in the house and how much each item would cost to replace.

If you move into a retirement home, you may not need a buildings insurance policy. It's often covered by the retirement home, and may be included in your management fee.

They may not provide cover for your belongings though. If this is the case, it's worth considering a separate contents policy.

It's worth checking what's included under the retirement home's insurance policy before you move in.

Do I need home insurance if I own my home outright?

Mortgage lenders usually insist you have buildings insurance as a condition of your mortgage. If you've paid your mortgage off, this doesn't apply to you.

However, it's still a good idea to have buildings and contents insurance. Think about what would happen if there was a major disaster and your home was flooded or there was a break in. Would you be able to pay the repair costs and replace your belongings without insurance?

Even if you're not required to have it, home insurance can provide valuable peace of mind.

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What details do I need to get an over 50s home insurance quote?

Getting a home insurance quote through us only takes a few minutes. You just need the following information:

Your home's build date

You can find out when your house was built on your mortgage survey or your home buyer's report. If you can't find it, we'll estimate it for you.

Details of any previous claims

Let us know if you've claimed on your home insurance in the last 5 years. You should be able to find this on your renewal documents. If you can't find them, contact your previous home insurance provider, who should be able to send them to you.

Details of your home security

Tell us what security devices you have, as well as the types of locks your house has. If you aren't sure what type you have, you can use the pictures we include in our quote form to identify them.

The rebuild cost of your home

You should be able to find the rebuild cost on the deeds, your mortgage valuation report or a surveyor's report. If you have none of these, we'll help you calculate the rebuild cost of your home when you get a quote.

The value of your contents

Your insurer will need to know the value of all your contents. If you need help valuing your contents, you can get an estimate using our contents calculator.

The type of roof your home has

Your insurer will need to know what your roof is made of, for example if it's slate, tile or thatched. We'll also need to know if you have a flat roof covering any part of your property.