About our Home Insurance
Frequently asked questions
What if I'm not happy with my home insurance?
We’re sorry if you’re unhappy – please get in touch with us as soon as you can so we can put this right for you. You can either contact us, email, or write to:
Freepost Sainsbury’s Bank Insurance
PO Box 4996
Worthing
BN11 9AT
When using our email address, please remember to include your full name, address, date of birth and policy number so we can manage your complaint without any delay.
Please do not include any other personal information.
This email address should be used for home insurance complaints only. To keep your information safe, please don’t send us any other personal information. When using our email address please note this is just for home insurance complaints , so please refer to our FAQs if you have other queries. To help us deal with your complaint quickly, please provide us with a clear explanation of what has happened and what we can do to help you.
What is classed as 'contents'?
Contents insurance covers the things you would take with you if you moved - furniture, cookware, ornaments etc.
Check out our Guide to home insurance if you're after a bit more detail.
What is classed as 'buildings'?
Buildings insurance covers most of the things you would leave behind if you moved house - so the walls, roof, and floors, garages, outbuildings, and fitted bathrooms and kitchens - but not the kitchen appliances like the dishwasher.
Check out our Guide to home insurance if you're after a bit more detail.
I already have Home Insurance but can’t remember who it’s with
If you have insurance and you know the name of the company you bought the policy from but cannot find the policy document, then you can contact your insurer who should be able to trace your policy using your personal information and your postcode.
Why do I need Home Emergency Cover?
Home Emergency Cover is available to add to your Home Insurance for an extra cost. Whether you need Home Emergency Cover or not depends on your personal circumstances, but here's just some of the things it covers you for:
- plumbing or drainage
- failed electrics
- home security problems, like a smashed window or a broken lock
- pest infestations – like hornets, rats or mice
- your gas and electricity
- boiler and heating system breakdowns.
Find out more about Home Emergency Cover.
What is the difference between buildings and contents cover?
Buildings insurance covers most of the things you would leave behind if you moved house - so the walls, roof, and floors, garages, outbuildings, and fitted bathrooms and kitchens - but not the kitchen appliances like the dishwasher. Contents insurance covers the things you would take with you if you moved, such as the furniture, cookware, ornaments etc.
Check out our Guide to home insurance if you're after a bit more detail.
What levels of Home Insurance do you provide?
We offer one level of insurance for buildings and contents. You can then add our optional extras, for an additional cost, to build your insurance policy so it is right for you. See what cover is right for you.
What contents insurance do you offer?
We offer one level of insurance for contents. You can then add our optional extras, for an additional cost, to build on your insurance policy so that it's right for you. See what cover is right for you.
What buildings and contents insurance do you offer?
We offer one level of insurance for buildings, you can then add our optional extras, for an additional cost, to build on your insurance policy so that it's right for you. See what cover is right for you.
Do I need accidental damage cover?
Whether you need accidental damage cover or not depends on your personal circumstances. We offer some accidental damage cover as standard under our main Buildings and Contents policies, but for extra protection, we offer buildings Accidental Damage Cover and contents Accidental Damage Cover which you can add to your policy for an additional cost.
What is an excess?
An excess is the amount you have to pay towards a claim on your home insurance. There are two types – compulsory and voluntary.
Your insurer sets the compulsory excess: it varies depending on the type of policy you have.
The voluntary excess is controlled by you, so you can set the amount you pay on top of your compulsory excess when you claim.
So, if your compulsory excess is £100 and your voluntary excess is £50, you'll have to pay £150 to your insurer towards the cost of your claim.
If you choose to pay a higher voluntary excess, you'll pay less for your insurance. Just make sure you don't set it so high you can't afford to make a claim.
What is Flood Re and how will it affect me
Flood Re has been set up to help people who live in a flood risk area find affordable home insurance. Flood Re is funded by the tax payer and they reimburse insurers for the cost of claims related to Flooding. This means that if someone has claimed for flood damage they should still be able to get insurance with affordable premium and excess. Find out more at https://www.floodre.co.uk.
Where can I find information on protecting my home from flooding?
We've put together a guide to protecting against storm damage so you can see what measures you can take to protect your home against adverse weather.
Can I get immediate home insurance cover
Yes, you can choose a date within 30 days of your quote for your cover to start, including the day you get it.
What happens if my home is uninhabitable during the period of repair?
If your home is uninhabitable, whilst it is being repaired following a claim, we will cover you for the following:
- If your claim is on your buildings insurance, we will pay the cost of similar accommodation up to a maximum of £50,000. We will also look after your pets if they need to go into kennels, up to a maximum of £9,000 in kennel fees.
- If your claim is on your contents insurance we will pay the cost of similar accommodation up to a maximum of £15,000.
Who underwrites your Home Insurance product
We have a carefully selected panel of insurers who underwrite our home insurance, which one underwrites your policy depends on who gives you the best price based on your circumstances. We will tell you who your insurer is before you buy your policy.
Our optional extra products, which you can add to your policy for an additional cost, are underwritten by the following insurers:
- Home Emergency Cover – Axa Assistance
- Key Cover – Axa Assistance
- Family Legal Protection – RAC
Are repairs guaranteed under your home insurance policy?
If your insurer appoints an approved supplier to arrange a repair, all permanent repairs will be guaranteed for a minimum of 12 months from the date of completion.
What does home contents cover offer?
Contents cover protects the belongings you have in and around your home - the things you would take with you if you moved home – up to a maximum £75,000. If you are an existing customer your contents cover limit will be detailed on your Policy Schedule. For details of what's included, have a look at our contents homepage or browse the policy documents.