Your home and home insurance
A home is where you live and an important asset. The building and your belongings each need their own insurance consideration, especially when moving or renovating.
Responsible for the content: Ricardo Roso. Updated on .
Distinguish the building from your belongings
Broadly, buildings insurance concerns the building and its fixtures. Contents insurance covers your belongings. A kitchen, flooring, outbuilding or alteration may raise questions about the boundary. Do not rely only on the insurance name; review the description and terms of your own policy.
Do you rent your home or live in a flat? Agreements with the landlord or owners' association may be relevant. Do not assume they insure your own belongings or all improvements you have made.
Which insurance should you discuss for your first owned home?
Before completion, distinguish between your home, your belongings and the affordability of your housing costs. Buildings insurance is not a general statutory requirement for homeowners, but may be a lender's condition. A suitable choice depends on your home, household and the policy terms.
For a flat, check what the owners' association has insured for the building. Your contents and any improvements of your own require a separate check. Do not assume one owners' association policy automatically covers every risk or individual owner's interest.
NHG does not require life insurance. However, the lender's terms and the consequences of death or loss of income for your household deserve discussion. Coordinate the start date of the insurance required with the transfer of risk and the terms of your purchase agreement; do not simply assume it is the date you receive the keys without checking.
- Buildings: the building, fixtures, any lender requirements and, for a flat, owners' association cover.
- Contents and improvements of your own: what belongs to you and how your belongings and any alterations are insured.
- Liability: damage you may cause to others in your private life.
- Housing costs and dependants: affordability after loss of income or death, and insurance that may be suitable.
- Start date and changes: coordinate cover in good time with your purchase agreement, move or renovations.
Want to prepare your purchase budget too? Read about buying your first home in Sittard or Geleen.
Also discuss what death would mean for your dependants and the affordability of your home.
See the considerations for your housing costs after a loss of income.
Discuss damage you cause to others in your private life under personal liability.
What happens when damage occurs?
Payment depends on factors including the insured event, the description of cover, the damage assessment and any restrictions. Terms such as replacement value, current value and excess can make a difference. Ask how these terms are applied in your policy. Broad home insurance does not mean every defect, maintenance problem or type of water damage is automatically covered.
Changes to your home
Renovations, an extension, solar panels or a change of use can affect the information on which your policy is based. Temporarily living elsewhere or an extended period of vacancy also deserves discussion. Report your plans and when work will take place so it is clear whether and what adjustments are needed. During the work, check who bears which risks; a contractor's insurance does not automatically make your own cover complete.
- Moving home or changing your residential address.
- Renovations, an outbuilding or a new installation.
- Changes in use or occupancy.
- Special or valuable belongings and policy limits.
A clear overview without unintended assumptions
Compare your policy schedules with your current living arrangements. Are the property details, household details and agreed cover still correct? Check excesses and any additional provisions. For flats, an understanding of the collective buildings policy is useful, but you still need to identify which risks to discuss yourself. A package name or general product description does not prove that every element has been appropriately arranged.
Discuss your home insurance question or report a claim
Bring the main details of your home, insurance and changes to a meeting. RFD helps clarify your questions and agrees which services suit your circumstances. You can also discuss insurance alongside the mortgage when buying a home; financing and insurance are separate decisions.
If damage occurs, use the online claims portal and follow the instructions. Do not provide unnecessary sensitive information through general contact channels. This page provides general information and does not determine which damage your insurer will pay for.
Frequently asked questions
Are buildings and contents the same insurance?
No. Broadly, buildings insurance concerns the building and contents insurance concerns your belongings. The specific terms determine the boundary and what is insured.
Is my flat fully insured through the owners' association?
This cannot be confirmed in general. Review the collective policy and which personal interests, belongings or alterations fall outside it.
Do I need to report renovations?
Discuss your plans in good time. A change to the building, its use or occupancy can affect your insurance and the assessment of a claim.
Is all water damage covered?
No. The cause, event and policy terms determine this. If in doubt, ask for an explanation of your specific cover; this page does not confirm payment.
Which insurance do I need to arrange for my first owned home?
Discuss buildings insurance and any lender requirements, your contents, liability and risks to your housing budget. For a flat, check the owners' association cover and improvements of your own. Coordinate the start date with your purchase agreement. Which insurance is suitable depends on your circumstances.
Is life insurance compulsory for a mortgage with NHG?
NHG does not require life insurance. However, review your lender's terms and what death would mean for the affordability of your home. Insurance may be relevant based on your personal risks and wishes.
Also read about the financial consequences of death.
This is general information, not personal insurance advice or confirmation of insurance cover. What is suitable and covered depends on your circumstances and the policy terms. Read the disclaimer.
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Sources for this guide
General information from RFD. Sources consulted on . Rules and terms may change.
What would you like to discuss?
Have a question about your mortgage, insurance or finance? We are happy to help.