Home insurance pricing can feel vague, partly because it’s often talked about in averages without context. Still, most people want a straight answer. Roughly how much do households actually pay?
The honest answer sits within a range, not a single figure. But that range is narrow enough to be useful.
Typical annual costs for combined policies
For a standard owner-occupied home with a combined buildings and contents policy, many UK households pay somewhere between a few hundred pounds a year.
As a broad guide, combined policies commonly fall into these bands:
- Lower-risk areas and smaller homes: around £200 to £300 per year
- Average family homes in mixed areas: roughly £300 to £450 per year
- Higher-risk locations or larger properties: £500 and above
Those figures assume no recent claims and fairly typical contents values. Claims history, rebuild cost, and postcode can move them quickly.
Buildings-only and contents-only costs
Looking at the parts separately helps explain the totals.
Buildings insurance on its own often sits in the low to mid hundreds annually, depending on rebuild cost and location. A modest terraced house may attract a lower figure, while a detached or older property usually sits higher.
Contents-only policies tend to be cheaper.
- Contents-only insurance often ranges from £80 to £150 per year
- Higher contents values or specified items can push this upwards
When combined, insurers often price more keenly than buying each part separately.
How much region really affects the price
Region makes a noticeable difference. Not a token one. A real one.
In general terms, premiums tend to be higher in:
- London and the South East
- Coastal and flood-exposed areas
- Places with higher recorded theft rates
In these areas, average combined premiums often sit above £400 a year and can move higher quickly for larger homes.
Lower average costs are more common in parts of the North East, Midlands, and some rural areas, where combined policies often land closer to £250 to £350 annually.
Postcode beats region every time
Two homes in the same town can still see very different pricing. Insurers price by postcode rather than county or region.
Flood history, subsidence risk, soil type, and local claims patterns all sit behind those postcode ratings. That’s why neighbours sometimes compare premiums and end up confused.
It isn’t personal. It’s statistical.
Property type and rebuild cost
The size and structure of the property matter just as much as location.
- Flats often attract lower individual premiums, especially where buildings insurance is arranged centrally
- Detached houses usually cost more due to higher rebuild exposure
- Older properties can sit higher because materials and repair methods cost more
That difference can easily add £100 to £200 a year compared with a similar-sized modern property.
Why people struggle to judge if their quote is reasonable
Home insurance pricing doesn’t have a visible tariff. You never see the moving parts. Only the result.
That’s why ball-park figures help. They don’t predict your price, but they do show whether you’re broadly in line or clearly outside the usual range.
Most households paying somewhere between £250 and £450 a year for a combined policy are sitting within the mainstream of the market. Well below or well above that usually means something specific is driving the price.