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Home Insurance Ireland

Whether you are a homeowner, tenant, or landlord, home insurance offers essential protection for what may be your most significant asset.

While it may not always be a legal requirement, it is crucial you have adequate home insurance cover to protect you financially in case your house or its contents are damaged or destroyed.

With dozens of policies available from multiple home insurance providers in Ireland, it is worth exploring your options to ensure you have the right level of protection for your home.

Why You Need Home Insurance

Home insurance covers you for a range of unforeseen circumstances or events that can cause damage to your house or its contents. Without it, you could be faced with significant bills if something goes wrong.

Insurance policies differ in what they offer, but you can generally choose to cover:

  • Fire damage
  • Storm or flood damage
  • Theft
  • Vandalism
  • Emergency assistance
  • Accidental damage
  • Certain belongings outside the home
  • High value items

What Affects The Cost Of Home Insurance?

The cost of living has soared in recent years in Ireland, and home insurance is no different. According to recent CSO data, home insurance premiums at the start of 2026 were 7.6% higher than at the end of 2023.

With prices increasing, it is essential to know how providers calculate your premium. Among the main factors insurers will consider are:

The estimated cost of rebuilding your house is the main factor that insurers will take into consideration. This differs from your home’s market value.

Insurers will review your home address to assess risk factors such crime rates or flooding.

Homes with modern locks or doors, burglar alarms and cameras are seen as being less prone to being broken into than those without these security features.

Expert Tip

You should regularly review the estimated rebuild cost of your home, the value of your contents, and your excesses so that you’re adequately protected if something goes wrong. You can use our rebuild cost calculator  to find out how much it would cost to rebuild your home in 2026.

Ways To Reduce Your Home Insurance Premium

The average cost of home insurance in Ireland in 2026 is estimated at between €400 and €600, but there are numerous ways to reduce the amount you pay without compromising on essential financial protection, such as:

Improving your home’s security will potentially lower your premium and, as smart home tech systems are more widely adopted there is potential to improve home security further, and even incorporate early warning systems such as water leak and fire detection.

If you are a careful home owner, you will potentially decrease your premiums significantly by building up a no claims discount.

Your excess is the amount that you contribute towards a claim on your home insurance. Increasing your excess, say from €250 to €500, can reduce your premium.

If you pay for your home insurance annually, rather than monthly, you will often save in the region of 15- 20% less on your premium.

You may get a discount on your home insurance by purchasing multiple policies, such as home and holiday home insurance, or home and car insurance, from the same insurer.

Although the Central Bank has banned the practice of ‘price walking’ since 2022, meaning that insurance companies are no longer allowed to charge existing customers higher prices than new customers for the same cover, it is still worth shopping around to take advantage of the best that the market has to offer.

Choosing The Right Home Insurance Policy

Choosing the right level of cover for your home is essential. But before you compare insurance policies, you need to understand the three primary types of home insurance cover: Buildings Cover, Contents Cover, and Combined Cover.

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Buildings Cover

Buildings insurance is designed to insure the structure of your house, i.e. the walls, roof, floors and windows, as well as permanent fittings such as the kitchen. It protects the physical building against damage caused by fire, storm damage or flooding.

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Contents Cover

Contents insurance covers your personal possessions such as furniture, appliances, electronics, jewellery, and clothing. This type of cover may also protect your belongings outside the home on an ‘all risks’ basis.

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Combined Home Insurance Policies

Combined Buildings and Contents Cover is often the most cost effective type of home insurance as it protects you financially for damage to both the structure of your home and the contents within.

Find the Best Home Insurance for Landlords, Tenants and Homeowners

Home insurance products tend to be tailored to different types of property owners and occupiers, depending on your specific living situation.

Homeowners

If you own your own house, or currently have a mortgage, then a combined home insurance policy will protect your asset, the building you live in, and your belongings. Your mortgage lender will likely require you to have buildings cover as a minimum.

Learn more combining your insurance policies →

Landlords & Property Owners

If you are a landlord, or have a buy to let property, and rent your property to tenants, you will want to protect your investment, certain contents, as well as owner liabilities.

Learn more about landlord insurance →

Tenants

If you rent your home, your landlord is responsible for insuring the building, but your own belongings will not be covered by their policy. Tenant insurance protects your contents and may include personal liability cover.

Learn more about tenants insurance →

Holiday & Second Home Owners

If your summer house or second home is left vacant for long periods, this is covered by the specific protection offered by holiday home insurance. Insurers assess second homes differently due to occupancy patterns and risk exposure.

Learn more about holiday home insurance →

Other Things to Consider When Insuring Your Home

Not all homes fit a generic standard construction, and there are some things to be aware of when you are taking out insurance for your home.

It is assumed by an insurer that your home is well maintained, therefore damage due to wear and tear or poor maintenance, such as leaking gutters, will not be covered by home insurance.

If your home is left unoccupied for more than 30 days, although policies vary on this number, you will need to inform your insurer as you may not be covered by standard home insurance. 

Holiday home insurance has specific security conditions as it is assumed that a second home will be empty for parts of the year.

If your home is over 100 years old, has a flat roof, is a protected structure or listed building, or is a timber framed or eco home, then you may need to arrange non-standard home insurance.

If you run a home business, such as a childminding business or home salon, you may need to discuss this with your home insurer.

It is also assumed in the case of standard home insurance that the home is the primary residence of you and your immediate family only.

If you are purchasing home insurance for the first time, some insurers offer specialised first time buyer home insurance products available for you.

Who Provides Home Insurance in Ireland?

AXA - Home Insurance
Zurich - Home Insurance
Redclick Insurance
Allianz - Home Insurance
FBD - Home Insurance
OUTsurance Insurance Provider
123.ie insurance provider
KennCo Insurance Provider
AIG - Home Insurance

Home Insurance FAQs

Find answers to common questions about Home Insurance

The cost of home insurance in Ireland is typically between €400 and €600 in 2026, however factors such as the level of cover, rebuild costs, location, no claims history, and security can influence premiums. 

Usually no, not in the way that motor insurance is legally mandatory. If you have a mortgage your lender is legally obliged to ensure that you have buildings cover in place at a minimum to protect their investment.

However, your home and its contents are usually your most significant asset and protecting them with home insurance is strongly recommended.

Generally yes, your insurance company will pay out if your home is damaged by storms, erosion, or a natural disaster. 

Damage by vehicle collision, including an aeroplane is also covered by most policies, however war or terrorism is not usually covered.

In terms of buildings cover, you must ensure that you are covered by the full ‘rebuild’ cost of your home which is the full price for rebuilding the property from scratch. 

Underinsurance occurs when the amount specified by your buildings cover is insufficient for the rebuild cost. In this case, the condition of average means that if your house is 25% underinsured, then the insurer will only pay out 75% of any claim, not just claims for a full rebuild.

You can determine the rebuild cost of your home by using the calculator on the Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland (SCSI) website, or have a full survey carried out on your home.

Limited accidental damage balances protection and cost by limiting accidental damage cover to higher value items only such as damage to fixed bathroom or kitchen fittings, or electronic equipment such as TVs, laptops, and entertainment systems.

Yes, and short term rental activity may not be covered by your standard home insurance. Although AirBnB may offer some protection for their hosts, you would be fully protected for property damage and third party liability with more specialised short term rental insurance.

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