Who needs buildings insurance in Ireland?
Buildings insurance is not mandatory by law in Ireland, but it is strongly recommended for homeowners to protect their property against damage and the cost of repairs. Whether you need this type of home insurance depends on how you own or use the property.
Mortgage holders: If you have a mortgage, your lender will almost always require buildings insurance as a condition of your loan. Buildings cover protects both you and the lender against financial loss caused by significant damage to the property.
Landlords: If you rent out a house or apartment, you are responsible for insuring the structure of the property. Landlord insurance typically includes buildings cover, along with additional protection such as loss of rental income and malicious damage.
Outright owners: Homeowners without a mortgage are not legally required to have buildings insurance. However, without this cover you would have to pay the full cost of repairing or even rebuilding your home if it is damaged.
Get free buildings insurance quotes
Find the best deal for your home by comparing quotes for buildings insurance.
When you don’t need buildings insurance
Renters: If you rent your home, you generally do not need buildings insurance, as your landlord is responsible for insuring the property itself. However, tenants insurance can provide protection for your belongings inside the home.
Apartment owners: If you own an apartment, you may already be covered by block insurance, a specialist policy that covers the structure of the entire building, including individually owned apartments. Check with your management company to find out what your existing cover includes.
Self-build: If you are building or substantially renovating or extending a property then you will need self-build insurance. This can then be switched to standard buildings insurance once construction is complete.
What buildings insurance covers
A simple way to think about what buildings insurance covers is to imagine turning your home upside down. Anything that would fall out is generally considered contents, while anything that stays fixed in place forms part of the building. These permanent fixtures are what buildings insurance is designed to cover.
Buildings insurance protects against damage from storms, flooding, lightning, and sudden leaks. This cover is generally intended for sudden or unexpected damage, rather than problems that develop over time through wear and tear, gradual deterioration, or lack of maintenance.
What’s typically covered and not typically covered
Swipe to see all data ➜
| Typically covered | Not typically covered |
|---|---|
| The home’s structure, including the walls, roof, floors, windows, and doors. | Furniture, appliances, and anything not part of the permanent structure. |
| Fitted kitchens, bathroom suites, and built-in wardrobes. | Damage caused by pests or vermin such as rats and insects. |
| Outdoor paths, patios, driveways, gates, garages, and sheds. | Garden features like hedges, trees, or plants. |
| No item listed | Damage while the property is left unoccupied for 30–60 days, depending on the policy. |
Need to know: Accidental damage is not always included as standard with buildings insurance. You may need to add it as an extension to your policy for protection against unexpected accidents such as a broken window or DIY mishap.
Free home insurance quotes
Compare quotes from multiple providers to find the right buildings cover for your home.
How much does buildings cover cost in Ireland?
As of 2026, the average buildings insurance cost in Ireland is around €400 to €500 annually. However, a number of factors will influence this:
The amount you insure your home for will affect your buildings insurance premium. A higher rebuild cost generally means a higher premium, as the insurer would need to provide more cover in the event of significant damage.
Your claims history can affect the cost of your insurance. Making a claim can mean losing your no claims discount. Insurers may also consider you more likely to make a claim in the future, resulting in a higher premium.
Your home’s location can affect insurance costs due to crime rates and environmental risks. Properties in flood-risk areas may face higher premiums or limited flood cover. Subsidence risk in certain areas can also increase costs.
Standard buildings insurance may not be available for period properties over 100 years old, or homes with non-standard construction like thatched or flat-roofed properties. Protected structures and architecturally significant properties may also require specialist cover.
The security of your home can affect your buildings insurance premium. Having security measures like a monitored alarm system, smoke detectors, and secure locks on doors can lower the risk of damage or theft, reducing your premium.
How much should you insure your home for?
Your home should be insured for the value of its rebuild cost, i.e. the amount it would cost to completely rebuild the property from scratch including materials, labour, demolition, and VAT. The rebuild cost is not the same as your home’s market value, which is how much the property could sell for.
Your rebuild cost should be updated annually to account for inflation and rising material and labour costs, particularly if you have carried out renovations, extensions, or other home improvements since you last reviewed your policy.
Having an accurate and up-to-date rebuild cost is essential to avoid being left out of pocket. Find out how this could affect a claim in our guide to underinsurance.
What happens if you are underinsured?
If you have insured your home for less than it would cost to rebuild it, any claims you make may be subject to the ‘average clause’ or ‘rule of average’. This can reduce the amount your insurer will pay out, regardless of the size of your claim.
Rebuild cost, insurance, claim and payment comparison
| Actual rebuild cost | Amount it’s insured for | Claim | Amount paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| €400,000 | €200,000 | €20,000 | €10,000 |
In this example, a home is insured for 50% of its actual rebuild cost, so only 50% of the €20,000 claim would be paid by the insurer.
Use our rebuild cost calculator to work out how much it would cost to rebuild your home and avoid underinsuring your property.
How to reduce your premium
Your buildings insurance premium can be reduced in several ways:
- 1
Increase your excess: Choosing a higher excess can lower your premium, but you need to be able to pay the excess in full towards any claim made.
- 2
Install approved locks: Some providers offer reduced rates for home security improvements that meet their minimum requirements.
- 3
Install a monitored alarm: A monitored alarm system can reduce your premium, but be mindful of installation and monitoring costs potentially outweighing the savings.
- 4
Compare buildings insurance quotes: Comparing quotes from multiple providers can help you find cheaper buildings insurance with the right level of cover for your property.
Combine buildings and contents insurance. If you are a homeowner, it is usually more cost effective and convenient to insure your buildings and contents together under one home insurance policy.
Compare buildings insurance quotes
Get free quotes for home insurance from multiple providers to compare your options.
Who offers buildings insurance in Ireland?
All major home insurance providers offer buildings only insurance:
Allianz Ireland
AXA
Aviva
Zurich
FBD
123.ie
RedClick
OUTsurance
AIG
FAQs
Subsidence involves the ground beneath a property moving downward, and can damage the structure and foundations. Most home insurance policies cover it, though usually with a higher excess than standard claims. However, some insurers may exclude it or charge extra depending on risk factors for your property.
Buildings insurance can cover damage caused by events described as an ‘act of God’, although this term is rarely used in policies. Specific perils that are covered usually include storm, flood, lightning, and fire. However, if the damage is thought to have been caused by poor maintenance or wear and tear, even if it becomes apparent after a weather event, this may not be covered.
The length of time it takes to settle a buildings insurance claim depends on the extent of the damage and how straightforward it is to assess and repair. Simple claims with minimal damage may be settled within 2 to 4 weeks, while more complex claims, such as major fire or storm damage, can take upwards of a year.
Yes, buildings insurance generally includes property owner liability cover, which protects you if someone is injured or their property is damaged while at your home, usually up to €3 million.
Get a home insurance quote
Compare insurance plans from top providers and save even more today, hassle-free and fast.
Trusted by 10,000+ Users
