Buildings

Protect the place that matters most

It’s not just looking after the nice things you own. It’s looking after you. So protect it with full insurance against any of those what-ifs, with cover for repairing any damage to your home from £500,000 of cover.

We offer complete cover buildings insurance. Empty building covered with rivr fingerprint covering walls to show it's protected

The rivr standard

Easier to understand

One policy, not multiple, to cover your home and all your possessions, with less ambiguity and no trip hazards.

Better cover, fair price

Better cover than normal insurance at a fair premium that gives you confidence in the level of cover you receive.

Fast and friendly

Simplified process, enhanced with data, gives you a live online quote in 5 minutes.

One policy, total coverage

This is total cover for any damage that happens to the structure of your property – whether it’s a storm or a burst pipe.

One of the key rivr distinctions is that we provide all risks cover. Essentially, unless the policy wording explicitly says that something isn’t covered, or that it has a limit, then it’s covered. No second guessing or ambiguity for you.

Your home, garden and any outbuildings

Complete cover for any damage that happens to the structure of your property.

What’s covered?

Your homes buildings

We cover the physical structure of your home, any outbuildings, decorative finishes or permanent fittings in your home.

home buildings house cover

Home improvements

Any additions, alterations or improvements are covered up to 25% of your buildings cover.

home improvements cover

Alternative accommodation (Buildings Cover)

If you can't live in your home for up to 3 years due to some insured damage we will pay for somewhere else for you to live.

alternative accommodation cover

Building works

If you are carrying out building works on your home, we will cover you up to £75,000, but let us know if it's going to cost more than this.

building works cover

Emergency access

We will pay for damage due to forced entry during a medical emergency or to prevent damage to your home.

emergency access cover

Lock replacement

We will pay for costs to replace locks on external doors, alarms, and safes after the loss or theft of your keys with no excess applied.

replacement lock cover

Preventative measures

We will pay up to £2,500 for costs you incur in taking reasonable temporary preventative measures to protect your home from damage caused by a storm or flooding.

preventative measures cover

Locating the source of a leak

We will cover the cost of locating a leak from fixed water tanks, apparatus and pipes.

locating source of leak cover

Garden cover

We will pay up to £10,000 to restore your garden if it is damaged from certain events.

garden cover

Precautionary repairs

We will pay up to £1,000 for repairs that prevent further loss or damage after a flood or a leak.

precautionary repairs

Cover during the sale of your home

We will cover damage to your home between the exchange of contracts and completion.

cover during sale of a home

Tree removal

We will pay up to £2,500 to remove fallen trees blocking your main car access to your home.

tree removal cover

Fees, expenses & debris removal

We will pay for architect, surveyor, and engineer fees and site clearing and costs.

fees, expenses and debris cover

Fatal injury & disability

We will pay up to £50,000 for fatal injuries as a result of a fire or burglary at your home and up to £15,000 for any necessary building alterations as a result of your injuries.

fatal injury and disability cover

Forced eviction

If public authorities deny you access due to nearby damage, we will cover the costs of alternative accommodation costs for up to 30 days.

forced eviction cover

Reward

We offer up to £5,000 as a reward to anyone who helps catch and convict anyone who caused a claim under this insurance through illegal actions.

reward cover

See what else is covered under buildings cover

Read the policy wording to see full cover details, what else we cover, and to understand what is not covered.

policy search

Additional cover as standard

Unlike many other insurers, we don't up-sell you add-ons, bolt-ons or so-called extensions. Here's some of what's also included in your policy, as standard.

Home emergency cover

Covers repair costs up to £1,500 in case of an emergency.

Liability cover

Covers your liability if something happens at your home.

complete cover

Family legal protection cover

Covers you against a wide range of legal costs associated with a wide range of disputes.

What’s not covered?

We’ve worked hard to keep this list as short as we can, but here are some of the things that are not covered under your policy.

Only a summary of the policy's coverage is presented on this page. Read these documents to fully understand what is and isn't covered

Policy Wording Insurance Product Information Document

Your excess

Your excess as detailed in your policy schedule

Wear and tear

There is no cover for wear and tear, or anything that happens gradually.

General maintenance and decoration

There is no cover for general maintenance and decoration costs.

Blocked drains and pipes

There is no cover for costs to clear blocked sewer pipes, drains, pipes or underground tanks unless damaged from an insured event.

Some specific garden damage

There is no cover for damage caused by storm, flood, frost, fallen trees, or snow to certain garden structures such as fences, pergolas and hedges unless your home is also damaged by the same insured event.

Warping or shrinkage

There is no cover for loss or damage caused by or resulting from warping or shrinkage.

Subsidence or heave to some structures

There is no cover for subsidence, heave or landslip in certain specific scenarios. See the policy wording for further details.

Existing and deliberate damage

There is no cover for loss or damage occurring outside your period of insurance, or caused intentionally or through criminal acts by you.

Building works over £75,000

There is no cover for loss or damage resulting from building works that cost more than £75,000.

Confiscation

There is no cover for loss, damage or liability from confiscation or holding your property from officials or authorities.

Loss of value and indirect losses

There is no cover for any decrease in value as a result of a repair or replacement, or any loss not directly related to a valid claim.

Gradual wear and tear

There is no cover for any gradual damage and wear and tear, guarding against long-term deterioration or aging of property.

Defective design, breakdowns and faults

There is no cover for any loss, damage or liability as a result of design flaws, workmanship, or mechanical and electrical faults or breakdowns.

Unoccupied homes

There is no cover for losses when your home is unoccupied for over 45 days, and certain precautions listed in the policy wording have not been taken to safeguard your home and heating system during certain periods.

Let properties and business use

There is no cover for any loss, damage or liability from any part of your home that is let or is used for business purposes.

Electronic data

There is no cover for loss, damage or liability from computer viruses or data corruption.

Pollution and contamination

There is no cover for loss, damage or liability from pollution or contamination except in specific circumstances listed in the policy wording.

Nuclear and radioactive hazards

There is no cover for loss or damage or any legal liability from radioactive materials or nuclear components, or from potentially catastrophic events like radiation leaks.

War and terrorism

There is no cover for direct or indirect damages resulting from war, civil disturbances, or terrorist acts.

Your questions, answered

Insurance can be complicated and hard to understand, these are some of our most common questions.

What is high-value buildings insurance?

High-value buildings insurance provides cover for the physical structure of your home. The cover extends to any outbuildings and most physical structures on your property.

It is designed for homes that have a higher rebuild value, or that require specialist cover due it being constructed of a non-standard material or being listed.

What are the differences between standard buildings insurance and high-value buildings insurance?

Standard buildings insurance covers typical homes, while high-value buildings insurance is designed for properties with a higher rebuild cost or unique features.

High-value insurance provides more extensive coverage for expensive materials, luxury finishes, and special architectural elements that may not be fully covered by a standard policy. It also often includes higher claim limits and additional protection options.

Do I need high-value buildings insurance?

Generally, you need high-value buildings insurance if your home has a rebuild value over £1 million or it is built of non-standard materials or is Listed.

Do you insure listed buildings?

Yes we can insure Grade 1 or A Listed, Grade 2 or B Listed or Grade 2* Listed buildings.

Do you insure homes built of non-standard materials?

Yes we do insure most buildings that are made of non-standard materials like timber or wattle and daub, but these are evaluated on a case by case basis.

How much does high-value buildings insurance cost?

The cost of high-value buildings insurance depends on several factors, including the rebuild cost of your home, its location, any unique features, and the level of coverage you need.

Premiums are usually higher than standard insurance because of the increased value and risk, but with this premium you receive broader and more extensive cover with higher limits than is available with standard home insurance.

Is my home insured when I am carrying out renovations?

Normally home insurance providers will not cover your home if any building works are being carried out.

At rivr we still insure your home when building works are being carried out as long as the contract for the works is less than £75,000. If the works are costing more than this we can arrange separate specialist cover for renovations through our specialist insurance partner.

How do I know who underwrites your policies?

The policy is insured by two of the largest insurance companies in the world, which are both A-rated for their financial strength.

The Buildings, Contents and Liability cover is insured by HDI Global Specialty SE.

The Home Emergency and Family Legal Protection cover is insured by AmTrust Europe.

How it works

Need a bit more explanation? Then head to our FAQs page where you’ll find loads of answers to our most commonly asked questions.

FAQs
personal risk details

One

You answer a few questions about yourself, your home and what you are looking for.

simple form

Two

Review your quote and any conditions of cover

Note: Some quotes need to be reviewed by our team, this will be done within a day. If we have additional questions, we’ll get in touch.

protected

Three

Accept your quote and pay. That’s it.

manage cover online

Control your cover

Manage your policy online
Review, add to, remove or change your cover online at any time.

Make a claim
Submit claims through your account and our specialised claims partner will handle your claim.