Household insurance or home insurance can be divided into two types - content and buildings. A simplistic view is that contents insurance covers personal items and soft furnishings, while buildings insurance covers the bricks and mortar and permanent fittings. There are a vast amount of insurers offering these products both separately and combined. You should ensure that your insurer or prospective insurer is a member of the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
You should really have contents insurance whether you are the homeowner or otherwise. Accidents and thieves do not restrict themselves to the homeowners everyone is at risk. It is a common misconception for people renting a home that they do not need contents insurance. There can be few things more distressing than being a victim of a crime or the accidental damage or lose of personal possessions There are a vast collection of insurance companies who offer contents insurance policies. You can get your own quotes or use an online comparison engine, but either way you should make sure you understand the policy and its clauses. All policies will vary somewhat, so as always check the fine detail.
If you are getting a mortgage or already have one, you will know that buildings insurance is a compulsory condition for acquiring a mortgage. You can usually obtain a buildings insurance policy through the mortgage company. Indeed they will probably offer a combined package of buildings and content insurance. Often there will be a discount for the purchaser.
Building insurance covers the property, the permanent fittings and the outbuildings (outbuildings are sometimes an additional benefit, so always check the policy). The permanent fittings will include things like bathroom suites and fitted kitchens.
These days household insurance can be quoted online and paid for online. Online insurance is generally cheaper than buying through a high street broker or insurance company. However, you do not have the human contact online, so it is important that you understand the subtleties of any policy you may be considering.
Household insurance policies are generally renewed annually, so if you are thinking of changing make sure you are ready to do so before your policy comes up for renewal. You could cancel part way through the policy but are likely to lose out financially and could lose any no claims benefits that may be available. There are often financial benefits in the form of discounts for taking out both contents insurance and buildings insurance with the same company.