Home & contents insurance in Australia
One policy that covers both the building and everything in it. Here's what it covers, whether bundling beats two policies, and how to compare across our panel.
By Andre Lang · Home insurance savings expertWhat home & contents insurance covers
A combined policy protects both sides of your home on one premium: the structure, and everything you keep inside it.
The building
Repair or rebuild the structure — walls, roof, floors, fixed fittings, plus garages, sheds, fencing and in-ground pools — after fire, storm, flood or impact.
Your contents
Your belongings inside: furniture, whitegoods, electronics, clothing and valuables, against the same insured events plus theft.
Legal liability
Cover if someone is injured at your home and you're found liable — usually included on both the building and contents sides.
Optional extras
Accidental damage, portable contents (phones, jewellery, laptops away from home) and motor burnout — add what you need.
Building, contents or combined?
The right mix depends on whether you own, rent or invest:
Owner-occupiers
Combined home & contents — you own the structure and your belongings, so you insure both. Bundling them is the usual (and usually cheaper) choice.
Landlords
Usually building-only — tenants insure their own contents. Add contents cover for furnished rentals.
Learn moreRenters
Contents-only — your landlord insures the building, but everything you own inside is your responsibility.
Apartment & unit owners
Often contents-only — the building is usually insured by the body corporate (strata). Check what the strata policy covers first.
Is it cheaper to bundle than buy two policies?
Usually, yes.One combined home & contents policy is generally cheaper than two standalone policies, and most insurers add a multi-policy discountwhen building and contents sit together. It's also simpler: one premium, one excess structure, one renewal. Compare both ways to be sure for your home.
The bigger saving, though, is comparing across insurers rather than renewing on autopilot — the same combined home is often quoted very differently across a panel. See how far apart insurers sit.
How much to insure for — on both sides
Building — the rebuild cost
Insure the structure for what it would cost to rebuild — not its market value or your mortgage. Underinsuring here is the most common, costly mistake.
How to set the building sum insured →Contents — replacement value
Add up what it would cost to replace your belongings at today's prices, room by room. Choose new-for-old over indemnity if you can — it replaces items new, rather than deducting for wear.
What contents cover includes →How to compare a home & contents quote
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Enter your address
We pre-fill what we can about the property, so there's less for you to type.
- 2
Confirm building & contents
Your rough rebuild cost and contents value — we'll help you land on sensible figures.
- 3
Compare across our panel
See competitive combined prices from a panel of insurers side by side, in minutes.
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Choose and you’re covered
Pick the policy that fits; our brokers are here if you want a hand.
Home & contents FAQs
How much is home and contents insurance?
It varies widely by location, your building and contents sums insured, and excess. Run a quote to see your price across our panel.
Is it cheaper to get home and contents together or separately?
Usually together. One combined policy is generally cheaper than two standalone policies, and most insurers apply a multi-policy discount when building and contents sit on the same policy. Compare both ways to be sure for your home.
What's the difference between home, contents and combined cover?
Home (building) covers the structure; contents covers your belongings inside; combined home & contents bundles both on one policy. Owner-occupiers usually take combined; landlords often take building-only, and renters take contents-only.
How much contents cover do I need?
Add up what it would cost to replace everything you own at today's prices — go room by room; it's almost always more than people guess. Choose new-for-old replacement if offered (it replaces items with new equivalents) rather than indemnity (which deducts for wear and tear).
Do I need contents insurance if I own the building?
They cover different things, so most owner-occupiers want both. Building cover rebuilds the house; contents replaces what's inside it. A fire or burglary can be a major contents loss even when the structure is fine — which is why the two are usually combined.
Is flood covered on home and contents insurance?
Flood is now included as standard on most home & contents policies, alongside fire and storm. What varies is how each insurer defines flood versus storm and rainwater, and how steeply it's priced for higher-risk addresses — always check the PDS.
Cover the building and everything in it
Compare combined home & contents across our panel of insurers. No call required.
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