Specialist Buildings Insurance
- Specialist buildings insurance
- Protect your home from £1,000,000
- Comprehensive, all risks cover
- Underwritten by A Rated insurers
why choose us
We’ve redesigned insurance, so that it works for you
Insurance is traditionally complicated, opaque and time-consuming. Rivr offers buildings insurance that puts clarity and simplicity first. Whether your property is high-value, listed or features swimming pools, permanent fixtures or other special features, our home insurance policy is designed to protect what matters.
Our buildings cover is based on your property's actual rebuild cost, with the option to increase your sum insured using a recent, approved valuation. We also provide cover for accidental damage, legal expenses, lost or stolen keys and alternative accommodation if your home becomes uninhabitable. If you ever need to make a claim, our expert team will guide you through the process with speed and care.
tailored specialist cover
Truly comprehensive, all risks cover. Insure with confidence.
HOME
All risk cover
Cover designed for high value homes with less ambiguity.
OUTBUILDINGS
Enhanced protection
Higher limits and broader coverage for outbuildings.
AND MORE
Fast and personal
The speed of digital, with the benefit of dedicated advisors.
client reviews
Rivr cover is rated excellent
4.7/5 on Trustpilotyour cover
What’s covered, and what isn’t
Covered
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Your home's buildings
We cover the physical structure of your home, any outbuildings, decorative finishes or permanent fittings in your home.
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Home improvements
Any additions, alterations or improvements are covered up to 25% of your buildings cover.
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Accidental damage
The insurer will pay for any damage caused accidentally.
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Alternative accommodation
If you can't live in your home for up to 3 years due to some insured damage, the insurer will pay for somewhere else for you to live.
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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.
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Emergency access
The insurer will pay for damage due to forced entry during a medical emergency or to prevent damage to your home.
Not covered
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Your excess
Your excess as detailed in your policy schedule.
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Wear and tear
There is no cover for wear and tear, or anything that happens gradually.
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Building works over £100,000
There is no cover for loss or damage resulting from building works that cost more than £100,000.
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General maintenance and decoration
There is no cover for general maintenance and decoration costs.
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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.
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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.
Policy documents
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.
included as standard
Additional cover, as standard
All of this is included as standard with our buildings, contents, and combined home insurance policies, supporting you whenever you need to make a claim.
Property emergency solutions
Our home emergency cover helps protect against unexpected damage caused by plumbing failures, electrical faults, or broken locks and heating systems.
- £1,500 emergency repair costs for issues like plumbing, heating, electrical faults, and damage to locks, doors and windows
Family legal solutions
Our family legal protection covers the cost of legal advice and representation, with up to £100,000 for legal expenses relating to property, employment or consumer disputes.
- Up to £100,000 to cover legal services and court action, including 24/7 access to legal advice
- Up to £25,000 for legal costs in cases of personal identity fraud
- Legal support for employment, property and other disputes.
Your liabilities cover
Covers property owners liability up to £5 million, helping protect you against legal claims if someone is injured at your property.
- Up to £5 million property owners liability cover
Cover is subject to the terms, conditions, and exclusions. For full cover details please refer to the full policy wording for complete details.
your dedicated client adviser
Digital insurance, with an adviser who knows you
Get an instant quote and manage your policy online, whenever it suits you. When you would rather talk, your dedicated client adviser is there to help you refine your quote, answer questions during your policy and support you through a claim.
- Phone
- Chat
complete flexibility
Easy 24/7 online access
You can manage your policy completely online.
Access your policy documents and manage your cover.
faq
Frequently asked questions
Insurance can be complicated. Here are answers to the questions we are asked most.
What is high-value buildings insurance?
High-value buildings insurance covers the physical structure of your home, including outbuildings and most other permanent features on your property. It’s designed for homes with a higher rebuild value, or those that need specialist cover due to non-standard construction or listed status.
What are the differences between standard buildings insurance and high-value buildings insurance?
Standard buildings insurance is designed for typical homes, while high-value buildings insurance is tailored for properties with a higher rebuild cost, specialist materials, or unique architectural features. It provides broader protection, has higher limits, and more extensive coverage for luxury finishes and bespoke elements that standard policies may not fully insure.
Do I need high-value buildings insurance?
You may need high-value buildings insurance if your home has a rebuild value over £1 million, is constructed from non-standard materials, or is a Listed property.
These homes often require specialist cover to reflect their higher rebuild costs and their unique features.
How much does high-value buildings insurance cost?
The cost of high-value buildings insurance depends on several factors such as your home’s rebuild value, location, unique features, and the level of cover you choose. Premiums are generally higher than standard insurance due to the increased value and risk, but they provide broader protection and higher limits than standard policies.
What are my buildings?
Your buildings are everything that makes up the physical structure of your home and its permanent features, including:
The main home itself
Garages and outbuildings
Decorative finishes (paint, wallpaper, tiles, etc.)
Permanent fixtures and fittings (kitchens, bathrooms, built-in wardrobes, etc.)
Domestic fixed fuel tanks
Garden walls, fences, gates, paths, and driveways
Hard tennis courts, patios, steps, terraces, ornamental ponds, fountains, and bridges
Permanently fitted hot tubs and swimming pools
Radio and TV aerials, satellite dishes, solar panels, outdoor lighting, alarm systems, CCTV, and lifts
Underground service pipes, cables, drains, and inspection covers
These are all covered as part of the Buildings section of your policy, as long as they’re situated at the address shown in your policy schedule and owned by you (or you’re legally responsible for them).
How much buildings cover do I need?
Your buildings cover should be enough to fully rebuild your home if it were completely destroyed. This includes all permanent fixtures, such as kitchens, cupboards, flooring, and bathrooms, as well as decorative finishes like wallpaper, paint, and carpets.
Estimating the rebuild cost can be challenging, as the quality of finishes in your home can significantly affect the amount. We provide an indicative estimate to help, but for greater accuracy, we can help you arrange a desktop valuation through our partner, RCA.
If you’d like a desktop valuation, please email us at hello@rivrcover.com.
Do you insure listed buildings?
We can provide cover for Grade 2 or B, and Grade 2* listed buildings. Each property is assessed individually and evaluated on a case by case basis.
We cannot provide cover for Grade 1 or A listed buildings.
Do you insure homes built of non-standard materials?
Yes. We can provide cover for most homes built from non-standard materials, such as timber or wattle and daub, but these are evaluated on a case by case basis.
Can you cover homes with a history of flooding?
Yes. We can cover properties with a previous history of flooding, subject to underwriter review.
Where flood risk applies, policies are ceded to Flood Re, which is the UK’s government-backed scheme designed to make flood insurance more accessible. Our underwriters will review the property to ensure it meets the required criteria, giving you peace of mind that your home is properly protected.
Do I need to include VAT in my buildings sum insured?
It depends on the type of property.
For non-listed properties, you do not need to include VAT in your buildings sum insured as they are VAT exempt when completely rebuilt.
For listed or graded buildings, our insurers require that the buildings sum insured includes VAT, to fully rebuild the property. This is because they are not VAT exempt.
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- 1 Tell us about your home
- 2 Review your quote
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