General Insurance · verified 5 September 2026

Home Insurance

Protect the structure, belongings and the cost of starting again.

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What is home insurance?

Home insurance can cover the building, household contents, burglary and selected catastrophe or liability risks. Owners usually need building and contents cover; tenants normally insure contents and liabilities. Insure reconstruction cost—not land or speculative market value—and declare valuables separately.

Illustration of a home protected against fire, flood, storm and burglary — Visual guide: building, contents and different perils are separate decisions—select the sections you actually need.

Plain-language guide

Important terminology with examples

Definitions are educational summaries. The issued policy wording and schedule control every claim.

Building

The residential structure and permanent fixtures, not the land value.

Example: Use reconstruction cost, not market selling price.

Furniture, appliances, clothing and other household belongings.

Example: Jewellery and valuables may require declaration or a separate limit.

Reinstatement value

Cost of replacing damaged property with new property of similar kind, subject to conditions.

Example: Depreciation may apply if reinstatement is not completed in time.

Burglary

Theft involving entry/exit evidence as defined in the policy.

Example: Simple unexplained disappearance may be excluded.

Excess

The portion of every claim you bear.

Example: A ₹10,000 excess is deducted from an admissible loss.

Underinsurance

Insuring for less than required value, which can reduce a claim.

Example: If property is insured at half its correct value, average clause may reduce payment.

Alternative accommodation

Defined rent or hotel cost while an insured home is uninhabitable.

Example: It has period and amount limits.

Public liability

Legal liability for accidental injury or property damage to others.

Example: For example, a visitor injured due to a covered event.

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Companies offering relevant covers

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National Insurance

Bharat Griha Raksha

Home Insurance

What is home insurance?

Important terminology with examples

Building

Contents

Reinstatement value

Burglary

Excess

Underinsurance

Alternative accommodation

Public liability

Companies offering relevant covers

National Insurance

The New India Assurance

The Oriental Insurance

United India Insurance

ACKO General Insurance

Bajaj General Insurance

Cholamandalam MS General Insurance

Generali Central Insurance

Go Digit General Insurance

HDFC ERGO General Insurance

ICICI Lombard General Insurance

IFFCO Tokio General Insurance

IndusInd General Insurance

Liberty General Insurance

Magma General Insurance

Navi General Insurance

Raheja QBE General Insurance

Royal Sundaram General Insurance

SBI General Insurance

Shriram General Insurance

Tata AIG General Insurance

Universal Sompo General Insurance

Zuno General Insurance

Zurich Kotak General Insurance

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