Buildings and Contents Insurance
Your premises and the assets inside them are fundamental to your business. Buildings and contents insurance protects them against fire, flood, theft and accidental damage.
Get in touchWhat is buildings and contents insurance?
Commercial buildings and contents insurance protects your business premises and the items inside them against damage or loss from events such as fire, flood, storm, theft and vandalism. Buildings cover pays for structural repairs, while contents cover replaces your furniture, equipment, stock and other business assets.
If you own your commercial property, buildings insurance covers the cost of repairing or rebuilding the structure, including walls, roofs, floors, fixtures and fittings. If you rent, your landlord typically insures the building, but you are responsible for insuring your own contents.
Without adequate cover, a fire or flood could destroy assets worth tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds, leaving your business to bear the entire cost of replacement and repair.
What is covered
- Fire, storm and flood damage to the building
- Theft of and damage to business contents
- Replacement of stock and equipment
- Accidental damage to fixtures and fittings
What is not covered
- Gradual deterioration or wear and tear
Only sudden or accidental events are covered, not ongoing maintenance issues
- Contents taken off-site without specific cover
Items removed from your premises may need separate portable equipment or tools cover
Who needs buildings and contents insurance?
Property-owning businesses
Any business that owns its commercial premises and needs to insure the structure
Retailers and shop owners
Businesses with stock, fixtures, fittings and point-of-sale equipment to protect
Restaurants and hospitality venues
Venues with expensive kitchen equipment, furniture, decor and perishable stock
Office-based businesses
Companies with IT equipment, furniture and other valuable office contents
Warehouses and storage businesses
Operations holding large volumes of stock or equipment on their premises
WHY CECIL
Built differently.
UK specialists
Leading UK insurers only. No American-style policies retrofitted for British businesses.
Straightforward process
Tell us about your business. We find the options. You choose. No lengthy forms, no automated runaround.
Cover that actually fits
Cover that fits how your business operates, not a generic category. Tell us what you do and get the options that actually match.
Here when it matters
When something goes wrong, you need your insurer to respond. Only insurers rated for their claims handling.
Common questions about buildings and contents insurance
What is the difference between commercial buildings and contents insurance?
Buildings insurance covers the physical structure of your premises, including walls, roof, floors, fixtures and permanent fittings. Contents insurance covers everything inside that is not part of the building itself, such as furniture, equipment, stock, computers and tools. If you own the building, you typically need both. If you rent, you usually only need contents cover.
Do I need buildings insurance if I rent my business premises?
If you rent your premises, the landlord is usually responsible for insuring the building. You are responsible for insuring your own contents, including equipment, stock, furniture and any improvements you have made to the property. Check your lease to confirm where responsibilities lie.
Industries that need this cover
Buildings and Contents Insurance is commonly required across these sectors.
Interested in Buildings and Contents Insurance?
We will be in contact when Cecil launches.