CANSTAR 2024 2025 insurer of the year home and contents CANSTAR 2023 2025 insurer of the year home and contents

Insurer of the Year - Home & Contents, two years running

And once again, awarded Canstar's Outstanding Value - Home & Contents Insurance, 2023-2025.

Compare our standard house insurance

Our standard house insurance policy covers the essentials. Great for the budget conscious or those who want the safety of insurance without the extras. Why not give our house insurance calculator a go? It can help you work out the rebuild cost of your home.

  • policy cover standard

    Cover the basics

    Get covered with Standard cover - our most affordable house insurance.

  • home repair

    Minor reno cover

    Doing some fix-ups at home? Get up to $10k of cover for your materials for the reno.*

  • temporary accommodation

    Safe place to stay

    Get up to $15k towards temporary accommodation if your damaged home is uninhabitable.

  • house fire

    Up to 20% more cover

    If your house is totally destroyed by fire (excludes from natural hazards).

*Benefit applies to non-structural renovations only.

Policy terms, excesses, limits and exclusions apply. Cover subject to current underwriting criteria.

Our standard house insurance policy includes

This is a summary only. For all of these benefits, please make sure you read the policy wording to understand the terms, conditions, limits and exclusions that may apply.

Standard

Replacement to sum insured 
If your home is completely destroyed, we’ll pay up to the sum insured amount on your policy to rebuild your home. Learn more about sum insured
Replacement to sum insured
If your home is completely destroyed, we’ll pay up to the sum insured amount on your policy to rebuild your home. Learn more about sum insured
Damage caused by a natural hazard 
If damage to your home exceeds the NHCover limit, we pay the difference up to your sum insured. 
Damage caused by a natural hazard
If damage to your home exceeds the NHCover limit, we pay the difference up to your sum insured. 
Extended sum insured for fire 
If your house is destroyed by fire, this benefit gives you up to 20% more cover than your sum insured. Excludes fires following natural hazards.
Extended sum insured for fire
If your house is destroyed by fire, this benefit gives you up to 20% more cover than your sum insured. Excludes fires following natural hazards.
Carpets extended replacement 
If you have matching carpet throughout your home and some of it’s damaged, if we can’t find a suitable match, we’ll replace the lot.
Carpets extended replacement
If you have matching carpet throughout your home and some of it’s damaged, if we can’t find a suitable match, we’ll replace the lot.
Hidden gradual water damage 

Up to $1,000

We'll repair damage to your home which is caused over time by a leak or overflow from an internal water pipe, hose, or tank.
Hidden gradual water damage
We'll repair damage to your home which is caused over time by a leak or overflow from an internal water pipe, hose, or tank.
Up to $1,000
Sustainability upgrade 

Up to $15,000

If your house is destroyed, we'll provide up to $15,000 for you to add or upgrade to sustainable products in your new house. Excludes losses caused by a natural hazard.
Sustainability upgrade
If your house is destroyed, we'll provide up to $15,000 for you to add or upgrade to sustainable products in your new house. Excludes losses caused by a natural hazard.
Up to $15,000
Temporary accommodation 

Up to $15,000

We'll contribute toward the cost of temporary accommodation if your home suffers damage that makes it uninhabitable as a result of an insured event. This excludes claims for hidden gradual water damage.
Temporary accommodation
We'll contribute toward the cost of temporary accommodation if your home suffers damage that makes it uninhabitable as a result of an insured event. This excludes claims for hidden gradual water damage.
Up to $15,000
Landscaping 

Up to $1,000

You’re covered for damage to your lawn, flowers, trees, hedges or shrubs, caused by fire damage to your home, or damage from a vehicle.
Landscaping
You’re covered for damage to your lawn, flowers, trees, hedges or shrubs, caused by fire damage to your home, or damage from a vehicle.
Up to $1,000
Glass breakage reduced excess 
If your claim is only for glass breakage, we’ll reduce your excess.
Glass breakage reduced excess
If your claim is only for glass breakage, we’ll reduce your excess.
Garden retaining walls 

Up to $15,000

Cover for garden retaining walls automatically included.
Garden retaining walls
Cover for garden retaining walls automatically included.
Up to $15,000
Keys and locks 

Up to $500

We'll help replace keys and locks if yours are stolen, lost, or illegally copied, and you won't need to pay an excess.
Keys and locks
We'll help replace keys and locks if yours are stolen, lost, or illegally copied, and you won't need to pay an excess.
Up to $500
House under minor alteration 

Up to $10,000

Extra cover to protect your home and renovation materials while it's undergoing non-structural renovations that don't require building consent.
House under minor alteration
Extra cover to protect your home and renovation materials while it's undergoing non-structural renovations that don't require building consent.
Up to $10,000
Liability protection 
If there’s an accident at your home which causes damage to someone else’s property, we’ll cover you for your legal liability.
Liability protection
If there’s an accident at your home which causes damage to someone else’s property, we’ll cover you for your legal liability.
Pay only one excess 
Pay only one excess when claiming on multiple eligible policies for a single event. The highest excess applies.
Pay only one excess
Pay only one excess when claiming on multiple eligible policies for a single event. The highest excess applies.
Get a quote

Info, ideas and inspiration

Tips on protecting the things that matter the most to you.

How to save on your insurance

From reviewing your policies to bundling them, find ways to save on your insurance premiums while keeping the cover you need with these tips.

Tower translates: Gradual damage

It’s important you understand what this means for your cover, any potential claims, and how to help prevent gradual damage.
Read more house articles

House insurance FAQs

How much should I insure my house for?

It's important that the amount you insure your house for is enough to cover all costs to rebuild your house. This includes things like demolition costs, debris removal, professional fees and council fees.

Learn more about calculating the house sum insured amount

Does my risk rating affect the price I pay for my insurance?

When calculating the premium for a property, one thing we take into account is the specific natural disaster risk at your address. We call this risk-based pricing. For example, Wellington has a higher risk of earthquake damage than Auckland.

We believe this is the fairest way to determine the cost of insurance.

Why we’ve changed to risk-based pricing for house insurance

How is the risk rating calculated?

We use various sources of data to assess the level of risk each address faces. This includes information about the building itself, like age, construction materials, and sum insured, as well as its geographical location. 

To help us better understand the earthquake and flood risk in New Zealand, we've partnered with Risk Management Solutions (RMS), one of the world's leading catastrophe modelling companies. 

RMS earthquake and flood models are built using advanced technologies, science, and data, including lessons from historical events, geologic data, ongoing global research, and damage statistics. 

Assessing properties with this level of detail means earthquake and flood damage risk can vary from one address to another, even for properties on the same street. These differences are reflected in our premiums. 

Learn more about your property risk profile

What if I rent out my house?

Our Premium, Plus, and Standard House insurance policies are designed for owner-occupiers. If you're looking to rent out your property you will need our Landlord insurance policy.

Our Landlord insurance is designed to cover you for all sorts of renting-related issues. This includes deliberate damage, loss of rent, and methamphetamine contamination. 

Learn more about Landlord insurance

Do I get a discount if I insure my house and contents?

Yes! If you have two or more car, house, and contents policies with us you could save up to 20% off your premiums (Ts&Cs apply). 

Also, if a single event means you need to claim on more than one policy, you'll only need to pay one excess. The highest excess applies. 

Start your house and contents quote online now

Am I covered for earthquakes and other disasters?

Yes. If your house is damaged in an earthquake or natural disaster your Tower House insurance covers you up to your sum insured for the cost to repair or rebuild your house.

For more detailed information, check the Standard, Plus, and Premium House policies or call us on 0800 379 372.

Is damage caused by pets covered?

We are pet lovers too and know that from time to time they are not always as well behaved as you may like. Unfortunately, our policies don't cover damage to your house or furnishings caused by your pets. 

Is general wear and tear to the house covered?

Damage to your home made through daily life, ageing, and normal wear and tear is not covered. However, we do cover you for hidden gradual water damage caused over time by a leak or overflow from an internal water pipe, hose, or tank. Limits apply. 

Is my house covered while I'm away on holiday?

You don't have to tell us if your home is unoccupied for a short period of time, as you'll still be covered. 

However, if you house is left unoccupied for more than 90 consecutive days, your cover is limited from day 91 to loss, damage, or liability arising from:

  1. a natural hazard
  2. a fire resulting from a natural hazard
  3. a fire that is not related to or started by any deliberate act or intentional act
  4. a storm or flood caused by weather events. 

An additional excess of $1,000 will be applied in the event of a claim for loss to your house under the above circumstances.

This does not apply to your holiday home. 

Please call us on 0800 379 372 if you know your house has been, or will be, unoccupied for more than 90 days.