Essential questions to ask before buying park home insurance

Unlike static or touring caravans, a park home isn’t a home-away-from-home; it’s just home. A park home insurance policy will protect your home against the unfortunate, the unavoidable, and the devastating, so it’s important to be thorough when selecting the right policy for your circumstances.

Park home insurance requires unique considerations. In this guide, we’ll share the key questions that you should ask yourself and your prospective insurer to be confident that the policy is well-suited to your needs.

Questions to ask yourself before buying park home insurance

Determine your needs, wants, and priorities from an insurance policy before you start shopping around, as different insurers will offer unique policies with varying benefits and restrictions. And, of course, as with any insurance policy, the details you provide the insurer about your park home must be correct.

What’s the total rebuild cost of my park home?

In the case of a total loss, such as through fire or extreme weather, your insurance policy may cover the cost of rebuilding your park home. You’ll need an accurate figure, but note that this likely differs from the market value and the price you paid for the home.

Giving a false rebuild cost, whether by accident or on purpose, has negative implications. Underestimating the cost may leave you paying partly out of pocket in the event of a claim. On the other hand, overestimating may result in a higher premium, but when claiming, the insurer will not pay more than their own calculation of the rebuild cost.

Do I live in the park home all year round or just seasonally?

Some insurers differentiate between permanent and holiday residences. Be truthful about how you use your park home to ensure you are properly protected by the policy.

What’s inside my park home that needs covering?

Make a detailed list of contents, including electronics, furniture, jewellery, etc, and estimate the total cost of these items. Most insurers have a set value limit for contents insurance, so it’s important to find a policy that can offer a high enough limit to protect all of your belongings.

Do I need cover for accidental damage or loss of items outside the home?

Similar to standard home insurance, some park home insurance policies can offer cover for belongings while outside of the home, such as mobile phones, laptops, or bicycles.

Are there any specific weather risks in my area?

Is your park home situated in an area that’s particularly susceptible to extreme weather conditions, like flooding, subsidence, or harsh storms? While freak weather conditions can occur across the country, certain areas are more prone to devastating weather than others, so it’s important to understand the level of risk for your particular location.

Have I had any previous claims or damage?

Be honest; insurers will ask and use this to calculate your premium. Giving false information about previous claims on other park home insurance policies can lead to an increase in your premium or termination of the policy.

Have all of the relevant information to hand, such as the dates of the claims and the outcomes.

Questions to ask the insurer before buying park home insurance

Understanding your own needs is only the first part of finding the best park home insurance policy. Now you can start shopping around, but make sure to ask these questions to your prospective insurer ahead of purchasing a policy.

Many insurers will answer these questions on their FAQ pages, but you can also source the policy wording or reach out to their customer service team with any additional queries.

What exactly is covered under buildings and contents insurance?

Does the policy cover fire, theft, vandalism, and weather damage? Are there any implications to these? For example, an insurer may cover against theft, but only if certain security measures are in place.

Is site clearance or debris removal included in a total loss scenario?

This can be crucial for park homes, as you may need to clear the plot entirely to rebuild the home. If the policy covers the rebuild cost, but doesn’t provide assistance in clearing the plot, you’ll need to pay out of pocket for this service in order to begin the rebuild process.

Do you cover accidental damage, and how is it defined?

Accidental damage isn’t a standard feature in all park home insurance policies – some policies include it, others require an add-on.

The definition of ‘accidental damage’ can differ between providers, so clarify exactly what this means to your prospective insurer. For example, some insurers may only cover accidental damage to the contents of the park home, while others may only cover the building itself. Other exclusions can include wear and tear, pet accidents, and DIY mishaps.

What is excluded from the policy?

Following on from the above, it’s important to check for any exclusions on the policy. Common exclusions include natural degradation over time, pest or vermin damage, damage while the park home is vacant, theft without forced entry (e.g., the door or a window was unlocked), and electrical appliance breakdown (TVs, washing machines, and boilers, etc.).

Some exclusions can be covered through additional add-ons to the policy. It’s always worth asking the insurer if they can provide cover for any exclusions that you’d prefer protection against.

Is alternative accommodation covered if my home becomes uninhabitable?

Check whether or not alternative accommodation is covered, and ask how much is covered and for how long.

Are outbuildings, awnings, or decking covered?

Not all policies will protect external features such as outbuildings, awnings, or decking, as these are often considered high-value features. Some providers may offer additional add-ons to cover these features.

What are the policy excesses?

Your total excess is required to pay when making a claim, so know what this figure is and assess whether it would be affordable in the event of an unexpected loss. The insurer will set a compulsory excess, and you can select a voluntary excess to add on top.

A higher voluntary excess may reduce the price of your premium, but this is not always a smart financial decision if it increases the total excess to an unaffordable amount.

What discounts are available?

Some insurers will offer discounts on your premium if you meet certain circumstances. For example, installing certain security systems, investing in eco-friendly upgrades, having a claims-free history, or taking out multi-policy bundles.

How easy is it to make a claim, and what’s the process?

Making a claim on your insurance can be stressful, so it’s important that the insurer is able to act fast and offer reasonable solutions. Ask how long claims typically take and if there’s a 24/7 helpline.

Check customer reviews for the insurer before taking out a new policy to ensure existing and previous customers are satisfied with their service.

Kick back and relax, knowing your park home is suitably protected

While it may seem tedious to spend time gathering information and researching the perfect park home insurance for your needs, it’s a small price to pay for peace of mind.

If you need to make a claim in the event of an emergency, you’ll be grateful that your chosen policy and provider can make the process as smooth as possible.