Home insurance costs: prices fall overall, but Northern Ireland sees the biggest increase

The latest price index from Go.Compare Home Insurance has revealed that while the average cost of home insurance has fallen 1.7% in the last quarter*, for some areas of the UK, prices are on the rise.

For homeowners in Northern Ireland, the average cost of a combined home buildings and contents insurance policy rose 12% from £419 to £466 between Q2 and Q3 of 2025. While average costs have fallen for those in Greater London, Scotland and the East Midlands, homeowners in the North East, South West and West Midlands have seen a small rise in their home insurance premiums.

Your location isn’t the only factor which can influence the cost of your policy - the index also reveals how the type of property, your age and the number of bedrooms in the property can have an impact.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s those with five bedrooms or more who pay the most, with an average premium of £421, while those in one bedroom properties pay £168.

And the older a homeowner is, the less of a risk they are deemed by an insurer, as Go.Compare’s Home Insurance expert, Nathan Blackler explains:

“When you ask an insurer for a quote, they take into account a whole range of factors and when it comes to the age of the policyholder, the older they are, the less of a risk they pose. This is because old homeowners statistically make fewer claims or generally claim for smaller amounts, and they tend to be home during the day and night, lowering the risk of burglary.

“But it isn’t the only thing they consider - houses tend to be more expensive to insure than flats or bungalows because they’re usually larger, and have higher rebuild costs along with more contents.

“While you can’t change any of these factors to save money on your home insurance premiums, there are some ways you can make sure you are getting the right policy for you at the best price. Shopping around is always the best way to start - using a comparison website allows you to see a range of policies at once and helps you get the right cover.”

Nathan’s top home insurance tips include:

• Prepare your home for bad weather - making sure gutters are cleared, garden furniture is tidied away and loose roof tiles have been seen to by a professional will keep your home safe in the winter months and well-maintained all year round.
• Bundle your cover - opting for a combined buildings and contents insurance policy is usually cheaper than buying the two separately and provides cover for both the structure of your home and the things inside.
• Pay annually - when you opt to pay monthly, interest is often added as the insurer treats it like a loan. If you can pay annually for the policy to save some money.
• Upgrade your security - looking after your home could lower your premiums. Adding burglar alarms and strong locks could all help.

For more advice on saving on your home insurance visit: https://www.gocompare.com/home-insurance/guide/top-tips-for-cheaper-home-insurance/

To explore the latest data on the cost of home insurance visit: https://www.gocompare.com/home-insurance/how-much-does-home-insurance-cost/