Millions of UK homes remain uninsured despite rising risks

Insurance experts are warning of a growing home insurance gap as millions of Brits are potentially going without cover. A recent survey from Go.Compare home insurance has revealed that 32% of people do not currently have a contents policy in place, while 61% said they were insured and 8% weren’t sure.*

The research also shows young adults are far less likely to be covered, with 44% of 16-24-year-olds and 36% of 25-34-year-olds saying that they don’t have contents insurance, compared with just 21% of over-55s.

The number of those who are uninsured has risen sharply in the past three years, with a quarter (26%) of people admitting to going without home contents cover in 2022**, and now in 2025 this number rising to nearly a third (32%). This suggests more households may be leaving themselves financially exposed at a time when budgets are already stretched.

In the 2022 research, among those who said they were currently without cover, almost half (47%) said the cost was too high, a third (33%) believed they didn’t own enough to justify taking out contents cover, and 12% said they’d cancelled a policy to save money.

A typical contents policy insures around £30,000 worth of belongings, from furniture and gadgets to jewellery and clothing. And while many assume insurance is expensive, Go.Compare data shows that contents cover might not cost as much as you think:

• The median annual premium is just £63***, and
• Some customers pay as little as £43 a year**** – roughly the cost of one family takeaway.

Nathan Blackler, Go.Compare home insurance spokesperson, said: “It’s worrying to see more people going without contents cover, especially as contents insurance can cost less than £5 a month and protects thousands of pounds’ worth of belongings. Our research found that a third of people (33%) don’t think they own enough to justify taking out contents cover – but it’s common for people to underestimate how much it would cost to replace everything they own. If your furniture, tech or clothes were damaged in a fire or stolen, could you afford to replace them?

“Taking stock of what you own and comparing quotes can help you find affordable cover that suits your needs. You can often tailor your policy by removing extras you don’t need, which can help bring the cost down.

“Make sure to compare all your options online, as that way you can be certain you’re getting the right cover for the best available price. Additionally, here are our five top tips for buying contents cover:

• Value your contents carefully: make a list of your possessions and calculate their worth – this way you can make sure you get the right level of cover (the Go.Compare contents calculator can help)
• Check for accidental damage cover: it’s a common reason you might need to claim, and isn’t always included as standard
• Know your item limits: higher-value items like jewellery or bikes may need to be insured separately if they exceed your single item limit
• Review existing cover: your gadgets or bikes might already be insured through bank accounts or phone plans, so check before you double up on cover
• Shop around: don’t auto-renew without comparing quotes – it could save you money to consider your options first.”

For more information about buying home insurance, visit: https://www.gocompare.com/home-insurance/contents-insurance/.