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Home insurance
Does home insurance cover renovations?
Buy at these prices through Shenton Insurance Brokers: https://shentonbrokers.com/covers/does-home-insurance-cover-renovations
Home insurance promotions today: HL Assurance, 6 months free; Etiqa, 25% off; Sompo, 25% off. Prices shown include discounts from featured insurers; other insurers are shown at full price with no discount.
For owners, usually yes. 19 of the 20 insurers we compare pay for renovations, fixtures and fittings on at least one plan. Limits differ a lot. HDB fire insurance does not cover them, and a tenant's plan usually leaves them to the landlord, so insure what it would cost to redo them.
The figures
- Insurers compared: 20, with 105 plans between them.
- Insurers with at least one plan that covers it: 19.
- Insurers whose documents do not say: 1.
- Cheapest plan that covers it, for HDB flat, owner, S$60,000 contents: Sompo HomeVital for HDB owners (your contents sum, plus renovations S$40,000 and building S$100,000), S$67.85.
- Median price among the insurers that cover it, for the same example: S$123.17.
What each insurer says
| Insurer | Covered? | What the policy says | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| SompoYesfrom S$67.85 | Yes | HomeVital for HDB owners (your contents sum, plus renovations S$40,000 and building S$100,000)12 of its 12 plansRenovations: S$40,000 (the minimum for this property; priced in); building S$100,000 (compulsory for HDB owners; priced in); HDB prices are for a 4-room flat: at S$60,000 contents a studio to 3-room costs S$1.63 less, a 5-room S$1.64 more, an executive, HUDC or multi-generation flat S$5.73 more and a jumbo flat S$15.54 more | S$67.85Buy Now |
| IncomeYesfrom S$71.22 | Yes | Enhanced Home Insurance, HDB flat, without building cover (for owners whose HDB fire insurance covers the flat; contents and S$60,000 renovations)14 of its 14 plansRenovations: S$60,000 (paid in proportion if under-insured, unless the sum is at least 80% of the full replacement cost) | S$71.22Buy Now |
| AIGYesfrom S$75.76 | Yes | Homes Essential (HDB and condominium only)4 of its 4 plansRenovations: Included in the S$150,000 combined contents and renovations limit | S$75.76Buy Now |
| EtiqaYesfrom S$79.91 | Yes | Tiq Home Insurance, HDB flat, without building cover (for owners whose HDB fire insurance covers the flat)4 of its 7 plansRenovations: S$80,000 (Tiq’s first option for a 4-room flat, in the price shown; ticking “insured under HDB Fire Insurance” keeps it, and it cannot then be unticked) | S$79.91Buy Now |
| UOIYesfrom S$92.76 | Yes | UniHome Insurance, HDB flat (your contents sum, renovations S$50,000, no building cover)3 of its 6 plansRenovations: S$50,000 on a first loss basis (the app's own default for this property; any sum from S$50,000 can be chosen there); S$100 excess (S$10,000 for landslip or subsidence caused by flood); tracing a water leak up to S$5,000, you pay 20% | S$92.76Buy Now |
| FWDYesfrom S$98.78 | Yes | FWD Home Insurance, HDB flat (renovations S$20,000 and the S$82,000 building included; 3/4-room pricing)4 of its 7 plansRenovations: S$20,000 (the funnel’s default; more can be chosen on FWD’s site, up to S$100,000) | S$98.78Buy Now |
| MSIGYesfrom S$99.84 | Yes | HomeEasy Gold (owner or landlord)5 of its 11 plansRenovations: S$120,000 (fixtures and fittings added by you as owner or a former owner, such as flooring, built-in wardrobes and air-conditioners; not the building itself) | S$99.84Buy Now |
| QBEYesfrom S$109.00 | Yes | Home Prestige (contents S$200,000, plus building, fixtures and renovations S$100,000)Renovations: S$100,000 for the building including fixtures, fittings and renovations (owner, tenant or landlord), with options to increase through a QBE agent or broker | S$109.00Buy Now |
| ECICSYesfrom S$118.81 | Yes | Home Contents Insurance for owners (1-year; S$30,000 renovations; 4-room or larger unit)1 of its 2 plansRenovations: S$30,000 renovations sum insured (the online quote's minimum; raise it at checkout, up to S$200,000); plus debris removal and professional fees, each 10% of the renovation sum | S$118.81Buy Now |
| Great EasternYesfrom S$123.17 | Yes | Value3 of its 4 plansRenovations: S$70,000 building and renovations for an HDB 4-room flat, S$60,000 for a condo or landed home (the store's proposed sum), first loss basis; HDB prices are for a 4-room flat: a 1-3 room flat costs S$3.27 less and a 5-room, executive, multi-generation or jumbo flat S$3.27 more | S$123.17Buy Now |
| ERGOYesfrom S$141.59 | Yes | ERGO HomeSecure Smart or Enhanced (plan by property type and contents sum)3 of its 9 plansRenovations: S$60,000 (Smart) or S$70,000 (Enhanced), against the 12 insured perils; building S$90,000 / S$140,000; 25% average relief | S$141.59Buy Now |
| HL AssuranceYesfrom S$145.38 | Yes | Home Protect360 Silver (S$100,000 contents; annual, 12 monthly premiums)4 of its 4 plansRenovations: Included in the S$100,000 Section 1 limit, together with contents (improvements put in by you or a former owner, not the developer's original fittings); while contractors decorate or refurbish, damage to contents covered up to S$30,000 for works of up to 60 days | S$145.38Buy Now |
| AllianzYesfrom S$153.69 | Yes | Home Protect Gold (S$60,000 contents, S$90,000 renovations)3 of its 3 plansRenovations: S$90,000 a year (walls, windows, ceilings, floors, doors and household improvements, including those by the developer; professional fees share this limit); the building itself only with the optional extra renovations and building cover | S$153.69Buy Now |
| EQ InsuranceYesfrom S$163.50 | Yes | EQ HomeGUARD PLUS Superior3 of its 3 plansRenovations: S$100,000, replacement as new (paid proportionately if the sum insured is under 85% of the replacement cost) | S$163.50Buy Now |
| LibertyYesfrom S$222.36 | Yes | Liberty HomeCare Top-up Plan (Plan C topped up to your contents sum)5 of its 5 plansRenovations: Part of building cover (building including renovations and improvements, fire and extraneous perils): S$200,000 (more at 0.0545% a year, up to S$3,500,000) | S$222.36Buy Now |
| ChubbYesfrom S$226.76 | Yes | DBS myHome Protect II Premium (underwritten by Chubb)3 of its 3 plansRenovations: Up to S$150,000 (fixtures and fittings such as flooring, built-in wardrobes and air-conditioners, made by you as owner or tenant, or by a former owner; not the building structure) | S$226.76Buy Now |
| SinglifeYesfrom S$243.89 | Yes | Home Plus (S$100,000 contents)3 of its 3 plansRenovations: S$100,000 renovations (fixtures and fittings made by you or a previous owner or tenant that you legally own; the landlord's renovations come under tenant's liability, not this section); new additions in their first 60 days and professional fees, each up to 10% of the renovation sum | S$243.89Buy Now |
| India InternationalYesfrom S$258.88 | Yes | i-Home (your contents sum, plus fixtures and renovations S$50,000)Renovations: Fixtures, fittings and renovation S$50,000, all risks (the buy page takes S$30,000 to S$250,000; the minimum charge covers up to S$50,000, S$1.15 per S$1,000 above that); building cover can be added at S$0.50 per S$1,000 up to S$500,000 | S$258.88Buy Now |
| Great AmericanYesfrom S$272.50 | Yes | Great Home Insurance Elite (S$60,000 contents)4 of its 4 plansRenovations: Fixtures, fittings and renovations S$200,000 (tick a box to include the building itself in this sum) | S$272.50Buy Now |
| LonpacNot statedfrom S$228.90 | Not stated | Home Protection, contents cover (owner occupied; free S$1m family liability and family PA)2 of its 2 plansRenovations: Not stated as a separate section; the building itself (including fixtures) can be added at 0.05% of the sum you choose, S$50 a year per S$100,000, not priced in here; S$100 excess | S$228.90Buy Now |
All prices include 9% GST. A dash means the plan has no price for this example. Each insurer's policy wording is the final word on what is covered.
See every insurer's price for your own answers, with each plan's cover side by side.
Compare home insuranceBuy Now addresses
Each listed insurer's best-value plan for HDB flat, owner, S$60,000 contents, lowest premium first.
- Sompo, HomeVital for HDB owners (your contents sum, plus renovations S$40,000 and building S$100,000): https://www.sompo.com.sg/products/home/quotation/GetQuote?p=STI33804
- AIG, Homes Essential (HDB and condominium only): https://www.aig.sg/home/solutions/personal/home-insurance/homes-essential?pc=030303
- Etiqa, Tiq Home Insurance, HDB flat, without building cover (for owners whose HDB fire insurance covers the flat): https://www.tiq.com.sg/buy-online/home-insurance/quotation/?referral=A501895
- Income, Enhanced Home Insurance, HDB flat (building and S$60,000 renovations included): https://shentonbrokers.com/go/buy/home/income/hdb-owner?occupancy=owner&propertyType=hdb&contentsSum=60000
- MSIG, HomeEasy Gold (owner or landlord): https://shentonbrokers.com/go/msig/home-homeeasy
- QBE, Home Prestige (contents S$200,000, plus building, fixtures and renovations S$100,000): https://sg-customer.qbe.com/home/partner/01001305
- ERGO, ERGO HomeSecure Smart or Enhanced (plan by property type and contents sum): https://shentonbrokers.com/go/buy/home/ergo/homesecure?occupancy=owner&propertyType=hdb&contentsSum=60000
- HL Assurance, Home Protect360 Silver (S$100,000 contents; annual, 12 monthly premiums): https://app.hlas.com.sg/redirect?source=agent&sac=SI000001&mwc=SIB&referrer=a/a/vivien
- Liberty, Liberty HomeCare Top-up Plan (Plan C topped up to your contents sum): https://shentonbrokers.com/go/buy/home/liberty/top-up?occupancy=owner&propertyType=hdb&contentsSum=60000
- Great American, Great Home Insurance Elite (S$60,000 contents): https://shentonbrokers.com/go/buy/home/great-american/elite?occupancy=owner&propertyType=hdb&contentsSum=60000
Questions people ask
Does home insurance cover renovations?
For owners, usually yes. 19 of the 20 insurers we compare pay for renovations, fixtures and fittings on at least one plan. Limits differ a lot. HDB fire insurance does not cover them, and a tenant's plan usually leaves them to the landlord, so insure what it would cost to redo them.
Where do these answers come from?
From each insurer's own policy documents: the benefit table and exclusions of every live plan we compare, 105 plans from 20 insurers. The policy wording is the final word on what is covered.
Which plan is cheapest?
For HDB flat, owner, S$60,000 contents, Sompo HomeVital for HDB owners (your contents sum, plus renovations S$40,000 and building S$100,000) is the cheapest plan that covers it, at S$67.85 today, GST included. The median of each insurer's lowest price is S$123.17.