Home insurance in Singapore covers what HDB fire insurance and your landlord's policy leave out. That means your belongings, the renovations you paid for, your legal liability to others, and somewhere to stay if you can't live in your home. It doesn't cover wear and tear, pet or pest damage, business equipment, or losses while the home is left empty for more than 60 days. The questions below go in the order most people ask them: cover, exclusions, renting, buying and paying, then claiming. When you're ready to see plans side by side, the home insurance comparison lists them from the lowest premium up.
What home insurance covers
What does home insurance actually cover?
Most plans cover four things:
- Your belongings against fire, flood, burglary and accidental damage.
- Renovations and fixtures you paid for, such as built-in cabinets and flooring.
- Your legal liability if someone is hurt in your home.
- Somewhere to stay if you can't live in your home.
The limit for each part differs between plans. Compare them on the comparison page before you choose.
Does HDB fire insurance cover my belongings?
No. HDB fire insurance only covers the building structure. It doesn't cover your furniture, appliances, clothes or renovations. Home insurance does.
What if a guest is hurt, or water from my flat damages a neighbour's?
That's what personal liability cover is for. It pays if someone is hurt in your home. It also pays if water from your flat damages a neighbour's, which matters in stacked HDB blocks and condos. Liability limits differ between plans, so check this figure when you compare.
What home insurance does not cover
Will it pay for things that wear out over time?
No. Wear and tear, and things that get worse slowly, aren't covered. A sofa that sags with age or a pipe that rusts slowly counts as upkeep, not a sudden loss. Cover is for sudden events such as fire, flood, burglary and accidental damage.
What if I leave my home empty while I'm away?
Losses while the home is left empty for more than 60 days aren't covered. This can matter if you take a long overseas posting or a long trip. For shorter absences, read how your plan defines an empty home. If you're travelling, travel insurance is a separate product that covers you on the trip itself.
Are pet damage, pests or my work equipment covered?
No. Damage by pets or pests isn't covered, so a chewed sofa or termite damage won't be paid. Business equipment and stock aren't covered either. If you run a business from home, that equipment needs separate cover.
Owners and tenants
I rent. Do I need home insurance?
Your landlord insures the building. As a tenant, home insurance covers your own belongings and your liability to others. Tenants usually insure contents and liability. Owners also look at renovation cover.
The two types of plan compare like this:
- An owner's plan suits you if you paid for your own renovation and fixtures, and want them covered with your contents.
- A tenant's plan suits you if your landlord looks after the structure and fittings, and you mainly need cover for belongings and liability.
You can see typical prices for an HDB owner with S$60,000 contents, a condo tenant with S$30,000 contents and a landed owner with S$100,000 contents.
Buying and paying
How do I estimate my contents value?
Walk through each room and add up what it would cost to replace things new. Include furniture, appliances, clothes and electronics. Most HDB households fall under S$60,000. Contents cover should be enough to replace everything new. If you insure for too little, every claim can be paid less.
How does buying through this site work?
You tell us about your home and roughly what your things are worth. We price plans from each insurer on our panel and list them from the lowest premium up. When you pick a plan, you finish buying on the insurer's own site, with your answers already filled in.
What affects the premium I see?
The type of home, whether you own or rent, and your contents value all affect the price. The prices on the comparison page assume a home lived in by you, your family or a long-term tenant. They also assume no home insurance claims in the last 3 years. The insurer checks these when you apply, so the final premium can differ if your situation is different.
Making a claim
What do I do if I need to claim?
Your policy is with the insurer, so you claim with them directly. Our Claims page explains where to start. Keep receipts, photos of your things and any reports about the loss. These help show what happened and what was lost. Check your policy wording for the documents and time limits your insurer needs.
Frequently asked questions
When does cover start?
The start date is set when you buy on the insurer's site. The typical-price pages on this site assume cover starts in 14 days. Check the start date shown before you pay.
Can I stay somewhere else if I can't live in my flat?
Home insurance includes cover for somewhere to stay if you can't live in your home. How much is paid and for how long differs between plans. Compare this benefit on the home insurance page.
Does a past claim change the price I'm quoted?
The prices shown assume no home insurance claims in the last 3 years. If you've claimed in that time, the insurer may price your plan differently when you apply. The insurer decides this, not the comparison page.