Home insurance question

[neonplanet40]

Hi Folks,

I have a home insurance question.

Basically, when getting quotes for insurance online, it asks you to pick number o bedrooms. If it is over 6, you need to ring up.

When we bought our house it came with 7 bedrooms (1 of which is a converted garage). However, that room is now a cinema room. In my mind, we have 6 bedrooms and 3 living room areas.

However, what would be the stance behind this for insurance? Can I say 6 bedrooms with 3 living room areas?

I have done my own research on this but can't find anything concrete.

Thank you.

[Phage]

I'd go with common sense and say that's no longer a bedroom.
Also 7 !!!!???
Did you buy a mansion or a motel ?

[BobF64]

you need to ring up.

Whilst I'd personally say 6, since one is permanently something else, the above bit I have quoted will never let you down!

Of course, live chat or email does work just as well, and you can always leave it to reading an individual insurers definition of bedroom, if they have one.

[neonplanet40]

I thinking reading documents will be the best thing because
A) That's a lot of phone calls (if I try to get the best price) and
B) They can lie over the phone or give out incorrect information

Also: It isn't a mansion lol. A few of the bedrooms are small!

I just wasn't aware if we should try and obtain documentation on what the house is officially listed as etc? Or if that would matter?

Insurance can be a nightmare it seems.

[Spud1]

I would probably run the comparison based on 6, which should give you a good guide on who's cheapest - and check that the rebuild cost makes sense when you consider the total number of rooms in the house (adjusting it as needed). You can google average costs for this and should get a good guide.

Then when you've got the best i'd just give them a call and check how they class the room - most good insurers will be able to give you the policy wording and reference if you need it to check what they are saying. Hopefully they agree that only 6 bedrooms need to be counted and you can complete the purchase online so you still get your cashback/meerkat etc. I would want to call to check though its the sort of detail they could use to wriggle out of a claim.

[BobF64]

Since I happen to be browsing too, comparethemarket.com says the following about bedrooms

Bedrooms include rooms originally designed as bedrooms but now have another use such as studies, and rooms that have been converted to bedrooms.

So I have absolutely no idea what you call a garage converted to a bedroom then converted to a cinema room, but I still think its "not a bedroom" by the above definition.

[Smudger]

I'd go with common sense and say that's no longer a bedroom.
Also 7 !!!!???
Did you buy a mansion or a motel ?

You will address him as Laird Neonplanet.

[Saracen]

See if you cwn find a definition of when a room is a bedroom. If so, there's your answer.

Personally, I take the view that a room converted for another use and currently unable to be used as a bedroom (like my two home offices/labs/equipment rooms) aren't bedrooms. But who knows how the insurance will see it.


One point .... insurance is a contract of a type known as uberimae fidei, or "utmost good faith". Which means you should tell them of any material details THEY might find relevant.

If you don't, and they find out post-claim, you can find yourself uninsured. Do consider worst case .... you have a fire, a total loss, the insurance investigator finds "7 bedrooms" and denies the claim.

With insurance, my (ahem) 'policy' is always to over-inform rather than risk invalidating by under-informing. That said .... your house, your risk. Is it worth it? You tell me. But not to me, it isn't.

[RaTTuS]

See if you cwn find a definition of when a room is a bedroom. If so, there's your answer.

Personally, I take the view that a room converted for another use and currently unable to be used as a bedroom (like my two home offices/labs/equipment rooms) aren't bedrooms. But who knows how the insurance will see it.


One point .... insurance is a contract of a type known as uberimae fidei, or "utmost good faith". Which means you should tell them of any material details THEY might find relevant.

If you don't, and they find out post-claim, you can find yourself uninsured. Do consider worst case .... you have a fire, a total loss, the insurance investigator finds "7 bedrooms" and denies the claim.

With insurance, my (ahem) 'policy' is always to over-inform rather than risk invalidating by under-informing. That said .... your house, your risk. Is it worth it? You tell me. But not to me, it isn't.

^^this
if the insurer finds that it was sold as 7 and you claimed six they will not honour it , if you get express confirmation that that is the case now from the insurer then your OK ... unless they find something else that you have not indicated.