Home Insurance for First Time Buyers
Get a First Time Buyers discount on your home policy*
Get a quoteDo I need Home Insurance as a first-time buyer?
While Home Insurance is not a legal requirement in Ireland, most mortgage lenders insist you have buildings insurance in place before you draw down your mortgage. An Post Insurance offers buildings and contents cover for first-time buyers. With Aviva, first-time buyers can avail of a new business discount, and with Allianz, first-time buyers benefit from a 5-year no claims discount. Getting your first home insured is one of the final steps before you get the keys.
How we Help
Wallet-Friendly Protection
We'll help you celebrate your new home with great savings. First-time buyers can avail of exclusive discounts. See our FAQs below for the full details.
Stress-Free Cover
Get the peace of mind that comes with knowing your most valuable asset is protected. If things go wrong, we'll help you take care of the details, from replacing the door locks to refilling the freezer1.
Christmas and Family Wedding Cover
Our insurers provide extra protection for those special moments in life: they'll increase your contents cover by 10% for the month of December and for 30 days before and after the wedding of any member of your immediate family.
Real Customer Care
We're powered by people just like you, living in communities all over Ireland. Our experienced team is on hand to get you the help you need.
1) Replacement locks depending on your insurer cover is available for up to €1,200 or a maximum of your contents sum insured. Cover for loss or damage to frozen food up to €1,000 or €750 depending on your insurer.
What do I need to get a Home Insurance quote?
Getting a quote takes just a few minutes. Before you start, have the following ready: your personal details (name, address, Eircode, contact number, email, employment details), details about your home (year built, construction type, heating source, BER rating, alarm details, security information), your rebuild cost (use the SCSI House Rebuild Calculator if unsure), your contents value (estimate the replacement cost of your belongings, room by room), and your claims history. Once submitted, you will be presented with the most competitive price from our panel of insurers.
What does my mortgage lender require?
Most mortgage lenders in Ireland require you to have buildings insurance in place before you draw down your mortgage. The policy must cover the rebuild cost of the property, not its market value or purchase price. Some lenders may also require the policy to be in joint names if the mortgage is joint. You can add a joint policyholder and your mortgage lender's details during the online quote process. Once you purchase your policy, your insurer will issue a Notice of Interest Commitment Letter (Aviva) or Letter of Indemnity (Allianz) with your policy documents. This is the letter your mortgage lender will need.
Do I need buildings insurance, contents insurance, or both?
With An Post Insurance, your first-time buyer policy includes both buildings and contents cover as standard, giving you full protection in one policy.
Buildings-only cover is available with Allianz by calling us on 0818 22 22 22.
| Cover type | What it protects | Required by lender? |
| Buildings insurance | The structure of your home including walls, roof, floors, and permanent fixtures such as kitchens and bathrooms. | Yes, required before mortgage drawdown. |
| Contents insurance | Your personal belongings including furniture, electronics, clothing, and valuables. | No, but strongly recommended. |
Are there discounts for first-time buyers?
Yes, with Aviva, first-time buyers can avail of a 10% new business discount plus a 25% no-claims discount (subject to a minimum premium). With Allianz, first-time buyers benefit from a 5-year no-claims discount (subject to a minimum premium).
Features and Benefits
Whether you’re purchasing a house or an apartment, we’ve got you covered. We’re proud to help first time buyers protect their new home &/or contents, giving you peace of mind if the unexpected happens. You can even upgrade your policy with extras such as family legal protection**, for added peace of mind.
**Family Legal Protection is available as an optional extra on your Home Insurance policy, at a cost of just €15.60 per policy. It is not necessary to purchase this optional extra in order to purchase a Home Insurance policy. It will pay up to €65,000 to cover the legal costs that you may incur for claims made under the policy. Family Legal Protection is underwritten by ARAG Legal Protection Limited.
Fire Brigade Services
We'll be there to help should the worst happen cover for call-out charges covered in relation to an insured event. Depending on your insurer, cover is available for up to €3,500 or €3,000.
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Finding a Leak
Trace & Access cover to help find the source of a leak. Depending on your insurer & cover type, cover is available for up to €1,000 or €750.
Alarm Discounts
Safeguarding your home can help reduce your bills as well as your risk.2
Home Emergency Assistance
Help is just a phone call away with our Home Emergency Assistance service, which will help you secure and protect your home.3
Replace Door Locks
If your keys are stolen we will replace your door locks, up to a maximum of €1,200.1
Frozen Food Cover
Covers loss or damage to frozen food up to €1,000.1
2) Alarm must be installed and maintained in working order and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and requirements. The alarm system must be activated when nobody is in the home.
3) If you have an emergency in your home, we will provide a repair service to secure your home and help prevent further damage from occurring. Depending on your insurer, cover is available for up to €300 per incident/ 4 call-outs per policy year or €260 per incident/3 call-outs per policy year. This cover is underwritten by MAPFRE ASISTENCIA Compania Internacional De Seguros Y Reaseguros, S.A., trading as MAWDY.
Please refer to our policy booklets for full cover details and terms and conditions that apply. Discounts, cover limits, and terms and conditions are dependent on your insurer and those applicable to you will be outlined in your policy documents.
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The staff that looked after my renewal were all excellent. I was changing my car a few days before renewal and they took care of everything. They helped me with my payment (I was stressed at the time) and were so patient. Overall, very happy with the service. Janette 1st - Mar - 2026
First-Time Buyer FAQs
Depending on your insurer, Accidental Damage covers you for accidental damage to your buildings and/or contents in your home at an increased premium. Please refer to your Policy Booklet for further information on Accidental Damage Cover.
It is not necessary to purchase this optional extra in order to purchase a Home Insurance Policy.
If you have an emergency in your home, Home Emergency Assistance will provide a repair service to secure your house and help prevent further damage from occurring.
Depending on your insurer, cover is available for up to €260 per incident/3 call-outs per policy year with Aviva or €300 per incident/4 call-outs per policy year with Allianz.
If you experience an emergency at home, please telephone 091 501 698 for Aviva policies or 01 613 3990 (option 3) for Allianz policies.
This cover is underwritten by MAPFRE ASISTENCIA Compania Internacional De Seguros Y Reaseguros, S.A., trading as MAWDY. Please note, an excess is not payable when using Home Emergency Assistance.
The excess on your Home Insurance Policy refers to the amount payable by you, in the event of a claim. Under this policy, you will be required to pay a standard excess. You have the option to increase the excess, which will reduce your premium.
Please refer to your policy documents to find out what excess is applicable to you.
The reinstatement value is the cost of completely rebuilding your house from scratch, less the value of the site, including architects' and surveyors' fees. This is the figure your house should be insured for.
Landlord Insurance is designed for those who rent out a property and need full protection for the building and any contents they provide. It includes cover tenant-related risks* and public liability.
If you’re letting a furnished apartment and only need Contents Cover, see our Landlord's Contents Insurance.
If you need full cover including the building, see our Landlord's Insurance.
*Please refer to our policy booklets for full cover details and terms and conditions that apply. Discounts, cover limits, and terms and conditions are dependent on your insurer and those applicable to you will be outlined in your policy documents.
Yes, both Aviva and Allianz include cover for flood, storm, and related water damage as standard. There may be some cases where flood cover is excluded but this will be stated in your policy documents.
You will need Buildings Insurance in place before your mortgage drawdown date. It is a good idea to arrange your policy a few days in advance to avoid any delays on closing day.
Yes, if you need cover in place before you move in for your mortgage drawdown, this can usually be arranged, though the specific terms depend on your insurer. With Aviva, your policy must be referred for approval and you must move into the property within 30 days. With Allianz, a 35-day unoccupancy clause applies from the policy start date. Contact An Post Insurance on 0818 22 22 22 to discuss your specific situation.
Estimate the total replacement cost of everything you own including furniture, electronics, clothing, kitchenware, and valuables. Most people underestimate their contents value, so go room by room and be thorough. You can adjust your contents sum insured at renewal or mid-term if your circumstances change.
The cost depends on your property's rebuild value, location, construction type, and your chosen cover level. The best way to find out is to get a quote. An Post Insurance searches across our panel of trusted insurers and presents you with the most competitive price for your chosen level of cover.
Yes, you can arrange your Home Insurance Policy in advance of your closing date. The policy start date should match your mortgage drawdown date.
No, Home Insurance is not a legal requirement in Ireland. However, if you are buying a home with a mortgage, your lender will require you to have Buildings Insurance in place before you draw down your mortgage. Even without a mortgage, Home Insurance is strongly recommended. Without it, you would need to cover the cost of repairing or rebuilding your home and replacing your belongings yourself if the unexpected happened.
When you purchase your policy, your insurer will automatically issue a letter confirming your cover to your mortgage lender. This is called a Notice of Interest Commitment Letter (Aviva) or a Letter of Indemnity (Allianz). This letter is included with your policy documents and is sent automatically, provided you have added your mortgage lender's details during the quote process. You do not need to request it separately.
Please refer to our policy booklet for full cover details and terms and conditions that apply. Discounts, cover limits, and terms and conditions are dependent on your insurer and those applicable to you will be outlined in your policy documents.
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