Buildings insurance covers the permanent structure of your home, such as walls, roof, floors, windows and fitted kitchens, against listed risks. Contents insurance covers your personal belongings inside the property, including furniture, clothes and electrical items, subject to policy limits and exclusions. You can often buy them together as a combined policy, but buildings cover may be required by your mortgage lender, while contents cover is usually optional. Check the policy wording carefully, particularly for valuables, accidental damage and events that are excluded.