Clearing up double cover
- Glass on both buildings and contents
- Separate cover for solar panels
- An old separate glass policy
- Outbuildings entered twice
Prevention · package · excess
Affordable buildings insurance (opstalverzekering) without stripping back your cover
The premium for buildings insurance (opstalverzekering) can be brought down in various ways. Some of them do not affect your cover; others quietly shift the risk to you.
- several insurers compared objectively
- 9.5 customer rating for a new policy
- AFM licence 12016589
- Personal 072 - 509 24 56, weekdays 9–17
Deze pagina in het Nederlands: Een goedkope opstalverzekering zonder uw dekking uit te kleden.
Calculate your premium or request a quote
Without obligation; a reply within one working day.
The calculator and the quote form below are in Dutch. Prefer to do this in English? Email info@finassverzekert.nl or call 072 - 509 24 56 and we will take it from there.
Work out your own premium with the calculator.
Enter your details; you will receive a proposal within one working day.
- We compare the offerings of several insurers
- An adviser checks whether the cover suits your situation
- We arrange the switch, including cancellation
A premium indication, not personal advice. Prefer to talk it through? Call 072 - 509 24 56.
In brief
Start with what you are already paying without getting anything for it. Double cover occurs more often than you think: glass that appears on both the buildings and the contents policy, separate cover for solar panels alongside a buildings policy in which they are already included, or a separate glass policy from an old contract. Removing those costs you no cover and lowers the premium straight away.
The second route is prevention. Good locks and fittings, smoke alarms, a well-maintained roof and gutters, an inspected electrical installation and, where there is an open fire, a swept chimney all lower the risk of damage. Some insurers reward this with a discount or a lower excess; more important is that you have to call on the policy less often and that a claim is less likely to founder on maintenance.
What you should not save on is the sum insured. That follows from the rebuild value and not from what you want to pay. A lower sum or indexation switched off leads to underinsurance: the insurer then pays proportionately, including on small claims. See also how the premium is made up.
What you should and should not save on
Three ways to bring the premium down, ranked by the risk you get in return.
Prevention and packages
Less risk and one set of paperwork produce a discount with many insurers.
- Locks and fittings and smoke alarms
- Maintenance of the roof and gutters
- Insurance policies in one package
- Paying annually instead of monthly
Excess and type of cover
You pay less and in return bear more yourself when you claim.
- A higher voluntary excess
- Extended cover instead of comprehensive
- Watch for a separate excess for storm
- Weigh it against your reserves
What is covered
| Situation | Lowers the premium | Without additional risk |
|---|---|---|
| Ending double glass cover | Yes | Yes |
| Prevention measures on the house and the installation | Provided that | Yes |
| Buildings and contents in one package | Provided that | Yes |
| Choosing a higher voluntary excess | Yes | No |
| Lowering the sum insured or switching off indexation | Yes | No |
| Not reporting letting or refurbishment | Yes | No |
What is actually covered, including exclusions, limits and the excess, is set out in the policy conditions and the insurance card (verzekeringskaart) that you receive before you take out cover.
Four points about a low premium
What you can do, and where it goes wrong if you steer only on price.
Maintenance is not a cost item alongside the insurance
Insurers pay for damage, not for maintenance. If the roof has been loose for years and blows off in a storm, the payment can be reduced because of deferred maintenance. Anyone who keeps the gutters clear, paints the woodwork, has the electrical installation checked and the chimney swept lowers the risk of a rejection. That is the cheapest form of saving: damage that does not occur costs no excess and no premium increase.
The sum insured stays outside the saving
The rebuild value is the cost of rebuilding, not an amount you choose. With underinsurance the insurer pays proportionately: a shortfall of twenty per cent means twenty per cent less on every claim. If you complete the rebuild value calculator correctly, you usually have a guarantee against underinsurance. For unusual properties, a valuation under Article 7:960 of the Dutch Civil Code the value for a fixed period.
A low premium does not change the exclusions
Expensive or cheap: the same risks remain outside cover. Not covered are subsidence, foundation damage and pile rot, damage caused by wear and tear, rust, wet rot and construction or material faults, and damage caused by vermin, woodworm, mould and slowly penetrating damp. Groundwater penetrating through the floor or cellar wall and flooding caused by the failure of a primary flood defence also fall outside. Intent and recklessness are excluded under Article 7:952 of the Dutch Civil Code.
Reporting costs premium; not reporting costs you the claim
A refurbishment, an extension, solar panels, letting rooms, a business at home or lengthy vacancy changes the risk and should be reported. On taking out the policy, the duty of disclosure under Article 7:928 of the Dutch Civil Codeapplies; an incorrect or incomplete declaration can reduce the payment or cause it to lapse (Article 7:930 of the Dutch Civil Code). If a loss occurs, report it as soon as reasonably possible, as Article 7:941 of the Dutch Civil Code requires.
What does your premium depend on?
- Rebuild value — the basis of calculation for the policy
- Construction type and roof covering — brick, timber or thatch
- Prevention and security — locks, smoke alarms, maintenance
- Postcode area — burglary, storm and water risk
- Type of cover and excess — extended or comprehensive
- Package and payment frequency — bundling and annual payment
Insurers weigh these details differently. That is why comparing pays off.
How we arrange it
- You request a quoteWe take stock of your situation, risk and wishes.
- We compareseveral insurers, on premium as well as conditions.
- You receive a proposalWith an explanation of the differences and the exclusions.
- We arrange the switchIncluding cancellation, so there is no gap in cover.
9.5New policy
9.8Claims handling
Customers rate our service on four aspects: personal service, service delivery, availability and the outcome. The reviews are collected and published by NH1816 and come from customers who have actually taken out a policy with Finass Advies B.V. or reported a claim.
Frequently asked questions
The questions we are asked most often about this.
How do I find double cover on my policies?
Put the policy schedules for your buildings and contents insurance side by side and look at the extensions: glass, solar panels, outbuildings, garden landscaping and tenant's interest. If an item appears on both policies, you are paying premium twice for it while the damage is only paid once. Old separate policies from earlier years are also a common duplication.
Do insurers give a discount for prevention?
Some do, for example for certified locks and fittings, an alarm system or smoke alarms. The size varies considerably by insurer and is sometimes reflected in a lower excess rather than in the premium. Even without a discount, prevention pays off: fewer claims means less excess, less trouble and less chance of discussion about maintenance.
Is a package policy always cheaper?
Often yes, because many insurers give a discount that increases with the number of policies in the package. Do check the figures: a package can work out more expensive if one of the elements is relatively costly with that insurer. Also look at the conditions per element, because those differ by product type within a package too.
Would I be better off insuring only against fire?
A policy that covers only fire is cheaper but leaves out a large part of the common claims: storm, hail, water from pipes, damage to frames from forced entry and impact by a vehicle. In practice those are the claims that occur most often. Anyone wanting to cut back sharply would do better to choose extended cover with a higher excess.
Why is my premium rising when nothing has changed?
Usually because of indexation of the sum insured: building costs, material prices and wages rise, and the rebuild value moves with them. A higher sum automatically means a higher premium. In addition, insurers reflect increased claims costs from storm, hail and water in their rates. Switching off indexation lowers the premium but creates underinsurance in time.
Read more
Similar pages
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A lower premium with the same cover?
Request a quote without obligation; we look for double cover and compare on the same sum insured.
Prefer to call? 072 - 509 24 56, weekdays 09:00–17:00.
Claim on the road? Emergency line 06 - 55 20 40 72.
About our service
Finass Verzekert is a trading name of Finass Advies B.V. We advise on and arrange non-life insurance on the basis of an objective analysis of several insurers, and receive commission for this from the insurer, which is included in the premium. You pay no separate advice fee. Before you take out cover, we establish your wishes and needs.
You will find our licence, KvK and Kifid details and our complaints procedure at the foot of every page.
This page was written and checked by an adviser at Finass Verzekert. Last updated on .
The information on this page is general in nature and is not personal advice.