Cancel double cover
- Valuables insured twice
- Legal expenses cover also in a package
- Glass cover already in the buildings policy
- You never receive more than the loss
Comparing · double cover · excess
Saving money on your property insurance
There is money to be saved on buildings and home contents insurance, but not everywhere in the same way. Some choices only lower the premium; others also lower your payout at the moment you need it.
- 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: Geld besparen op uw eigendomsverzekeringen.
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 for yourself what it would cost.
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
The premium for a property policy consists of three parts: a risk premium, policy charges and 21% insurance premium tax. That last part is the same at every insurer and cannot be influenced. The room lies in the first part, and that is calculated using details you supply yourself: the rebuild value, the type of construction, the use of the building and the form of cover you choose.
The biggest gain usually lies not in lowering amounts, but in clearing out double cover. Valuables listed both on the home contents policy and on a separate valuables insurance policy, a legal expenses module you also have through a package, or glass cover already included in the buildings policy: you pay for that twice and you never receive a double payout. Article 7:960 of the Dutch Civil Code prohibits enrichment through insurance, so no more than the loss is paid.
What you should not do is set the sum insured below the rebuild value. In the event of underinsurance the insurer pays proportionately, even for small claims. See also the explanation of how premiums are built up.
Where can you save?
Three routes to a lower premium, with what each measure costs you in certainty beneath it.
Excess and type of cover
A higher excess or more limited cover lowers the premium immediately.
- The excess applies per event
- Comprehensive or extended perils
- Choose an amount you can bear
- Watch out for separate excesses
Prevention and comparing
Measures at the property and putting quotes side by side.
- Certified locks and window fittings
- Smoke alarms and lightning protection
- Bundling into one package
- Compare on equal conditions
What is covered
| Situation | Produces a saving | Without additional risk |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking down and cancelling double cover | Yes | Yes |
| Bringing buildings, contents and liability together in one package | Yes | Yes |
| Prevention: locks, smoke alarms and lightning protection | Yes | Yes |
| Choosing a higher excess | Yes | Provided that |
| Reducing comprehensive cover to extended perils cover | Yes | No |
| Setting the sum insured below the rebuild value | 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.
What works and what only looks as if it does
Four points that decide whether saving really puts money in your pocket.
Start with double cover, not with amounts
Anyone with several policies often pays twice for the same thing. Jewellery and equipment appear both under the home contents cover and on a valuables policy; legal expenses cover is in a package and also stands alone; glass is included in the buildings policy and taken out separately. Insuring twice never produces a double payout: Article 7:960 of the Dutch Civil Code provides that insurance may not lead to enrichment. Put your policy schedules side by side and cancel whatever overlaps. That is the only saving that costs you no certainty.
Do not lower the sum insured
Lowering the sum insured is the quickest way to bring the premium down and the most expensive mistake you can make. In the event of underinsurance the insurer pays proportionately: if the amount is a quarter too low, you receive a quarter less even on a loss of a few thousand euros. If you complete the rebuild value calculator or the contents value calculator correctly, many insurers give a guarantee against underinsurance. That guarantee lapses as soon as the declaration is incorrect or has not been updated after building work.
A lower premium does not remove exclusions
The same limitations remain in place at every insurer. Not covered are, among other things: construction defects, deferred maintenance and gradually acting influences such as penetrating damp, mould and wood rot; foundation damage due to subsidence, drought or pile rot; and flooding caused by the breach or overtopping of a primary flood defence. Wear of installations also falls outside, and during building work or a long period of vacancy more limited cover often applies. Intent and recklessness are excluded under Article 7:952 of the Dutch Civil Code. A cheap policy with a low limit for the garden, outbuildings or tenant's improvements works out more expensive when you claim than the premium saving.
Saving is fine, giving incorrect information is not
Entering a smaller floor area, a different type of construction or leaving out the letting of rooms lowers the premium immediately, but it is not a saving. When you claim, the loss adjuster checks the details declared against reality. The duty of disclosure under Article 7:928 of the Dutch Civil Code, and breaching it can reduce the payout or cause it to lapse (Article 7:930 of the Dutch Civil Codethen applies). Report changes during the term as well: an extension, solar panels, a business at home or a long period of vacancy. Report a claim as soon as reasonably possible (Article 7:941 of the Dutch Civil Code).
What does your premium depend on?
- Rebuild value and contents value: the basis of both policies
- Type of cover: extended perils or comprehensive
- Level of the excess: applies per event
- Prevention and security: locks, smoke alarms, lightning protection
- Type of construction and postcode area: risk class of the property
- Package discount: only worthwhile where the individual policies are keenly priced
Insurers weigh these details differently. That is where your saving is.
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
This is what people ask us most.
What produces the most without risk?
Tracking down double cover. Valuables, legal expenses and glass are often included both in a package and on a separate policy. Insuring twice never gives a double payout, because Article 7:960 of the Dutch Civil Code prohibits enrichment through insurance. Put your policy schedules side by side and cancel the overlap. After that, comparing on equal conditions produces the most.
Can I save by declaring a lower sum insured?
No. That leads to underinsurance, and the insurer then pays proportionately: with an amount a quarter too low, you receive a quarter less even on small claims. The guarantee against underinsurance that many insurers give when the value calculator has been completed correctly also lapses. The saving disappears with the first claim.
Does a higher excess save much?
It saves premium, but the amount applies per event and not per year. Choose an amount you can bear without difficulty, therefore, even if there are two claims in one year. Note as well whether a separate excess applies to certain causes, such as storm or rainfall; that is separate from the general excess.
Is a package discount worth it?
Often yes, provided the individual policies in the package are also competitive on their own. A discount on an overpriced contents or liability policy produces nothing on balance. Work the package out on the total amount including insurance premium tax, not on the discount percentage, and compare the conditions and limits as well.
Does prevention help to lower the premium?
Yes, and it is often a condition rather than a discount. Certified locks and window fittings, working smoke alarms and, for unusual properties, lightning protection lower the premium and prevent argument when you claim. If the required security is missing, the insurer may limit or refuse a burglary payout, even where you have paid your premium promptly.
Should I switch off indexation to save money?
Better not. The index clause keeps the sum insured in step with building costs. If you switch it off, the gap between the rebuild value and the sum insured grows quietly, with underinsurance as the result. If you still want to save, look first at double cover, the excess and comparing providers.
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Are you paying too much for your property cover?
Request a quote without obligation. We put your current policies side by side and track down any double cover.
Prefer to call? 072 - 509 24 56, weekdays 09:00–17:00.
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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.