What Insurance Do I Need for a Hob?
Fixtures, fittings, built-in or freestanding. Find out which insurance actually has you covered.
Built-in hobs are classed as permanent fixtures and fall under buildings insurance. Freestanding hobs are classed as fittings and need contents insurance. Get that right and you’ll know exactly what’s protected when something goes wrong. Here’s how it breaks down.
At a glance
- Built-in hobs are generally considered permanent fixtures and fall under buildings insurance.
- Freestanding hobs are classed as fittings and need contents insurance.
- Wear and tear and mechanical faults are excluded from both. That’s on you.
- Accidental damage cover isn’t included as standard, it’s an add-on worth considering.
Is a hob a fixture or a fitting?
Here’s a useful rule of thumb: imagine tipping your home upside down. Anything that stays put is a fixture. Anything that falls out is a fitting.
- A built-in hob, one that’s been fitted into your kitchen worktop and wired or plumbed in, is a permanent fixture. Remove it and you’d damage the worktop. That means it falls under buildings insurance, not contents. Think integrated models from Bosch, Neff, or AEG, where the hob sits flush with your worktop and removal would mean a kitchen refit.
- A freestanding hob, one you could unplug, lift out, and take with you when you move, is a fitting. That sits under your contents insurance policy. Think freestanding range cookers from Smeg or Hotpoint, where the appliance stands independently and could technically go with you when you move.
The distinction between fixtures and fittings matters because most home insurance policies treat them very differently, and assuming the wrong type of cover could leave you out of pocket.
| Item | Fixture or fitting? | Covered by |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in induction hob (e.g. Bosch, Neff) | Fixture | Buildings insurance |
| Built-in gas hob (e.g. AEG, Zanussi) | Fixture | Buildings insurance |
| Freestanding hob | Fitting | Contents insurance |
| Freestanding range cooker with hob (e.g. Smeg, Hotpoint) | Fitting | Contents insurance |
When does buildings insurance cover a built-in hob?
Buildings insurance protects the structure of your home and everything permanently fixed to it, walls, roof, floors, plumbing, wiring, and permanent fixtures like a fitted kitchen and integrated appliances.
What’s typically covered:
- Fire, storm, and flood
- Subsidence
- Theft and vandalism
- Accidental damage (add-on only, not standard)
A couple of things to watch out for:
- Bespoke installations: A standard building insurance policy may cover a typical fitted hob, but not a high-end custom installation worth several thousand pounds. A premium Miele or Siemens built-in induction hob, for instance, can run well into four figures. Always make sure your sum insured reflects the true replacement cost of what you’ve had installed.
- Leaseholders: If you own a flat, your freeholder usually arranges buildings insurance for the whole building. But that block policy won’t cover improvements you’ve made yourself, like a kitchen upgrade or a new built-in hob. If you’ve renovated, speak to your insurer to make sure you’re covered.
When does contents insurance cover a freestanding hob?
Contents insurance covers everything you’d take with you if you moved, fittings, furniture, electronics, and valuables. If your hob is freestanding or removable, it needs to sit under your contents policy.
A standard Lemonade contents insurance policy covers your freestanding hob against a range of unexpected events. Here’s a closer look:
- Theft and burglary: Your base policy covers straightforward cases of robbery or burglary inside your home. If someone breaks in and your hob is taken or damaged in the process, you’re covered.
- Fire damage: If your hob is damaged or destroyed in a house fire, your contents insurance will cover the cost of repair or replacement. Report the incident quickly and gather as much evidence as you can.
- Water damage: Sudden water damage, say from a burst pipe or an unexpected flood, is typically covered. However, if the damage has crept in gradually due to a known issue you didn’t address, your insurer is unlikely to pay out.
- Accidental damage: Dropped something heavy onto the hob? Cracked the glass on an induction surface during a kitchen clear-out? That kind of mishap isn’t covered under a standard policy, but with Lemonade’s Accidental Damage add-on, you would be. It covers sudden and unexpected damage, even if it’s your fault. Just note: this add-on doesn’t apply to mobile devices or gadgets like smartphones, laptops, or tablets.
Is insurance for your hob worth it?
Here’s a sense of what a hob is really worth, and what being properly insured could save you:
| Item | Typical replacement cost | Approx. excess | Potential saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard built-in hob | £200 to £600 | £100 to £250 | Up to £500 |
| Premium induction hob | £600 to £2,000 | £100 to £250 | Up to £1,750 |
| High-end custom hob | £2,000 to £5,000+ | £250 to £500 | Up to £4,500 |
| Freestanding range cooker with hob | £800 to £4,000 | £100 to £250 | Up to £3,750 |
To put it in real terms:
Say a kitchen fire damages your built-in Bosch induction hob beyond repair. A replacement unit plus installation could easily set you back £1,000 to £2,000. With the right buildings insurance in place, you’d normally only pay your excess, somewhere in the region of £100 to £250, and walk away sorted. That’s a potential saving of well over £1,500 from a single claim.
The same logic applies to freestanding hobs. Say a burst pipe floods your kitchen and writes off your freestanding Smeg range cooker. Replacing it could cost £1,500 to £4,000 out of pocket. With contents insurance, you’re looking at your excess and nothing more.
When is damage not covered?
Here’s the bit you don’t want to miss. Whether your hob falls under buildings or contents insurance, some things are always excluded:
- Wear and tear: Scratched surfaces, faded controls, or a hob that’s gradually stopped working well after years of use isn’t what insurance is for.
- Mechanical or electrical faults: Internal component failures or gas malfunctions that develop over time aren’t covered. Regular servicing and maintenance is your responsibility.
- Negligence: Damage caused by misuse, poor installation, or failure to maintain your hob properly won’t make the cut.
- Gradual damage: Any deterioration that’s built up slowly over time, rather than from a sudden event, is unlikely to be covered.
What if you rent?
If you’re a tenant, the split is straightforward. Your landlord’s building insurance covers the structure and any permanent fixtures, including a built-in hob that came with the property. Your own contents insurance covers everything you bring in yourself.
| What needs insuring | Who’s responsible | Type of cover |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in hob (came with the property) | Landlord | Buildings insurance |
| Landlord’s freestanding appliances | Landlord | Landlord insurance |
| Your own freestanding hob | Tenant | Contents insurance |
| Accidental damage to landlord’s hob | Tenant | Liability insurance |
Always check your tenancy agreement to confirm responsibilities. And if you accidentally damage a built-in hob that belongs to your landlord, that’s where personal liability cover comes in, included in your Lemonade base policy.
What add-ons should you consider?
When it comes to protecting your hob, two add-ons are worth knowing about:
Accidental Damage cover
Covers sudden, unexpected damage to your belongings, even if you caused it. Cracked the glass on your induction hob? Knocked it during a kitchen reorganise? You’re sorted. (Excludes mobile devices and gadgets.)
Theft and Loss cover
Your base policy already covers in-home theft. But with this add-on, you’re also covered for theft and accidental loss outside your home, as long as you’ve taken reasonable care to protect your belongings.
Bottom line
Whether your hob falls under buildings or contents insurance comes down to one thing: is it built-in or freestanding? Get that sorted, make sure you’ve got the right add-ons in place, and you’ll know exactly where you stand if something unexpected happens.
Lemonade’s home insurance is built around you, not the small print. With cover that’s easy to understand, flexible add-ons, and a claims process designed to be simple and human, you can feel confident your home and everything in it is protected. Explore Lemonade’s home insurance options to find the right cover for you.
Hob insurance FAQs
Does buildings insurance cover my built-in hob?
Yes, generally. A built-in hob that’s permanently fitted into your kitchen is classed as a fixture and falls under buildings insurance. For accidental damage, you’ll usually need to add that cover separately.
What if I accidentally break my hob?
If it’s a freestanding hob under your contents policy, you’ll need Lemonade’s Accidental Damage add-on for cover. If it’s a built-in hob under buildings insurance, accidental damage is also typically an add-on rather than standard cover.
Is wear and tear on my hob covered by insurance?
No. Gradual wear, faded controls, and general deterioration from everyday use are standard exclusions under both buildings and contents insurance. Insurance is for sudden, unexpected events, not the inevitable realities of cooking every day.
Do I need contents insurance for a freestanding hob?
Yes. A freestanding hob you could take with you when you move is classed as a fitting and needs to be covered under your contents insurance policy.
Can I get specialist insurance for a high-end hob?
If your hob is particularly expensive, a premium induction model or a high-end custom installation, it’s worth checking whether your standard policy covers its full replacement value. Unlike other valuable items, you don’t need to declare furniture or fittings valued over £2,000 separately. They’re covered up to your policy’s total contents limit. If you’re unsure, check your policy documents or get in touch with Lemonade directly.
What's not covered by home insurance for hobs?
Wear and tear, mechanical or electrical faults, negligence, poor installation, and gradual deterioration are all standard exclusions. Home insurance is designed for sudden, unexpected events, not the everyday realities of cooking with your hob.
Share
