Fixtures and fittings: Why they matter in home insurance

Do you know the difference between fixtures and fittings? It'll help you decide which home insurance policy is right for you.

Everyone's heard of fixtures and fittings, but do you know what they really mean? The commonly used duo might seem alike, but they're actually two different things.

Shower

Fixtures: Items that are firmly attached to your home and difficult to remove.

Windows

Fittings: Temporarily attached to the property or free standing items which can be removed.

There are some exceptions to the rule though. For example, carpets are almost always considered fixtures. We recommend contacting your insurer directly if you need clarification.

Protect your fixtures and fittings with home insurance

Generally, building insurance protects fixtures and contents insurance protects fittings. All of the home insurance policies in the table below protect both.

Product AUFHO Finder Score Fire, Storm & Theft Damage Flood Accidental damage Escape of Liquid
Finder score
Yes
Optional
Our verdict: Finder’s 2022 Insurer of the Year for Customer Satisfaction and our Top Pick for Fire Damage cover. It’s good if you want a tailored quote over the phone.
Budget Direct Home & Contents Insurance
Best Rated BrandBonusFinder Award Finalist
Budget Direct Home Insurance logo
Finder score
Optional
Optional
Our verdict: The most popular insurer on Finder, Budget Direct prioritises low-cost cover and gives you up to 30% off your first year's premium for new combined Home & Contents policies purchased online.
Finder score
Yes
Optional
Our verdict: Finder's Top Pick for Floods plus cover for other common claims such as fire and theft). Its discount is better than most – 20% off your first year with a combined policy.
Qantas Home and Contents Insurance
BonusFinder Award Finalist
Qantas Home Insurance logo
Finder score
Optional
Optional
Our verdict: Earn up to 40K Qantas Points for joining by 29 January. Plus save 30% on your 1st year's premium for purchasing a combined home and contents policy online. T&Cs apply.
Finder score
Yes
Optional
Finder score
Yes
Optional
Our verdict: Honey gives you $250 smart sensors to reduce accidents and estimates your rebuild costs for you. Honey was a finalist for the comprehensive category in this year’s Finder Awards.
Finder score
Yes
Optional
Our verdict: Good comprehensive cover (issued by QBE). Also, get $5 Kogan.com credit when you purchase a new combined Home & Contents insurance policy online. T&Cs apply.
Finder score
Yes
Our verdict: Save up to 10% on your policy in the first year.
loading

Finder Score - Home and Contents Insurance

Each month, we get crunching on most every home insurance product in Australia to see how they stack up. We rank over 50 products on 16 different features, including price. We end up with a single score out of 10 that helps you compare home insurance a bit faster.

Read full Finder Score methodology

Finder survey: Do Australians think home insurance is worth it?

Response
Yes68.37%
No18.06%
I don't know13.57%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1113 Australians, December 2023

What are fixtures?

Fixtures are items that are firmly attached to your home. There are some exceptions to the rule but generally, you would not take fixtures with you if you decided to move home.

  • Baths and sinks
  • Kitchen counters
  • Floor and wall tiles
  • Decking and verandahs
  • Toilets and showers
  • Solar panels
  • Heating systems
  • Fences and gates

Home insurance policies that cover fixtures

There are two types of home insurance that can cover your fixtures.

House

Home (building) insurance

This type of policy will cover the physical structure of your home. This includes things like solar panels and your bathroom sink, but it won't include your fittings or contents.

Key

Home and contents insurance

This type of policy is more comprehensive since it will cover both your fixtures and fittings. It covers the physical structure of your house and the belongings you keep in it.

What are fittings?

Fittings are items that are freestanding or temporarily attached to your home. Generally, you would take fittings with you if you moved elsewhere. However, there is one major exception – fitted carpets. They are classed as fittings.

  • Blinds and curtains
  • Potted plants and artwork
  • White goods

Home insurance policies that cover fittings

You can choose from two types of home insurance to cover your fittings.

Nature

Contents insurance

This policy can cover your fittings and other things you have around your home. Just keep in mind that it won't cover things that are permanently attached to your home, or the physical house itself.

House one

Home and contents insurance

A home and contents insurance policy is probably the more comprehensive option since it can cover both fittings and fixtures. This way, you don't have to figure out which is which.

Compare home insurance to cover your fittings and fixtures

Icons made by Vectors Market from www.flaticon.com
Picture: GettyImages

Nicola Middlemiss's headshot
Senior writer

Nicola Middlemiss is a contributing writer at Finder, with a special interest in personal finance and insurance. Formerly a business and finance journalist, Nicola has written thousands of articles helping Australians better understand insurance and grow their personal wealth. She has contributed to a wide range of publications, including Domain, the Educator, Financy, Fundraising and Philanthropy, Insurance Business, MoneyMag, Mortgage Professional, Yahoo Finance, Your Investment Property, and Wealth Professional. Nicola has a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Leeds. See full bio

Nicola's expertise
Nicola has written 241 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Personal finance
  • Personal insurance, including car, health, home, life, pet and travel insurance
  • Commercial business insurance

More guides on Finder

Ask a question

You are about to post a question on finder.com.au:

  • Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
  • finder.com.au is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
  • We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
  • Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked

Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our Terms Of Service and Finder Group Privacy & Cookies Policy.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Go to site