In Dublin, the price you paid for your home and the cost of rebuilding it are often very different. Buildings insurance should be based on the rebuild cost, not the purchase price. That figure affects your premium and what you could receive after a claim, so it is the place to start.
This guide covers how to estimate the rebuild cost for your type of home, how to compare quotes, and what other cover is worth considering.
Understanding home insurance basics
Home insurance generally has two parts. Buildings cover protects the structure, including walls, roof, floors and permanent fixtures. Contents cover protects your belongings. You can usually arrange either or both, with a separate sum insured for each.
Rebuild cost, not purchase price
A Dublin purchase price reflects the land and location as well as the house. Land does not need rebuilding after a fire. Insuring for the purchase price may mean paying for a higher sum than you need. But if the buildings sum insured is too low, an under-insurance clause may reduce a claim. The goal is an accurate rebuild estimate.
Dublin also has the highest typical rebuild costs among the regions covered by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) 2025/26 guide. Its November 2025 figures showed a 5% annual increase in Dublin, compared with 7% nationally. Recheck your sum insured at renewal.
Working out your figure
The SCSI house rebuild calculator is a starting point for a standard estate-type house. Enter the house type, floor area and region to get an indicative minimum base cost. Then allow for features the standard estimate does not fully reflect, such as a higher-spec kitchen, outbuildings or unusual finishes. Check how extensions and conversions change your floor area and estimate.
When the calculator isn’t enough
Period and red-brick homes. The SCSI rates are intended for estate-type houses, not period properties or protected structures. Specialist materials and trades can change the cost. Consider a rebuild cost estimate from a qualified professional.
Apartments. In many Dublin apartment blocks, the owners’ management company insures the building and funds the policy through service charges. Ask for the block policy to confirm what it covers. You may still need your own contents insurance.
Extensions and conversions. An attic conversion, kitchen extension or garden room can change the cost of rebuilding. Tell your insurer about completed work and review the buildings sum insured.
Comparing providers and obtaining quotes
What you’ll be asked
Have your address or Eircode, property type and age, construction details, rebuild estimate, contents value, security details and claims history ready. You may be asked about previous flooding or flood risk.
The Office of Public Works flood information maps show recorded events and modelled flooding at a community level. They can help you understand an area, but they do not determine the risk to an individual property. Answer your insurer’s questions about your home and its flood history accurately.
Making the comparison fair
Use the same buildings and contents sums insured, and a comparable excess, for each quote. Then compare what is included, exclusions, special excesses and limits for valuable items. You can approach insurers directly, use a broker or check comparison websites. These routes do not necessarily show every insurer.
You can start an AA Home Insurance quote online. AA Ireland also offers car, travel and pet insurance. Each policy has its own terms.
Essential coverage considerations
Some cover is generally needed when you take out a mortgage, while other cover depends on your circumstances.
Mortgage protection. This is life insurance designed to clear the outstanding mortgage if a covered borrower dies during the term. Section 126 of the Consumer Credit Act 1995 generally requires lenders to ensure suitable cover is in place, subject to exemptions. Check with your lender.
Buildings insurance. There is no general legal requirement to insure your home, but a mortgage lender will typically require buildings cover as a condition of the loan. For an apartment, confirm the management company’s block policy and your lender’s requirements. Our home insurance requirements guide explains the distinction.
Contents insurance. This protects your belongings and is generally optional. It matters for apartment owners too: the block policy may protect the structure but not the things you own inside it.
Income protection and specified illness cover. Income protection may replace part of your earnings if illness or disability prevents you working, subject to its terms. Specified illness cover may pay a lump sum following diagnosis of a listed condition. Their suitability depends on your health, work and household finances; regulated financial advice can help you assess them.
Frequently asked questions
Should I insure my Dublin home for the price I paid?
Generally, no. Buildings cover should reflect the cost of rebuilding, which differs from a property’s market price. Use the SCSI calculator for an estate-type house or seek a professional estimate for an older or unusual home.
Can I use the SCSI calculator for a period house?
The SCSI says its standard rates are not designed for period homes. If your Dublin house needs specialist materials or workmanship, consider a professional rebuild cost estimate.
Do I need buildings insurance for my Dublin apartment?
The owners’ management company normally holds the block buildings policy, but check what it covers and what your lender requires. Arrange contents cover separately if you want to protect your own belongings.
Does flood risk affect home insurance in Dublin?
It can influence a quote or the terms offered. You can review area-level information on floodinfo.ie, but it does not assess your particular property. Tell the insurer about the property’s actual history and any relevant flood protection measures.
Once you have a realistic rebuild figure, you can compare cover on the same basis. Get an AA Home Insurance quote for your Dublin home.
