Legal expenses insurance provides cover for the costs associated with legal protection. It provides access to legal advice and representation in the event of a specified legal dispute. These disputes don’t necessarily need to be about your property or its contents. Different levels of cover are available to cover circumstances such as consumer contractual disputes, employer disputes, property disputes and personal injury.
HomeProtect home insurance policies include basic level legal expenses cover as standard.
The basic legal expenses option covers up to £50,000 of legal expenses to pay for legal action around disputes or ownership issues to do with your property, along with breaches of contract in the purchase of goods and services.
We also offer an upgraded legal expenses product, with increased cover levels and specifically tailored additional cover depending on your circumstances.
While it isn’t essential, legal expenses cover could save you a significant sum of money if you ever find yourself facing a legal dispute or in a position where you wish to pursue a claim. It can offer peace of mind that you will be covered for the cost of legal advice (subject to policy limit) and representation in numerous circumstances, including employment disputes, property disputes and consumer disputes.
Legal expenses cover is often included as part of a number of different types of insurance policies, including car and home insurance, so it’s worth checking whether you may be covered by an existing policy already before adding additional full cover.
Benefits include no upfront solicitors’ fees, as your insurer will pay the fees directly, and access to a free 24/7 legal advice helpline.
To put things into perspective, look at potential scenarios you could find yourself in. If, for example, you are unfairly dismissed at work and it goes to tribunal, or a dispute arises over the sale of your home, resulting in a court case, it can be costly to fund. Legal bills can mount up quickly, reaching the thousands. By having the appropriate insurance in place, you will be covered for these costs.
Yes! Your policy will then be extended to cover specific circumstances related to personal injury, identity theft and tax advice costs relating to an HMRC Full Enquiry. Check our Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) for details.
Full legal expenses cover for empty properties includes legal costs and expenses for a personal injury claim, identity theft and tax advice costs relating to an HMRC Full Enquiry. Check our Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) for details.
Landlord legal expenses cover provides access to 24/7 telephone legal advice, along with insurance cover for legal costs and expenses should you experience legal problems such as repossession, property damage, eviction of squatters, rent recovery, contract disputes and tax protection. Check our Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) for details.
Included as standard and provides you and your family with access to 24/7 telephone legal advice, along with insurance cover for legal costs and expenses (upto £50,000 per event) should you experience one of the following legal problems:
Check our Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) for details.
Our full legal expenses option provides all of the cover that the basic product has but, in addition, covers the following circumstances:
Check our Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) for details.
Mrs H and her husband had purchased a new home. Upon completion, they started to renovate the property whilst it was unoccupied and planned to move in a few weeks later. They met one of their new neighbours during this period, who advised her that he had a number of ongoing disputes with the previous owner. The neighbour was also aggressive towards Mrs H, dictating where she could park and walk on their shared drive. Mrs H hadn't been told about any outstanding disputes during the sales process and had she been aware she wouldn't have purchased the property.
Mr and Mrs H therefore submitted a claim to HomeProtect to pursue the previous owner for breach of contract relating to the undisclosed neighbour dispute. In the meantime, the family decided to sell up and move into another property, due to fear of retaliation from the previous owner, who according to the neighbour had also shown signs of aggression in the past.
The panel solicitor progressed the matter to mediation with the previous owners. An offer of £25,000 was accepted by the family and all legal costs were covered under the Basic Legal Expenses policy.
| Feature | Basic | Full |
| Cost | Included as standard | Varies – depending on property usage |
| Total legal expenses cover limit (per event) | £50,000 | £50,000 - £100,000 (depending on property usage) |
| Usage impacts No Claims bonus | No | No |
| Access to a free 24/7 legal helpline | Yes | Yes |
| Cover for disputes about your property | Yes | Yes |
| Cover for breach of contract for purchase of goods/services | Yes | Yes |
| Employment disputes (including unfair dismissal) | No | Varies - depending on property usage |
| Personal injury (your death or bodily injury) following a sudden or specific accident | No | Yes |