Home Insurance for First-Time Buyers
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Flexible protection for your first home
Buying your first home is one of the biggest financial commitments and investments you’ll ever make. The right Home Insurance will protect your property from the moment you complete your purchase and give you peace of mind knowing your home is protected. At Gallagher, we support first-time buyers with clear, practical advice and access to a range of home insurance options.
We work with leading insurers in Ireland to arrange buildings and contents insurance that meets lender requirements and reflects your needs as a new homeowner. Our advisors guide you through the process, helping to ensure your cover is suitable and in place when you need it.
Home Insurance Quick QuoteBenefits of Choosing Gallagher
More Choice – 1, 2, or 3-year home insurance terms available
Personal Expert Advice – Qualified Insurance Advisors guide every decision
Specialist Properties Covered – Period homes, high-value, landlord, mobile, and unoccupied properties
In-House Claims Team – Direct access to specialists who know your policy
Flexible Payment Options – Spread costs across any policy term
Proper Coverage Advice – We ensure your buildings & contents are correctly valued
Why first time buyers choose Gallagher
When does your home insurance need to start?
For most first-time buyers, buildings cover needs to be in place before your mortgage funds are released, rather than on the day you collect the keys. Lenders in Ireland require evidence of buildings insurance before releasing funds, so the policy is usually arranged in the days leading up to drawdown.
That makes home insurance one of the last things to organise and one of the easiest to leave until the final week. Starting a week or two ahead of your expected closing date gives you room to get the sums insured right rather than accepting whatever can be issued at short notice.
Our advisors can work back from your expected closing date and tell you when cover needs to be in place. Request a callback and we will do that with you.
Request a CallbackWhat your lender will need
Your lender will want confirmation that the property is insured for its full rebuild cost, and in most cases will need their interest noted on the policy. We can issue the documentation your solicitor and lender require, and check the details are right before they go across.
Two things are worth settling with us early rather than late:
- The buildings sum insured, which should reflect what it would cost to rebuild the property rather than what you are paying for it
- The policy start date, which needs to line up with drawdown rather than with your moving date
What to have ready
To move quickly on a quote, it helps to have these to hand:
- The property address and Eircode
- Your expected closing or drawdown date
- The property type, its approximate age and how it is built
- A rebuild figure for the buildings, or a note that you would like help arriving at one
- A rough value for the contents you will be moving in
If you do not have all of these yet, that is not a problem. Our advisors can work with what you have and help you fill in the rest.
Cover for the specific property you are buying
New builds, older homes, and apartments included.
Flexible payment options
Because buying a home is expensive. Spread the cost with our easy payment plans.
Benefits in your first year
Key care, legal expenses cover, and additional benefits in your first year.
Why first-time buyers choose Gallagher
- We work to your closing date. We will make sure your cover is in place when you need it.
- Help & advice for your rebuild figure. We make sure your home is covered correctly.
- 1, 2, and 3 year policies. Secure your premium and reduce your renewals with a long term policy.
- Cover for the specific property purchase. New builds, older homes, and apartments included.
- Easy payment plans. Because buying a home is expensive – spread the cost with our flexible payment options.
- Broker benefits. Get access to multiple insurers, ongoing support, dedicated help with claims, and much more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Contents insurance is optional but recommended once the home is furnished. It covers personal belongings such as furniture, appliances, clothing and electrical items against insured events.
Some insurers offer 1, 2 or 3-year home insurance policies, subject to underwriting criteria and policy conditions. If you would like more information, please ask our team of advisors.
Buildings cover generally needs to be in place before your mortgage funds are released, which is usually shortly before you complete rather than on your moving day. Your lender will confirm what it requires, and our advisors can work back from your closing date so the policy starts at the right point.
Before, in most cases. Lenders in Ireland ask for evidence of buildings insurance before releasing funds, so the policy is typically arranged in the days leading up to drawdown rather than after you move in.
In most cases yes. We can arrange this and issue the documentation your lender and solicitor need. Speak to an advisor and we will confirm what is required for your particular mortgage.
Terms & Conditions Apply. Deposit €72.33 followed by 9 monthly instalments of €20.39. Annual percentage rate: 17%. Based on a 3 bedroom semi-detached house built in 2026 in Dublin. Buildings sum insured: €500,000. Contents cover: €50,000. Price as of 14/09/2026.