Home insurance costs can vary by as much as 326%, depending on where you live, reveals research by AA Insurance Services.
The AA took the UK's most popular home, the three-bedroom semi, and switched the postcode to areas around the British Isles.
On average, it costs £327 per year to insure a house and its contents.
Cheapest is Lladrindrod Wells, at just £217 for buildings and contents cover, while at the top of the scale is Peckham Rye in South East London at £709 – a difference of £492.
Overall, London homes are the most expensive to cover, at an average of £465, and Scotland and Northern Ireland were the cheapest regions at £250. The average cost of contents cover across the British Isles is £168.
London again has the highest average premium rates, at £347, followed by Liverpool and Manchester in second and third place, at £332 and £329 respectively.
The Isle of Man gets the lowest average premium at just £98. Kerry Richardson, managing director of AA Insurance Services, said: “The cost of contents insurance is directly related to postcode. In areas of higher crime levels, such as densely-populated cities, cover will always be more expensive.
“Conversely, burglary is clearly not the issue on a small island if the next boat does not leave until three days' time.”
But a smoke detector, good locks on windows and doors, the installation of an insurer-approved burglar alarm and being in a Neighbourhood Watch scheme can all help cut costs by as much as 20%.
Hosted by comedian and actor Tom Allen, 34 Gold, 23 Silver and 22 Bronze awards were handed out across an amazing 34 categories recognising brilliance and innovation right across the breadth of UK general insurance.
