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🏠 Mortgage Life Insurance

Mortgage Life Insurance from £7/month

36% of UK mortgage holders have no life insurance protection. The average UK mortgage is £289,723. Make sure your family can keep their home if the worst happens.

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Family outside their home protected by mortgage life insurance
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Answer a few simple questions and compare mortgage life insurance quotes from every major UK insurer, no pressure, no obligation.

What Is Mortgage Life Insurance?

Mortgage life insurance is a type of term life insurance designed specifically to pay off your outstanding mortgage if you die during the policy term. It means your family can stay in their home without the financial burden of monthly mortgage repayments.

There are two main types of mortgage life insurance:

  • Decreasing term, the payout reduces over time, roughly in line with your repayment mortgage balance. This is the most affordable option, starting from around £7/month.
  • Level term, the payout stays the same throughout the policy. Costs more, but provides a surplus for your family and is essential for interest-only mortgages.

Mortgage life insurance is not a legal requirement in the UK, but most lenders strongly recommend it. If you have a partner, children, or anyone who depends on your income to keep a roof over their head, it should be a priority.

Key fact: UK life insurers paid out £5.32 billion in individual claims in 2024, with a 97.9% acceptance rate. When families need it most, life insurance delivers.

For a deeper dive into how mortgage life insurance works, policy options, and how to choose the right cover, see our comprehensive guide to life insurance for mortgages.

Decreasing vs Level Term: Which Is Right for Your Mortgage?

The right type depends on your mortgage. Repayment mortgage? Decreasing term is usually the smart choice. Interest-only? You need level term.

FeatureDecreasing TermLevel Term
How it worksPayout reduces over time,Payout stays the same
Cost£7–£10/mo typical£12–£22/mo typical
Best forRepayment mortgagesInterest-only mortgages or
Surplus for familyLittle or none, coversYes, as mortgage balance
FlexibilityMortgage-specific onlyCan serve as general life
Best suitedBudget-conscious homeownersThose wanting extra

Costs shown are indicative for a 30-year-old non-smoker with £250,000 cover over 25 years. Your quote may differ.

Important: If you have an interest-only mortgage, level term is essential. Your mortgage balance never decreases, so a decreasing term policy would leave you dangerously underinsured. Read more about term vs whole of life insurance.

Do You Need Mortgage Life Insurance?

If any of these situations apply to you, mortgage life insurance should be a priority.

🏡

First-Time Buyers

Buying your first home is exciting, but it's also the biggest financial commitment you'll make. Mortgage life insurance means your family won't lose the property if something happens to you.

Decreasing term recommended
💑

Couples with a Joint Mortgage

If you share a mortgage, what happens if one of you dies? Your partner would need to cover the full mortgage alone. Joint or two single policies protect you both.

Joint or two single policies
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Parents with Dependants

Your children depend on the home being secure. If you die, your partner must cover the mortgage and raise your children alone. Additional level term cover on top is worth considering.

Decreasing + level term
💼

Self-Employed Homeowners

No employer death-in-service benefit means your family has no financial safety net. Mortgage life insurance is essential, and income protection should also be considered.

Essential, no employer cover
🔄

Remortgagers

Changing your mortgage? Check your existing cover still matches. If you've borrowed more, extended the term, or switched to interest-only, your old policy might leave gaps.

Review cover on every remortgage
📈

Interest-Only Mortgage Holders

Your mortgage balance never decreases, so decreasing term cover is completely wrong for you. You must have level term cover to match your full outstanding balance at all times.

Level term essential

Not sure which type you need? An adviser can help.

Get matched with an FCA-regulated adviser who will compare every UK insurer to find the right mortgage life insurance for your situation.

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How Much Does Mortgage Life Insurance Cost?

The cost depends on your age, health, mortgage size, and policy type. Here's a typical breakdown for a healthy 30-year-old non-smoker with £250,000 cover over 25 years.

£7–£10/mo
Decreasing Term
Cover reduces with your repayment mortgage. The most affordable option for straightforward mortgage protection.
£12–£22/mo
Level Term
Cover stays at £250,000 throughout. Provides a surplus for your family and works for interest-only mortgages.
Worth knowing: The average funeral cost in the UK is £4,295. Even if your mortgage is covered, consider whether your family would need additional funds for immediate expenses. See our full guide to life insurance costs.

Smokers, older applicants, and those with pre-existing conditions will typically pay more, but cover is almost always available. Comparing the whole market ensures you find the best price for your circumstances.

How It Works

1

Tell us about yourself

Quick questions about your life and health. Done in 60 seconds.

2

You evaluate quotes

Compare benefits and cover from every major insurer.

3

You decide

Pick a policy yourself, or let one of our advisers help.

What Our Customers Say

Tom R.
Tom & Lisa R.
Surrey • Mortgage Life Insurance
★★★★★
“Wish we'd done it sooner”

We got decreasing term cover when we bought our first home. The whole process took about 15 minutes and we're paying less than £12/month for both of us. Couldn't believe how simple it was.

Rachel K.
Rachel K.
Edinburgh • Mortgage Life Insurance
★★★★★
“Saved money vs our lender's offer”

Our mortgage lender quoted us £28/month for cover. Through Lifecoverfor.com, our adviser found the same level of protection for £11/month. That's £200 a year saved, no brainer.

Mark S.
Mark S.
Birmingham • Mortgage Life Insurance
★★★★★
“Peace of mind for my family”

As a self-employed dad, I don't get death-in-service benefits. I wanted to make sure my kids' home was safe if anything happened to me. Level term plus decreasing term, sorted in 20 minutes.

Claire B.
Claire B.
Leeds • Mortgage Life Insurance
★★★★★
“Remortgage sorted with proper cover”

When we remortgaged to a £310,000 deal, we realised our old policy wasn't enough. The adviser set up a new decreasing term policy within a day. We're now paying £9 a month and the full mortgage balance is covered.

Daniel F.
Daniel F.
Cardiff • Mortgage Life Insurance
★★★★★
“Interest-only mortgage covered properly”

I have an interest-only mortgage so decreasing term wouldn't have worked. The adviser explained why I needed level term cover and found me a policy for £17 a month on a £225,000 balance. Really glad I got proper advice.

Gemma T.
Gemma T.
Manchester • Mortgage Life Insurance
★★★★★
“First-time buyer with everything sorted”

Buying my first flat was stressful enough without thinking about life insurance. My adviser handled everything alongside my solicitor. I got £195,000 of decreasing cover for just £6 a month. One less thing to worry about on completion day.

Mortgage Life Insurance: Frequently Asked Questions

Mortgage life insurance is a type of term life insurance designed to pay off your outstanding mortgage balance if you die during the policy term. It ensures your family can stay in their home without the burden of mortgage repayments. It is available as decreasing term (cover reduces with your mortgage) or level term (cover stays the same throughout).
No, mortgage life insurance is not a legal requirement in the UK. However, most mortgage lenders strongly recommend it, and some may make it a condition of their offer. If you have dependants who rely on your income to pay the mortgage, it is almost always advisable to have cover in place.
Decreasing term life insurance reduces your payout over time, roughly in line with a repayment mortgage balance. Level term keeps the same payout throughout the policy. Decreasing term is cheaper because the insurer pays out less over time, but level term provides a surplus for your family and is essential for interest-only mortgages. Read our guide to term vs whole of life insurance for more detail.
Decreasing term cover for a £250,000 mortgage over 25 years typically costs a healthy 30-year-old non-smoker around £7–£10 per month. Level term for the same amount would cost approximately £12–£22 per month. Costs vary based on age, health, smoking status, and the amount of cover required. See our guide to life insurance costs in the UK.
Yes, and level term life insurance is essential for interest-only mortgages because the mortgage balance does not decrease over time. A decreasing term policy would leave you underinsured as the mortgage remains at its original amount throughout the term.
You are not obligated to buy life insurance from your mortgage lender, and doing so is often significantly more expensive. Shopping around through an independent broker or comparison service like Lifecoverfor.com can save you money while providing the same or better cover from the same insurers.
If you die without mortgage life insurance, the outstanding balance becomes a debt against your estate. Your family may need to sell the property to repay the mortgage, or your surviving partner would need to continue making payments from their own income, which may not be affordable, especially if they are also raising children.
Joint policies are cheaper but only pay out once on the first death. Two single policies cost more but provide cover for both partners independently. If one partner dies, the surviving partner retains their own policy, which is particularly valuable for financial security going forward. Read our joint life insurance guide for a full comparison.
Yes, most insurers allow you to add critical illness cover to a term life insurance policy. This means the policy pays out if you are diagnosed with a specified critical illness or if you die, whichever happens first. Adding critical illness cover typically doubles the premium but provides much broader protection for your mortgage.
If you remortgage to a higher amount or extend the term, your existing cover may no longer be sufficient. Review your policy whenever you remortgage and consider additional cover if there is a gap. You do not need to cancel your existing policy if you remortgage to a lower amount.
Not exactly. Mortgage protection insurance (MPI) specifically covers your mortgage repayments if you cannot work due to accident, sickness, or unemployment. Mortgage life insurance pays a lump sum on death to clear the mortgage. They serve different purposes, and many homeowners have both for comprehensive protection.
Your policy term should match or exceed your mortgage term. If you have a 25-year mortgage, your life insurance should run for at least 25 years. Some advisers recommend adding a few extra years to account for potential mortgage extensions or delays in setting up the policy.
Yes, writing your policy in trust is usually recommended. It means the payout goes directly to your chosen beneficiaries without going through probate or forming part of your estate. This can speed up the payout from months to weeks and may avoid inheritance tax. It is free to set up with most insurers.
Yes, you can cancel your mortgage life insurance at any time. However, if you have a level term policy, it may be worth keeping as general life insurance protection for your family. Taking out a new policy later will be more expensive due to your increased age.
The best mortgage life insurance depends on your individual circumstances, your age, health, mortgage type, and budget. Leading providers include Aviva, Vitality, Zurich, Royal London, and Legal & General. Comparing the whole market through an independent service ensures you find the best combination of cover and price for your situation.

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