What affects the cost of guest house insurance.

The rebuild cost is what it would cost to rebuild your guest house from the ground up, and your buildings should be insured for that figure, not the market value.

It should include the main building, outbuildings, walls, gates, fences, drives and paths, plus clearing the site, architects' and other fees, and rebuilding like for like. It does not include the value of the land, because you would still own the plot. Listed buildings, unusual materials and hard-to-reach places can push the figure up.

We can't tell you how much to insure for, but we can point you to help: a chartered surveyor's assessment (the most accurate), the free BCIS rebuild calculator, or an online valuation from RebuildCostAssessment.com.

The main things are where your guest house is, what it would cost to rebuild, how big it is, what you offer guests, and your claims history.

Insurers rate down to postcode and even street, so crime, flood and subsidence risk all count. A bar, self-catering rooms, events, a pool or a big fryer can change the price or the terms.

Yes. Tell your insurer about any claims in the last 5 years, however small, and whether they were paid or not.

If a claim is left out, the insurer may refuse a later claim or cancel the policy. Be open with them, and with us, and it is far easier to sort things out if something goes wrong.

Usually, yes. Every policy has an excess, which is the part of each claim you pay yourself.

For example, with a £250 excess, a fire that causes £4,000 of damage would be settled at £3,750. Some risks carry a higher excess, such as subsidence, escape of water, flood zones or high-theft areas. A higher voluntary excess may lower the price a little. Check your policy so you know what you'd pay.

Often, yes. Some guest house insurers won't cover licensed premises, but others will insure you for selling alcohol to guests staying with you.

A bar open to the public is a different risk, so it may need a hotel-style policy. You may also want cover for wines and spirits, and loss of licence cover.

It can. A pan on the hob or a small table-top fryer is usually fine, but bigger fryers can bring extra terms or fewer insurers.

Very few standard guest house insurers will quote for a fish-and-chip-shop style fryer. Give us the details of your frying equipment and we'll make sure you're on a suitable policy.

Yes. Tell your insurer about any leisure facility, because leaving it out could affect a claim if someone is hurt.

That includes a swimming pool, gym, sauna, steam room, hot tub, tennis court or children's play area. Insurers will often cover them, sometimes with extra terms or a higher price.

It is possible, but plan ahead, because most guest house insurers won't cover rooms let this way.

A small number of specialist schemes will, usually at a higher price than a standard policy. Tell us how often, how many rooms, and whether stays are short or long, so we can search the right part of the market before you sign a contract.

With the right policy, yes, but tell your insurer first, because events bring a different risk from overnight guests.

Insurers will ask how often you hold events, how many people come, whether they use the house or a marquee, and who does the food and entertainment. We'll gather that and find insurers who will look at it.

Yes. Where your guest house is has a big effect on the price, because insurers rate each postcode and sometimes each street.

Crime rates, and being near a river, the sea, or a flood or subsidence area, can raise the price or limit the cover. If you're buying a guest house, ask for quotes before you buy so there are no surprises.

No. Insurers usually see self-catering as a higher risk than B&B, because guests use the cooking equipment themselves.

B&B usually means you cook breakfast and serve it in a dining room. Self-catering means guests have their own oven, hob or microwave, in a room or an annexe. Tell your insurer about any self-catering. Some won't cover it as part of a guest house policy, and others will price for it.