Mortgage Protection

Keep paying the mortgage, even when you can't work.

If an accident, illness or redundancy leaves you unable to work, mortgage protection can help keep your biggest monthly commitment covered.

It pays a monthly amount towards your mortgage for a set period, giving you some financial breathing room while you recover or get back into work.

You choose how much you want to protect and for how long. We'll compare policies from our panel to help find cover that fits your mortgage, your circumstances and your budget.

£1,355 the average monthly UK mortgage payment, a bill that does not pause if you cannot work.

£123.25 a week is the most Statutory Sick Pay pays.

£0 sick pay for the self-employed.

Sources: average mortgage payment, Finder 2026; Statutory Sick Pay, gov.uk 2026 to 2027.

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We compare mortgage protection from our panel of UK providers:

Why compare mortgage protection with Howden?

One conversation covers our whole panel, not a single policy.

A choice of leading providers We compare mortgage protection from our panel, so you can see how the cover, the premium and the terms stack up.
Help at no cost to you. We'll talk you through the options and which might suit you. And where the same policy is available directly from the insurer, our price promise means you won't pay more by coming through us. Terms apply.
Cover built around you. Protect against accident and sickness, unemployment, or all three, choose your benefit period, and add cover for bills if you need it.
Honest guidance. If income protection or another type of cover would suit you better, we'll say so.
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot. More than 10,000 reviews from people we've helped.
A proven team. If you have had health problems before, we help you find insurers who take a fair view.

Why choose Howden?

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What is mortgage protection?

Mortgage protection is a short-term insurance policy that pays a monthly amount towards your mortgage if a reason set out in your policy, such as accident, sickness or unemployment, stops you working.

You decide what to protect against: accident and sickness, unemployment, or all three. Then you set two things. The excess period is how long you wait before payments begin, and the benefit period is how long they last once they do, usually up to two years for each claim. If you'd like a wider safety net, you can add cover for household bills too.

From there, we do the legwork: we'll line the cover up with your monthly payment and compare the policies on our panel to find the one that fits.

Good to know

A monthly amount paid towards your mortgage, not a lump sum.
Cover for accident and sickness, unemployment, or all three.
Payments for a benefit period you choose, usually up to two years a claim, after a short excess period.
The option to add cover for household bills.

Important to know

Mortgage protection is short-term cover. It pays a monthly amount for a set benefit period, usually up to twenty-four months for each claim, rather than until your mortgage is repaid, and payments begin only after your chosen excess period. Unemployment cover usually has a qualifying period at the start and does not cover redundancy you already knew about. As with any policy, claims are paid in line with the policy terms.

Do I need mortgage protection?

Mortgage protection is worth considering if you'd struggle to keep up your mortgage should your income suddenly stop, and you don't have long-lasting sick pay or savings to fall back on.

For most people the mortgage is the largest monthly bill, and it doesn't pause if you can't work. Employer sick pay is often modest and short, and the self-employed have none. Mortgage protection steps in to keep that payment covered while you recover or find new work.

So it's worth asking yourself one question: if your income stopped next month, how long could you keep the mortgage going?

It won't suit everyone. If you've got generous, long-lasting sick pay, substantial savings, or you'd prefer the broader, longer cover of income protection, we'll point you that way instead.

How much mortgage protection do I need?

A sensible level of mortgage protection is enough to cover your monthly mortgage payment, plus a little more if you'd like help with essential bills.

You can protect the mortgage payment on its own, or add an amount for bills such as council tax, utilities and insurance if you want a wider safety net. Insurers cap the total you can cover, so we'll help you land on a figure that keeps the essentials paid without paying for more than you need.

The benefit and excess periods you choose should reflect your savings and any sick pay, so cover starts when you'd need it and lasts as long as it's likely to.

How does mortgage protection pay out?

If you make a valid claim, your insurer pays a monthly amount, after your chosen excess period, to help you keep meeting your mortgage.

Payments continue for as long as you meet the claim terms, up to your chosen benefit period. Unemployment claims normally have a qualifying period at the start of the policy. We'll explain how each insurer defines a valid claim, so you know where you stand well before you ever need to rely on it.

Mortgage protection or life insurance?

They protect you in different ways, and the one you need depends on what you're most worried about.

Mortgage protection is designed to help with your monthly payments if you're temporarily unable to work. Life insurance can pay out a lump sum if you die, which could be used to repay some or all of your mortgage. And income protection is a third option, replacing more of your income, for longer, if illness or injury stops you working.

Many people hold more than one: life insurance to clear the mortgage if the worst happens, and mortgage or income protection to keep the payments going if they can't work. Not sure which you need? We can help you compare your options.

How much does mortgage protection cost?

Mortgage protection is often more affordable than people expect, and the price depends on your mortgage amount, the cover you choose, and your job.

The size of your monthly mortgage payment, and whether you add cover for bills.
The type of cover: accident and sickness, unemployment, or all three.
The benefit period and excess period you choose.
Your age and occupation.

We don't publish example premiums for mortgage protection, because the price depends so much on your job, your cover and your mortgage that a headline figure can mislead. Instead, we'll compare our panel and confirm a personalised quotation for you before you commit to anything.

Is mortgage protection worth it?

For many homeowners, yes. If losing your income would quickly put your mortgage at risk, mortgage protection buys you time to recover or find new work without falling behind.

It's short-term cover, designed to bridge a difficult patch rather than replace your income for years. That keeps it affordable, and for many people the mortgage is the payment they most want to protect.

It's only fair to say when it might matter less. If you've got substantial savings, long employer sick pay, or you'd rather protect your whole income for longer, income protection may suit you better. We'll tell you honestly which fits.

Keep the roof over your head, whatever the year brings

If you couldn't work for a while, which bill would you most want to know was covered? For most people, it's the mortgage, and it doesn't pause when your income does. Mortgage protection is a simple way to keep that payment covered through illness, injury or redundancy, so a difficult few months needn't put your home at risk. We'll help you weigh it against income protection and other ways of protecting your home, so the choice feels like yours.

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Frequently asked questions about mortgage protection

The questions we're asked most often about mortgage protection.

Mortgage protection basics

What is mortgage protection insurance?

Mortgage protection insurance pays a monthly amount towards your mortgage if accident, sickness or unemployment stops you working. You can cover accident and sickness, unemployment, or all three, and it pays for a set benefit period once your chosen excess period has passed.

What does mortgage protection cover?

It covers your monthly mortgage payments, and you can add an amount for household bills, if a reason set out in your policy stops you earning. It's short-term cover, paying for a benefit period you choose, usually between six and twenty-four months for each claim.

Is mortgage protection the same as life insurance?

No. Mortgage protection pays a monthly amount while you're alive but unable to work, whereas life insurance pays a lump sum if you die. Many people hold both, and we can compare them side by side so the cover fits together.

When would the payments start if I made a claim?

Payments begin after an excess period that you choose when you take out the policy, so cover can start once your sick pay or savings would begin to run short. After that, a monthly amount is paid for up to your chosen benefit period.

Cost, cover and advice

How much does mortgage protection cost?

The price depends on your mortgage amount, the cover you choose, the benefit and excess periods, and your job, so there's no single figure. We don't quote a headline price, because it can be misleading, but we'll compare our panel and confirm a personalised quotation for you.

Does mortgage protection cover redundancy?

The unemployment option can cover involuntary redundancy, though there's usually a qualifying period at the start, and redundancy you already knew about isn't covered. If you only want cover for illness and injury, you can choose the accident and sickness option instead.

Do I have to have my mortgage with Howden to get cover?

No. Mortgage protection is separate from your mortgage, so you can arrange it with us whoever your lender is, and keep it if you move or remortgage. We simply match the cover to your monthly payment.

Should I go direct to an insurer or use a broker like Howden?

Going direct usually means seeing one provider's policy, while we compare cover across our panel. Our service is at no direct cost to you, and where the same policy is available directly, our price promise means you won't pay a higher premium by coming through us. Terms apply.

What do you need to get a mortgage protection quote?

To get a quote, we only need a few details about you and your mortgage.

Your monthly mortgage payment.
Whether you want cover for accident and sickness, unemployment, or all three.
Your age and occupation.
Whether you'd like to add cover for household bills.

We'll let you know if the insurer needs anything else, and we'll talk you through each option so the cover fits your situation.

We are in your corner from day one

When you're ready, a short conversation is all it takes. It helps to have a rough idea of your monthly mortgage payment, and how long your sick pay or savings would last, so we can match the cover to the gap. Not sure which type of protection you need? That's exactly what we're here for.

There's no pressure, and no cost to you for the conversation. We'll talk you through the options from our panel in plain language, and only arrange cover if it's right for you.

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