The cost of a combined home contents and buildings insurance policy increased by 3.69% over the course of 2011, according to new research from independent market research firm, Consumer Intelligence.

The research, which is used by the Office of National Statistics for its Retail Price Index, found that the cost of a home contents only premium increased by 2.98% in 2011 and the corresponding increase for buildings only cover was 7.02%.

Consumer Intelligence’s research is based on over 900,000 quotes from providers across the home insurance sector for 2,000 different risk profiles.

Ian Hughes, managing director of Consumer Intelligence, said: “The difficult winters of 2010 and 2011 have contributed to rising home insurance premiums. However