Your mortgage is one of the biggest commitments you'll ever make. Life insurance and protection cover ensure that if something goes wrong, your home — and the people in it — are safe.
Most people think carefully about getting the right mortgage rate. Far fewer think carefully about what happens to that mortgage if they become seriously ill, lose their income, or die. For the people left behind, that can mean losing the home entirely.
Protection insurance — life cover, critical illness cover, and income protection — exists to make sure that doesn't happen. It's not morbid to plan for it. It's one of the most practical things you can do for the people you share your life with.
At Pride Mortgages, we discuss protection as a natural part of your mortgage conversation — not as an add-on or an afterthought. And because we work with advisers who understand the LGBTQ+ community, you won't need to explain your family structure or relationship to get the right advice.
Pays out a lump sum to your chosen beneficiaries if you die during the policy term. Most commonly used to pay off the outstanding mortgage balance, ensuring your partner or family can stay in the home. Can be arranged as a joint policy covering both partners, or as separate individual policies — which can offer advantages depending on your situation.
Pays a tax-free lump sum if you're diagnosed with one of a specified list of serious conditions — including cancer, heart attack, stroke, and many others. The payout is yours to use however you need: clearing the mortgage, covering treatment costs, or simply replacing lost income while you focus on recovery. Can be added to a life insurance policy or taken out as a standalone product.
Pays a regular monthly income — typically 50–70% of your salary — if you're unable to work due to illness or injury. Unlike critical illness cover (which pays once), income protection continues to pay for as long as you can't work, up to the end of the policy term. Particularly valuable if you're self-employed, a contractor, or if your employer doesn't offer a strong sick pay package.
This is one of the most common questions couples ask — and the answer depends on your situation. Here's a clear breakdown:
| Policy Type | How it works | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Joint Life Policy | Covers both partners under one policy. Pays out once — on the first death — and the policy then ends. | Couples who primarily want to cover the mortgage on the first death. Often cheaper upfront. |
| Two Separate Policies | Each partner holds their own policy. If one partner dies, their policy pays out — and the surviving partner still has their own cover in place. | Couples who want ongoing cover for the survivor. Often better value over the long term, especially for younger couples. |
In most cases, we recommend two separate policies rather than a joint one — particularly for same-sex couples where the surviving partner may have decades of life and mortgage payments ahead of them. Your adviser will model both options so you can compare the cost and coverage side by side.
Protection insurance can feel particularly loaded for members of the LGBTQ+ community — and not without reason. Historically, some products contained discriminatory exclusions or loading based on sexual orientation or HIV status. While UK law now prohibits direct discrimination in insurance, the legacy of distrust is understandable.
Here's what you should know about the current landscape:
There's no single right answer — it depends on your mortgage balance, your income, your partner's income, and what you'd want the payout to cover. But as a starting point, most advisers recommend:
At minimum, enough to clear the outstanding mortgage balance. Many couples also add enough to cover living expenses for 1–3 years for the surviving partner.
Typically aligned to the mortgage balance, so a serious diagnosis doesn't mean financial crisis on top of a health one.
Usually 50–70% of your gross monthly income — enough to cover your mortgage and essential living costs if you can't work.
Life and critical illness policies are usually aligned to your mortgage term. Income protection can run to your expected retirement age.
When you speak to one of our advisers, they'll go through your specific situation — income, mortgage balance, dependants, existing cover — and produce a personalised recommendation. There's no cost for the review and no obligation to take anything out.
It is not a legal requirement, but it is strongly recommended so that your home and the people in it are protected if something happens to you. Some lenders will ask you to consider appropriate protection as part of the process.
In many cases two separate policies give better long-term protection, because the surviving partner keeps their own cover after a claim. We model both options so you can compare the cost and the coverage side by side.
Yes. Many insurers now offer life and protection cover subject to medical underwriting. We help identify the insurers most likely to offer favourable terms for your individual circumstances.