Non-standard home insurance

What it is and the types of property it covers

If your property is classed as a non-standard construction, or has characteristics that mean it isn't seen as 'standard', you might need specialist insurance – and your choice of insurers could be limited. This short guide explains what counts as 'non-standard' and how to find the right home insurance policy. 

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What is non-standard home insurance?

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Non-standard home insurance is tailored for properties that don’t meet the typical criteria insurers use to assess risk. These properties may differ in construction, location, or usage, making them more challenging or expensive to repair, replace, or maintain.

While having a non-standard home doesn’t render it uninsurable, it does mean fewer insurers may be willing to provide cover. This often results in higher premiums, stricter policy terms, or the need to seek out specialist insurers who understand and accommodate the unique challenges of such properties.

What makes a home non-standard?

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A property is deemed non-standard if it diverges from conventional building methods or carries specific risks. Common factors include:

Non-standard construction materials

Homes not built with brick or stone walls and a pitched roof made of slate or tiles are considered non-standard. Examples include:

  • Timber or steel frames: Prone to fire, damp, rust, and higher repair costs.
  • Flat or thatched roofs: Flat roofs face drainage issues, while thatched roofs carry fire risks and require specialised maintenance.
  • Modular construction: Prefabricated homes require specialised repairs and may have hard-to-source parts.
  • Other materials: Properties built with concrete, flint, glass, or regional methods (e.g., wattle and daub) are often harder and more expensive to repair or replace.

Listed buildings and high-value properties

  • Listed buildings: These are protected for their historical or architectural significance, often requiring costly specialised repairs due to strict regulations. You can check whether your home is a listed building.
  • High-value homes: Homes with high market values or valuable contents may exceed standard policy limits, requiring tailored coverage.

Location risks

  • Flood-prone areas: Properties in areas at risk of flooding or with a history of flood damage.
  • Subsidence risks: Homes built in areas where ground movement is common.

Unoccupied properties

  • Standard policies typically allow homes to be vacant for 30–60 days. Longer periods require specialist coverage.

How to get non-standard home insurance

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Here are some steps you can take to find a policy and cut the cost of your insurance:

Step 1. Get quotes from a comparison site

Not all home insurance providers offer non-standard home insurance, but it’s still worth checking comparisons to explore your options, as they spin your details off to multiple insurers, increasing the chance of finding a provider that covers your specific needs. Our Home insurance page has the latest order of the cheapest comparisons to try.

Step 2. Struggling to find insurance, or it's expensive? Use a specialist, or a broker

There are brokers and insurers out there which specialise in finding solutions for those struggling to find cover. Try:

If risk of flooding (or previous floods) is the reason you're struggling to find affordable insurance cover, Flood Re has a useful tool that lists insurers or brokers to try.

If you're still finding it difficult to get insured, speak to a broker who can assess your unique situation and help find suitable options. You can find a broker through the British Insurance Brokers' Association website.

Step 3. Top tips for cheaper non-standard home insurance

Here are a few tips to help you get the cheapest insurance possible... 

  • Pay annually instead of monthly. If you can afford it, some insurers will give you a slight discount if you pay all in one go. 
  • Increase your voluntary excess. The excess is a fee you pay each time you make a claim. You can sometimes reduce the price of your premium by agreeing to pay a higher excess. Just be aware that this will make it more expensive should you have to submit a claim. 
  • Build your no-claims discount. Insurers will often offer a no-claims discount or no-claims bonus for each year of your policy in which you don't make a claim. This can build across multiple years if you stay claims free and can mean serious savings. 

Remember, you should always be completely honest about your situation and the nature of your home when getting insurance, because if you leave out any information, it could invalidate your policy.

Non-standard home insurance FAQs

  • What do I need to tell my insurer if I live in a non-standard building?

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    When you submit an application for an insurance policy to cover your property, the prospective insurer will ask you a number of questions about the nature of the building, its location, and the materials used in its construction. 

    It is then up to them to decide whether by their own metrics, they will deem your property 'standard' or 'non-standard', before either offering you a policy at a certain price, or turning you down. 

    Other information you may need to provide might includes when the building was first constructed, whether it's listed, and any local environmental features that may cause issues such as flooding.

  • Do I need non-standard insurance if my home is unoccupied?

    Yes, if you plan to leave your property unoccupied for a long period of time, you may need to get unoccupied home insurance. Most standard policies have maximum lengths a property can be left empty for, which varies by insurer but is usually between 30 and 60 days. 

  • Can I insure a mobile home?

    Yes, though you will need a specialist type of insurance to do this. Try the insurers in this guide to see if they can meet your needs, or speak with a specialist broker if not. 

  • Can I insure the annexe attached on my property?

    Yes, though you'll likely have to go to one of the specialist providers in this guide to do this.

    Few major home insurers will give you a policy, and those that do may require you to also have your main building insured with them and/or have a low maximum payout. 

  • Can my personal circumstances affect the home insurance I'm offered?

    In some cases, yes, you could find it more difficult to get insurance. If you've a criminal conviction or have declared bankruptcy in the past for example, insurers might take this into account when determining your premium – and you could be offered a higher quote or be turned down for insurance.

    You'll need to use a specialist insurer like the ones mentioned in this guide to be able to get cover, though it's unlikely to be cheap. 

  • How can I work out the rebuild cost of a non-standard property?

    Much like with a 'standard' home, the most comprehensive and reliable way of doing this is to pay for a home survey (though this can cost as much as £1,500). You can also use the free Association of British Insurers' calculator for a cheaper, but less exact result. 

    For more information, see our Calculating rebuild costs page.

  • What policy add ons can I get with non-standard insurance?

    You can usually get the same add-ons with non-standard home insurance as you can with standard. The main ones include: 

    • Accidental damage. Though most policies cover some accidental damage, they won't cover for everything – so you might decide to pay more for  more comprehensive cover. 

    • Legal expenses. This can help with covering the costs of any legal case involving the property, including personal injury or boundary disputes. 

    • Home emergency. If you need to deal with an unexpected problem, such as a blocked toilet or a boiler breakdown in the middle of winter, this will cover some or all of the costs. 

    • Personal belongings cover. If you have contents insurance, you typically won't be covered for possessions you take out of the house. This add-on is designed to cover you for things like your purse, wallet or handbags.

    See full details of home insurance add-ons in our Cheap home insurance guide.

Looking for standard home insurance? See our Cheap home insurance guide for how to find the best deal. 

Affected by storms or floods? Read our guide on what to do if your home has been damaged by bad weather.

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