1. MoneySavingExpert.com
  2. Insurance
Skip to content of guide

In this guide

Tip Email

FREE Weekly MoneySaving email 

For all the latest deals, guides and loopholes simply sign up today - it’s spam free!

FAQs Privacy Past Emails Unsubscribe

Non-standard home insurance

What it is and the types of property it covers

Benjamin Taylor
Benjamin Taylor | Edited by Hannah McEwen
Updated 21 June 2024

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. 

Skip to content of guide

In this 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.

What is non-standard home insurance and do I need it?

407302093

'Non-standard' properties are those that are seen by insurers as more risky to insure. This could be because they're made from 'non-standard' materials or are listed, or they could be in a location that's a riskier prospect to cover. 

If you have a non-standard home, you might need a specialist insurance policy. It doesn't mean your home is uninsurable, but it can reduce your options and increase the amount you’ll have to pay for cover.

Although the definition of 'non-standard' can vary between insurers, some common factors may include:

Homes built with non-standard materials

In the UK, if your home is built with brick or stone walls and a slate or tile roof, it will typically be considered to be of standard construction. Anything else, and your home may be considered non-standard. This could include materials such as timber, thatch, concrete, wattle and daub, steel and more. We've more on non-standard construction methods below.

Listed buildings & high-value homes

Some buildings are given special status due to notable historical importance or stylistic features. If your home is a listed building, you could need a specialist home insurance policy due to higher repair or rebuild costs. You can check whether your home is a listed building. 

It's the same if you home is worth a lot of money, or if the contents in your home are particularly valuable. Standard policies will typically have limits on how much they'll cover, so you'll need to ensure you get a policy that covers you for the full amount you need.

Homes at increased risk of floods or subsidence

If your home is in a location where there’s increased risk of flooding (or has been flooded before), or has a history or increased risk of subsidence (where the ground beneath a property shifts), then it could increase the likelihood of frequent and/or major repairs.

Homes that have been unoccupied for a long time

Standard home insurance policies have maximum lengths a property can be left unoccupied for (usually 30-60 days). This will vary depending on your provider, but if you exceed the limit you will have to look to a specialist insurer.

  • 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.

    Head to our Cheap home insurance page for tips on where to start with home insurance and where to go if you're struggling to get affordable cover. 

What are non-standard construction methods?

375891106

Unless your home is built with walls made of brick or stone and has a pitched roof made of tile or slate, it will usually be deemed a non-standard construction property. 

These types of homes will typically not be covered by standard insurance, due to the risk insurers associate with certain building materials, meaning they may be harder or more expensive to replace or repair – or if that material is deemed prone to damages. Here are some of the common examples in the UK.

Timber or steel frames

Even if there is brick cladding over the top, timber or steel frames will likely mean a home will be deemed to be a non-standard construction property due to the replacement or repair costs and susceptibility to certain environmental factors such as damp, rust and fire damage.

Flat and thatched roofs

Problems associated with flat roofs largely revolve around drainage issues and increased risk of water damage. This typically makes insurers more reluctant to offer home cover. 

Thatched roofs are deemed to have an increased risk of fire and, unless you're able to rethatch yourself, any repairs or replacement will require skilled, specialised tradespeople – meaning the potential for greater expenses for insurers. 

'Modular' construction

These are buildings where the components are constructed off-site in a factory, before being transported and reconstructed to a standardised design. They will be classed as non-standard due to potential difficulties in getting replacement parts and the need for specialised repairs.

Other non-standard materials

This could be pretty much anything, and will often vary depending on your insurer. The difficulty in sourcing materials and the increased risk of major damage mean that insurers are more reluctant to provide insurance. Here are a few more examples of what insurer's might class as non-standard...

  • Buildings made with concrete or glass

    More modern materials like these are often classed as 'non-standard' when used significantly in the construction of a building. Concrete can be prone to deterioration and issues such as damp.

    While glass is commonly used in houses of standard construction in windows, doors and skylights, more dominant glass features such as entire facades and/or roofs could lead to insurers determining a building to be a non-standard construction. 

  • Flint and stone houses

    Among other reasons, buildings made of flint or stone may be classed as non-standard by insurers due to the need for specialised and laborious repair or replacement processes, which would make it much more expensive for insurers should something happen to the property. 

  • Traditional or regional materials or methods such as wattle and daub, clunch or bungaroosh

    Unsurprisingly, these kinds of building techniques are likely to be much more difficult (and therefore expensive) to repair and/or replace, requiring very specialised labour. 

    This will make it more expensive for insurers should they have to pay out. There are also likely to be certain long-term structural issues associated with these kinds of materials and techniques requiring very different solutions from more modern building techniques. 

  • Listed buildings

    Buildings are given 'listed' status if they are of special architectural and historic interest. Listed status is designated by the government, and usually is attached to older buildings and/or those with exceptional features or some sort of cultural significance. 

    Crucially, there are regulations around how listed buildings can be repaired and renovated, meaning it's likely to be more expensive for insurers in the event that you have to claim. Furthermore, older buildings or buildings with more unusual and extravagant features will likely require more specialised labour to fix. 

    You can check whether your property is a listed building here.

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 badly 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 you purse, wallet or bags. 

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

How to save money on non-standard home insurance

171093851

Non-standard insurance is likely to cost more than standard insurance because, in the event of a claim, repairs or associated expenses can be higher for the insure ase specialised materials typically require more skilled labour and expensive parts to repair. 

Some 'non-standard' materials are also more susceptible to issues such as damp or fire damage, meaning you'll be more likely to claim (and therefore cost your insurer money).

Top tips for cheaper non-standard home insurance

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

  • Check as many comparison sites as possible. The more quotes you get, the more options you will have. Head to our Home insurance page for the lowdown on the best order in which to navigate the main comparison sites. plus some alternatives if the big providers won't insure you. 
  • Speak to a specialist insurance broker. If you're still struggling to find cover, you may need some professional help. You can find a broker on the British Insurance Brokers' Association website.
  • 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.

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

2283547049

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.

Non-standard home insurance FAQs

Share this guide
MSE Forum

Have your say in our forum!

Go to the MSE Forum

Spotted out of date info/broken links? Email: brokenlink@moneysavingexpert.com

MSE tools & calculators

Clever ways to calculate your finances 

Credit Card Eligibility

See which cards are likely to accept you

Tool

Loans Eligibility

See which loans you've the best chance of getting

Tool

MSE App

Get MSE on your Apple or Android phone

Tool

Broadband Unbundled

Compare broadband deals & save

Tool

Mortgage best buys

Compares thousands of mortgages

Tool

Mortgage Calculator

Eight calcs for all your mortgage sums

Tool
Tools and calculators

What the * means above
If a link has an * by it, that means it is an affiliated link and therefore it helps MoneySavingExpert stay free to use, as it is tracked to us. If you go through it, it can sometimes result in a payment or benefit to the site. It's worth noting this means the third party used may be named on any credit agreements.

You shouldn’t notice any difference and the link will never negatively impact the product. Plus the editorial line (the things we write) is NEVER impacted by these links. We aim to look at all available products. If it isn't possible to get an affiliate link for the top deal, it is still included in exactly the same way, just with a non-paying link. For more details, read How this site is financed.

MoneySavingExpert.com Limited is an appointed representative of MONY Group Financial Limited. MONY Group Financial Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 303190). The registered office address of both MONY Group PLC and MONY Group Financial Limited (registered in England No. 3157344) is MONY Group House, St. David's Park, Ewloe, Chester, CH5 3UZ.