Non-standard home insurance

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.

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.

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:

• Intelligent Insurance*

• Homeprotect*

• InsureMy

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.