Non-Standard Home Insurance

A home is treated as non-standard because of its construction, such as thatch, timber or steel frame, concrete or prefabricated (PRC), or a large flat roof. It can also be a listed building, or a home with a history of subsidence, underpinning, flood or coastal risk, or one left unoccupied or under renovation. Any of these can put a home outside a standard insurer’s criteria.

A standard home insurance policy is priced for conventional brick-and-tile houses, so online panels auto-decline anything outside that mould. The unusual construction, history or risk sits beyond their criteria, and a policy that does not match the property risks a claim being reduced or refused. A specialist policy is built to match the home instead.

It provides full buildings cover at the rebuild cost, contents, personal liability and alternative accommodation while repairs are done. Insured perils include fire, storm, flood, theft, escape of water and impact, subject to the policy terms. The cover is arranged around the specific non-standard feature so the home is properly protected.

Yes. A non-standard policy gives full buildings cover set at the rebuild cost of the property, not a reduced or limited figure. Contents cover protects your furniture, appliances and belongings inside the home. The buildings sum insured should reflect the true cost to rebuild, including any specialist materials or methods.

Yes. Thatched roofs, timber and steel frame, concrete and prefabricated types such as PRC, Airey and Cornish, and homes with a large flat roof can all be insured by a specialist. These builds carry different fire, water or repair risks that a standard insurer will not take on. The construction type is assessed properly so the cover and price match the home.

You must tell the insurer everything relevant about the home and your circumstances, including construction, listed status, subsidence, flood history, previous claims and any refusal. These are material facts, and leaving one out can lead to a claim being reduced or refused, or the policy cancelled. Full disclosure is what keeps a non-standard policy valid at claim time.

There is no fixed price, and cover is generally higher and more variable than a standard home policy. The cost depends on the specific non-standard feature or features, the rebuild value and the property’s history. It is quoted by a specialist rather than set by an online price, so comparing quotes is worthwhile.

Price is driven by the type of non-standard feature, the rebuild value and the location, including flood, subsidence and crime risk. Your claims and any refusal history feed in too, along with the home’s security and the level of cover you choose. Good security, an accurate sum insured and a claim-free record can help bring the premium down.

Yes. Flood-risk and coastal homes are often declined or heavily loaded by standard insurers, but specialists still quote for them. Cover may carry a higher premium or a larger flood excess to reflect the location. Flood defences and any past flood history are taken into account when the policy is arranged.

Yes. Homes left empty, between tenants or undergoing renovation fall outside standard cover, but specialist unoccupied policies are made for them. Cover can reflect the building work, the length of the vacancy and the state of the property. Tell the insurer the home is unoccupied or being worked on so the cover responds if you claim.

Yes. Listed buildings, whether Grade I, II* or II, need cover that pays to repair or rebuild on a like-for-like basis using the original materials and methods. This costs more than a standard rebuild, which is why listed homes are non-standard. A specialist policy sets the sum insured to meet listed-building rules and conservation requirements.

Yes. Contents cover protects your furniture, appliances, electronics and belongings inside the home. High-value items such as jewellery or watches usually need to be listed individually above a single-article limit. Personal possessions cover can extend to items you take out of the home, so check the away-from-home limit.

Yes. A history of subsidence or underpinning almost always leads a standard insurer to decline, but specialists will still cover these homes. Any structural reports and engineer’s records help the insurer understand the risk and set the terms. Cover can include future ground movement, usually with a higher subsidence excess.

Yes. Thatched properties carry a higher fire risk, so they are non-standard and rarely quoted online. A specialist policy sets the buildings sum insured to the full cost of rethatching and considers the type of thatch, the chimney and any fire precautions. This keeps the cover matched to a genuine rebuild.

Yes. Timber-frame, steel-frame and other non-traditional builds can be insured through a specialist even where a standard insurer declines them. The construction is assessed for its fire, water and repair characteristics so the cover fits the property. The rebuild sum insured is set to reflect the materials and methods used.

Yes. A previous refusal, a cancelled policy, adverse history or a recent claim does not mean a home cannot be insured. Specialist insurers underwrite these cases individually and will often quote where a mainstream panel declines. You do need to disclose the refusal, cancellation or claim in full so the cover holds.

Standard and online insurers work from fixed criteria and auto-decline homes that fall outside them, whether for construction, listed status, subsidence, flood risk or the owner’s history. Non-standard cover is underwritten by a specialist who assesses the individual property rather than turning it away. If a standard policy will not take your home, a specialist policy is what you need.

Set an accurate rebuild sum insured, improve security with good locks and alarms, and consider a higher voluntary excess. A claim-free record and any works that reduce risk, such as flood defences or repaired subsidence, all help. Compare quotes at renewal rather than letting the policy roll over, as loyalty is rarely rewarded.

It helps to know the construction type, the rebuild sum insured and any listed status, along with any subsidence, underpinning or flood history. Have details of previous claims or refusals and your home’s security to hand. Accurate information means the quote reflects your home and the cover responds properly if you claim.

A specialist broker understands non-standard construction, listed rules and difficult histories that a standard insurer will simply decline. They can place thatched, timber-frame, concrete, subsidence, flood-risk and unoccupied homes with insurers built for them. This usually means better-matched cover at a fairer price than trying online panels that keep saying no.

Comparing connects you with FCA-authorised specialist insurers in one place instead of being turned away by online panels. It helps you match the buildings sum insured, excess and cover to your home rather than simply chasing the cheapest option. MyMoneyComparison.com does not advise on or sell policies, it puts you in touch with specialists who can.