Three Reasons You May Struggle To Get Home Insurance

Home insurance is vital if you want to protect your property. Major repairs can be needed at any time, and very often these can break the bank. However, not all homes are eligible for insurance and you may find some providers wincing at the thought of providing you cover. In this article, we discuss why you may struggle to get home insurance.

Your Home Is Left Unoccupied

If your home is left without an occupant for more than 30 days a year, you will probably get refused standard house insurance. Some policy providers may extend this to 60 days unoccupied. The reason for this is that you may not be present if an issue occurs, such as a leak or fire. It also means it may attract the attention of unwanted guests.

There are many reasons you may wish to leave a property vacant. These could include moving out for renovations, you may be between lettings if you are a landlord, you could work abroad for long periods or you may be waiting to sell it. The latter can cut into the budget of many people who have inherited properties or find them in probate. In this instance, it can help to use trusted companies like Sold.co.uk which will make cash offers on the home. Sales can be completed quickly, so you don’t have to pay costly insurance on a house that is unoccupied and not making a rental yield.

When a house is built from non standard materials, the possible causes of damage to the house become greater. This pushes up insurance premiums and in some cases, means you can not get home insurance at all.

There is a whole range of materials considered non-standard, some of which you may be surprised at. Steel frames, concrete, plastic, glass, fibreglass and many eco materials will all fall under this umbrella. You can find a comprehensive list at nonstandardhouse.com.

Any listed building will probably qualify as being built from non-standard materials. Special craftsmen, materials and methods may have to be used in its repair. This can result in the need for specialist insurance.

You Live In an Area Prone to Flooding

Any house at risk of natural disasters will struggle to get insurance. In the UK, this is mainly the threat of flooding and it is only going to get worse as global warming causes more erratic weather conditions. For this, you will require specific flood insurance that covers the home and its contents in the event of a flood.

Water damage takes a lot of time and effort to remove and it must be done properly to prevent further damage. This insurance will cover the building’s foundations, systems, appliances, fittings and contents. It may even provide you with alternative accommodation if and when this does happen.

You may be able to get insurance if you flood-proof your home. However, this criteria is strict and you will need to provide evidence of the work done. Doing this can also bring down premiums and the excess. When you buy a home, you can check if it is in a flood-prone area using gov.co.uk. You must disclose this with insurers, particularly if it has been damaged by floods before.

Insurance will be available, but you may not qualify for standard coverage. Inevitably, this will increase costs. Make sure you know about insurance before you buy a house and factor it into your monthly expenses.