Non-Standard Home Insurance
Protect Your Home With Our Non-Standard Home Insurance Cover Options
Insurance for unique properties, unusual constructions and homes that don't fit standard insurance models
Non-Standard House Insurance Quotes at Advanced
At Advance Insurance, we understand that non-standard properties are unique homes requiring specialist insurance knowledge.
We can look at many property types varying in construction and age, including non-standard properties that require specialist understanding. Whether you own a converted barn, listed building, timber-framed property, or home with flood risk or subsidence history, we have access to insurers who understand the specific requirements of these properties.
Our household insurance team recognises that owning a non-standard property often means embracing unique architecture, innovative construction methods, or preserving historical character. That’s why we work hard to find insurance solutions that protect both your investment and your home.
What We Cover With Non-Standard Home Insurance
Properties built with alternative materials or methods require specialist insurance understanding. We cover homes that standard insurers often reject or overcharge, recognising that different doesn’t automatically mean dangerous. Our specialist insurers provide appropriate cover for:
- Timber-Framed Properties: Both modern engineered timber frames and traditional oak-framed buildings
- Steel-Framed Construction: Including modern modular homes and converted commercial buildings
- Non-Standard Roofing: Flat roofs, green roofs, solar tiles, and other alternatives to standard tiles or slate
- Unusual Cladding: Including timber cladding, metal panels, and other non-brick exteriors
- Converted Buildings: Former barns, churches, schools, warehouses, and other commercial conversions
- Pre-Fabricated Homes: Including post-war prefabs, modern modular builds, and kit homes
We specialise in finding cover for properties that face location-based or historical challenges. Rather than applying blanket exclusions, our insurers assess each property individually, considering mitigation measures and improvements:
- Flood Risk Areas: Properties in flood zones or with previous flood claims, considering defence improvements
- Subsidence History: Homes with previous subsidence, heave, or landslip issues that have been properly addressed
- Coastal Properties: Homes facing erosion risk or extreme weather exposure
- Mining Areas: Properties in former mining regions with potential ground stability concerns
- Conservation Areas: Homes with planning restrictions affecting repair and maintenance options
Listed buildings and heritage properties require insurance that understands conservation requirements and traditional construction methods. We arrange cover that recognises:
- Grade I and II Listed Buildings: Understanding like-for-like repair requirements
- Conservation Area Properties: Accounting for planning restrictions on repairs
- Period Features: Protecting original fixtures, fittings, and architectural details
- Traditional Materials: Cover for lime plaster, wattle and daub, cob, and other heritage materials
Why Non-Standard Properties Need Specialist Insurance
Non-standard properties aren’t just homes built differently – they represent construction approaches that standard insurance models struggle to assess. Each type of non-standard construction presents unique characteristics that require individual evaluation rather than computer-generated risk assessment. Our specialist insurers understand these differences and price cover appropriately.
Listed properties and those in conservation areas face additional insurance complexities beyond standard homes. Planning restrictions mean repairs must meet strict conservation requirements, often requiring specialist craftspeople and traditional materials that cost significantly more than standard building work. Our specialist insurers understand these requirements and ensure cover reflects the true cost of maintaining heritage properties properly.
Properties in flood-risk areas or with previous subsidence issues often face limited insurance options from standard providers. Many mainstream insurers apply blanket exclusions or excessive premiums without considering individual circumstances or mitigation measures. Our specialist insurers assess each property individually, considering flood protection measures, underpinning work, and ongoing monitoring rather than applying automatic exclusions.
Standard and Optional Benefits
Your non-standard home insurance policy typically includes these essential protections:
- Full Buildings Cover: Fire damage, storm and flood damage, subsidence, burst pipes, criminal damage
- Contents Protection: Personal belongings, furniture, electrical items, and household goods
- Public Liability: Protection up to £2 million for injury or damage claims
- Property Owner’s Liability: Cover for your legal responsibilities as property owner
- Emergency Access: Costs for emergency services accessing your property
- Debris Removal: Safe removal and disposal of damaged materials
- Professional Fees: Architects’ and surveyors’ fees for approved repairs
Accidental Damage: Available if requested for buildings and/or contents
Tailor your policy with additional protection options:
- Legal Protection: Legal expense cover for disputes, employment issues, and personal injury claims
- Home Emergency: 24/7 helpline with emergency tradesperson callout for urgent repairs
- Personal Possessions: Cover for items taken outside the home
- Specified High-Value Items: Increased single-item limits for jewellery, art, and collectibles
Garden Cover: Enhanced protection for landscaping, plants, and garden structures
If you let your non-standard property, we can arrange:
- Landlords Legal Protection: Cover for tenant disputes and eviction proceedings
- Loss of Rent: Up to 20% of rebuild value if property becomes unrentable
- Unoccupied Property Cover: Three levels of protection during vacant periods
- Landlords Contents: Protection for furnished let properties
- Malicious Damage by Tenants: Cover for deliberate damage
Get Your Non-Standard Home Insurance Quote
Protecting your non-standard property requires specialist knowledge and access to insurers who understand unique homes. At Advance Insurance, we combine decades of experience with access to specialist markets to find you cover at reasonable rates.
Whether you’re buying your first non-standard property, struggling with mainstream insurer rejections, or simply reviewing your current cover, our team is ready to help. We’ll take time to understand your property’s specific characteristics and find insurance that properly protects your distinctive home.
Get your specialist non-standard home insurance quote or contact our experienced team for dedicated advice on protecting your unique property.
Non-Standard Home Insurance: Frequently Asked Questions
Standard insurers typically use automated risk assessment models designed for conventional properties. Non-standard construction types, unusual materials, or properties with flood risk or subsidence history don’t fit these models, leading to automatic rejections rather than individual assessment. We work with specialist insurers who evaluate each property on its own merits, considering mitigation measures and maintenance standards.
Non-standard properties include timber-framed buildings, steel-framed construction, thatched roofs, flat roofs, non-standard cladding, converted buildings (barns, churches, commercial), properties with previous flood claims, homes with subsidence history, listed buildings, and properties in conservation areas. Each requires individual assessment based on specific characteristics rather than blanket categorisation.
We can often arrange cover quickly, though some insurers may want to review property details, inspection reports, or fire prevention measures before providing final quotes. Our relationships with specialist insurers help streamline this process. We understand that you might need cover urgently for property purchases or renewal deadlines, and we work efficiently to meet your timeframes.
Household insurance isn’t a legal requirement, but protecting your home is important if something goes wrong. If, however, you’re applying for a mortgage to buy your property, it’s likely the lender will ask for household insurance as a condition for taking out the mortgage. Given the unique nature and often higher rebuild costs of non-standard properties, insurance is particularly important for protecting your investment.
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