- Thread starter Ebenezer
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Zebra
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Same as JHD, found NFU willing to insure something that is of "non-standard" construction and is in the middle of major works..... But I never had to make a claim...
Another vote for NFU Mutual - great personal service, good listeners and very good communicators.
A car came through our garden wall earlier this year, so we notified them - they came back with very good advice on how to handle it ourselves, without making a claim on them and not losing our no claims bonus. I wonder how many insurers would do that!
Can be frustrating not being able to do much with them online, but their personal approach more than makes up for it.
regards
TT
A car came through our garden wall earlier this year, so we notified them - they came back with very good advice on how to handle it ourselves, without making a claim on them and not losing our no claims bonus. I wonder how many insurers would do that!
Can be frustrating not being able to do much with them online, but their personal approach more than makes up for it.
regards
TT
Flyfisher
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- Norfolk, UK
We were with NFU and claimed for a lost solitaire diamond out of an engagement ring some years ago. They were very good indeed.
But last year the premium increased by a ridiculous amount so we changed to Lark. I was then somewhat annoyed that NFU later called me to ask why we had not renewed and when I explained the price increase they said they could have 'done something about that' (even though their local office had said they couldn't). Frankly, that just confirmed to me that they were trying it on!
But I don't think this is anything specific to NFU. All insurance companies seem to offer substantial discounts to attract new customers instead of looking after their loyal ones. I'm about to go through the same process with my car insurance and I'm fully expecting the same thing next year with Lark. :evil:
But last year the premium increased by a ridiculous amount so we changed to Lark. I was then somewhat annoyed that NFU later called me to ask why we had not renewed and when I explained the price increase they said they could have 'done something about that' (even though their local office had said they couldn't). Frankly, that just confirmed to me that they were trying it on!
But I don't think this is anything specific to NFU. All insurance companies seem to offer substantial discounts to attract new customers instead of looking after their loyal ones. I'm about to go through the same process with my car insurance and I'm fully expecting the same thing next year with Lark. :evil:
MatthewC
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I've been with Lark for the last three years as they were the only people who would insure an empty place while I was refurbishing it. However, they just quoted £499 for renewal which I thought was looking poor value and so I tried the Co-Op. I couldn't do it on line as the house was too old (before 1850), and I got a quote for £309 on the phone. However, when they sent me the details by e-mail it was £448 (!?) so I rang them again. After 20 minutes more on the phone it was down to a very reasonable £235 for the same rebuild cost as Lark so I took it.
Flyfisher
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- Norfolk, UK
Amazing, isn't it, how there can be so much variation.
I used to insure our cars with Direct Line. Each year they would send me a renewal reminder with the new price and each year I would go onto their website and get a cheaper price then phone them up and renew at the lower price.
I sometimes think the insurance industry must be a big market for random number generators!
I used to insure our cars with Direct Line. Each year they would send me a renewal reminder with the new price and each year I would go onto their website and get a cheaper price then phone them up and renew at the lower price.
I sometimes think the insurance industry must be a big market for random number generators!
GRADE_II_MONEYPIT
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Ive found LARK (via LPOC) very helpful and would recommend them
masochists-r-us
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- Northamptonshire
We have used Ecclesiastical via a broker for the last seven years. For the last three we have had to renegotiate to get the premium to be something affordable. Tried NFU a few years ago, but they wouldn't consider us whilst we were undergoing structural alterations. Will probably try them again this year now that phase is complete.
malcolm
& Clementine the cat
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Sorry to bring up a period thread but I've been struggling again with finding buildings insurance.
It's an old house (or at least some of it is) but not listed. Old seems to rule out a lot of the mainstream insurers. The big problem seems to be that I am planning some alterations (that rules out NFU) and am planning to do it over a long term basis as a self build with a fair bit of DIY like many others on the forum. The lack of contractors with timing and project costs seems to rule out LARK. LARK suggested trying other brokers which I'm doing now.
Now, I've noticed many on here are living in half finished old houses. Do you have buildings insurance? And if so what is the trick to getting it? I wonder if I would be better off finding a building work friendly insurer but not mentioning the work until I'm ready to get going in a couple of months.
It's an old house (or at least some of it is) but not listed. Old seems to rule out a lot of the mainstream insurers. The big problem seems to be that I am planning some alterations (that rules out NFU) and am planning to do it over a long term basis as a self build with a fair bit of DIY like many others on the forum. The lack of contractors with timing and project costs seems to rule out LARK. LARK suggested trying other brokers which I'm doing now.
Now, I've noticed many on here are living in half finished old houses. Do you have buildings insurance? And if so what is the trick to getting it? I wonder if I would be better off finding a building work friendly insurer but not mentioning the work until I'm ready to get going in a couple of months.
Flyfisher
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You're right that most of the 'mainstream' insurers are not really interested in anything slightly non-standard - been there, done that. We had building work in progress when I changed to Lark and it wasn't a problem, they just wanted to know when it would be finished. They subsequently called me to verify completion, at which point I was able to say that the basic structure had been completed but there was still a lot of internal work in progress. Again, it wasn't a problem. I've not had to claim though.
I've read there are specialist companies that deal with self-build projects, which I believe covers almost any sort of DIY, not just building a completely new house. Might be worth looking in that direction?
A Google search for "self build insurance" returns a lot of relevant-looking links, though I can't personally vouch for any of them.
Good luck and let us know who you find.
I've read there are specialist companies that deal with self-build projects, which I believe covers almost any sort of DIY, not just building a completely new house. Might be worth looking in that direction?
A Google search for "self build insurance" returns a lot of relevant-looking links, though I can't personally vouch for any of them.
Good luck and let us know who you find.
Keith Bowman
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Have you actually asked the NFU Mutual if the works rule you out?
88v8
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Our thatched GII is insured through these people.
http://www.county-insurance.co.uk/for-you/home/
Haven't tried them with major works 'cos we haven't done any.
Edit; when we bought the house it was to be unoccupied for ~6 months, which was a no-no for NFU, but OK for County.
The other point in their favour is that in two renewals they have increased the premium only by inflation.
Ivor
http://www.county-insurance.co.uk/for-you/home/
Haven't tried them with major works 'cos we haven't done any.
Edit; when we bought the house it was to be unoccupied for ~6 months, which was a no-no for NFU, but OK for County.
The other point in their favour is that in two renewals they have increased the premium only by inflation.
Ivor
malcolm
& Clementine the cat
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Tried NFU and LARK but I really feel I'm getting things wrong over the phone.
NFU wouldn't take on new insurees who were thinking about doing a bit of building work. People with existing policies might have different luck. LARK wanted a firm start and completion date which I don't have yet. I said the work would start when the council stuff is out of the way and then finish when I have the money. They suggested continuing with my current insurance until I know a bit more. The snag with that is the existing insurance is £1500/year because I took it out when the house was an unoccupied pub which turned out to be the worst risk you could possibly have.
Thanks Flyfisher EDIT> and 88v8 (is that a car?) - I see some more leads there.
NFU wouldn't take on new insurees who were thinking about doing a bit of building work. People with existing policies might have different luck. LARK wanted a firm start and completion date which I don't have yet. I said the work would start when the council stuff is out of the way and then finish when I have the money. They suggested continuing with my current insurance until I know a bit more. The snag with that is the existing insurance is £1500/year because I took it out when the house was an unoccupied pub which turned out to be the worst risk you could possibly have.
Thanks Flyfisher EDIT> and 88v8 (is that a car?) - I see some more leads there.
malcolm
& Clementine the cat
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Good grief!
The moral of my story (if anyone else is foolish enough to get into this mess) is don't mention the chance of any future building work to insurers. Take a normal policy. Then If you happen to need to do some building work in the future mention it to them and if they can't cope then cancel. Even if you don't get a refund for the remaining time it will still be cheaper.
Otherwise if you want to build but don't quite know the start date you are uninsurable.
The moral of my story (if anyone else is foolish enough to get into this mess) is don't mention the chance of any future building work to insurers. Take a normal policy. Then If you happen to need to do some building work in the future mention it to them and if they can't cope then cancel. Even if you don't get a refund for the remaining time it will still be cheaper.
Otherwise if you want to build but don't quite know the start date you are uninsurable.
skier-hughes
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Our house was liveable, but needed lots of work doing.
We insured with NFU when we bought the house as a new policy holder, but the previous owner had always insured with them, so I suppose they new the risk they were taking on.
We are currently with Lark, as NFU prices rocketed and we had a look around.
We are working on the house on a as quick as I can, open ended basis.
Neither had a problem with this.
Our bill though is very similar to yours currently!!
Graham
We insured with NFU when we bought the house as a new policy holder, but the previous owner had always insured with them, so I suppose they new the risk they were taking on.
We are currently with Lark, as NFU prices rocketed and we had a look around.
We are working on the house on a as quick as I can, open ended basis.
Neither had a problem with this.
Our bill though is very similar to yours currently!!
Graham
malcolm
& Clementine the cat
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- Bedfordshire
Thanks Graham. I finally have a quote (£765) from a broker called Crossley Morris, though it doesn't include any cover for future building work. When I get to that stage I can suss out options for insurance and will budget for a good doubling of premium. I think either my place ticks all the wrong boxes or I'm being too honest.
mattice
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- Worcestershire
We also use Ecclesiastical, whilst not listed we had certain issues we had to declare. Very smooth process where as other insurer it was on the difficult pile. Went direct and it beat the premium of the next nearest insurer by around £100.