How to insure a home with non-standard risk factors

Why some properties never get an instant quote

Some houses slide straight through an online quote. Others stop the process dead.

Non-standard risk factors are anything that pushes a property away from the insurer’s baseline assumptions. That baseline is dull, predictable, and easy to price. Once a house drifts from it, the questions start.

This is not about being awkward. It is about uncertainty, and how much of it the insurer is being asked to carry.

Construction features that change the risk profile

The structure itself is often the first trigger.

• Flat roofs, particularly older felt or poorly drained designs
• Thatched roofs, even when well maintained and recently inspected
• Timber-framed or steel-framed construction
• Concrete panels, prefabricated sections, or mixed materials

These properties are insurable, but rarely on default terms. Expect referrals, higher excesses, or conditions around maintenance and inspection.

Ground conditions and environmental exposure

What sits under the house matters as much as what you can see.

• Subsidence, settlement or heave, past or present
• Proximity to slopes, cliffs or unstable ground
• Flood exposure or previous flood damage
• Radon, methane or former landfill sites nearby

Insurers lean heavily on mapping data and historical claims here. A property may look fine while the location data raises eyebrows.

Condition, upkeep and unresolved issues

Insurers distinguish between age and neglect.

Long-term roof defects, persistent damp, decayed windows, or untreated movement tend to raise concerns. Temporary disrepair is one thing. Known problems left unattended are another.

The question is usually simple: is the issue understood and managed, or ignored.

Security, occupancy and local risks

Risk is not always structural.

• High crime areas or repeat burglary history
• Previous vandalism or malicious damage
• Properties left unoccupied for extended periods

These factors often affect theft and malicious damage sections rather than buildings cover as a whole, but they still influence terms and price.

Features insurers treat with caution

Some features look harmless until a claim lands.

• Ponds or water features close to the building
• Large trees near foundations or drains
• Wood-burning stoves or open fires
• Solar panels or alternative energy systems

The concern is not the feature itself, but how failure would play out and how repair costs stack up.

Previous damage and insurance history

Past problems rarely disappear completely.

Flooding, subsidence, major fire damage or repeated escape-of-water claims tend to follow a property long after repairs are finished. Insurers usually want dates, details and evidence, not summaries.

A documented repair history often carries more weight than reassurance.

How insurers usually adjust cover

Responses are fairly consistent.

• Higher excesses for specific risks
• Targeted exclusions limited to the issue in question
• Referral to specialist underwriters rather than standard providers

Outright refusal is less common than many expect. Automatic acceptance is.

Why specialist insurers take a different view

Mainstream insurers rely on rules and averages. Specialist insurers work from detail.

Where a property has unusual features, completed remedial work, or a complex history, specialist underwriters are more likely to assess the individual risk rather than rely on postcode assumptions.

What tends to improve outcomes

Preparation matters more than persuasion.

• Full disclosure of known issues
• Survey reports and evidence of completed works
• Clear maintenance history
• An accurate rebuild cost, not a guess

Insurers respond better to clarity than optimism. A defined risk is easier to insure than a vague one.

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