Non-Standard Home Insurance Comparison
Need to Compare Cheap Non-Standard Home Insurance?
- Look for cheap non-standard home in a matter of minutes
- Compare multiple policies with one short form
- Top deals from many of the UK’s best insurance providers
Is your home non-standard? The quick answer
If your house has a feature that ordinary home insurers avoid, such as a thatched roof, timber frame or past subsidence, it is classed as non-standard. You can still insure it, but you usually need a specialist policy that has been priced for that feature.
Which specialist house insurance fits your property?
The right starting point depends on why your home stands out. Find your situation in the table below.
| Your situation | Why insurers look twice | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Thatched roof | Fire risk and specialist repair costs | Thatched roof cover |
| Listed building | Repairs may need matching materials and consent | Listed building cover |
| Timber frame home | Different fire and rot profile from brick | Timber frame cover |
| Flat roof | Weather and leak risk on the roof covering | Flat roof cover |
| Past or current subsidence | Ground movement can return | Subsidence cover |
| Underpinned foundations | Signals earlier movement or a known risk | Underpinned home cover |
| Flood risk area | Higher chance of an expensive water claim | Flood risk cover |
| Solar panels on the roof | Extra kit to value and protect | Solar panel home cover |
| Empty or being renovated | Nobody there to spot problems early | Unoccupied property cover |
If your home was built in an unusual way
Construction is one common reason a house falls outside standard cover. Insurers treat brick walls under a tiled or slate roof as the norm, so anything else gets a closer look.
Thatch, flat roofs and timber frames
A thatched roof brings a fire risk and a specialist repair bill. Flat roofs raise questions about the age and condition of the covering. Timber-framed homes are priced differently because the frame behaves differently in a fire.
Steel frames, concrete and prefabricated homes
Some post-war houses were built with steel or concrete panels, or as prefabricated units. Many insurers ask about these on the form. If you are not sure how your house was built, a survey report or the seller’s paperwork usually says.
If the ground or nearby water is the risk
Ground movement and flooding are location risks, so they follow the address rather than the building style. A modern brick house can still be non-standard if it sits on shrinkable clay or near a river.
The British Geological Survey calls clay shrink and swell the most damaging geohazard in Britain. Homes with past movement, or that have been underpinned, usually need a specialist quote.
For flooding, homes built before 1 January 2009 may be able to benefit from Flood Re, which helps insurers offer flood cover. Flood Re’s eligibility rules explain which homes qualify.
If your home is protected or historic
Listed status means the walls, roof and windows may have to be repaired in a set way. In England, works that change the character of a listed building need listed building consent under section 7 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.
Wales has its own rules under the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023. Cadw’s guide to listed building consent explains when Welsh owners need permission.
That can mean lime mortar, handmade bricks or a specialist joiner after a claim. Insurers price for those costs, so the rebuild figure you give matters a lot.
If the house is empty or under renovation
Many standard home policies limit cover once a house has been empty for a set number of days. Building work can also change what a policy covers. If either applies, look at cover for an empty or renovated property alongside the features above.
What to have ready before you ask for specialist home insurance quotes
Specialist insurers ask more questions than a standard form. Having the answers to hand saves time and gives a more accurate price.
- The year the house was built, roughly if exact records are missing
- Wall and roof materials, including any thatch, flat sections or timber frame
- Whether the home is listed, and its grade or category
- Any history of subsidence, heave or underpinning, with dates and reports
- Past flood claims or flood resilience work, such as flood doors
- A rebuild cost figure, ideally from a surveyor for unusual homes
- Details of alarms, locks and who lives in the house
Specialist or standard home cover: pros and cons
A specialist policy is built around your type of property, which has clear upsides and a few trade-offs.
| Pros of a specialist policy | Cons to weigh up |
|---|---|
| Priced for the real risk, so cover is less likely to be refused | Premiums are often higher than for a typical house |
| Wording can suit unusual repairs, such as thatch or lime work | Excesses can be higher, especially for subsidence or flood |
| Insurer expects the feature, so fewer surprises at claim time | Fewer insurers to choose from, so comparing matters more |
Ian Wilson, Managing Director at Tiger.co.uk, says: “The most common slip is leaving a feature off the form because it seems minor. Tell the insurer everything, even an old repair, and let them price it.”
How Tiger.co.uk helps you compare non-standard house insurance
Tiger.co.uk lets you compare multiple specialist home insurance policies with one short form. Not every insurer quotes for every property, so the number of prices you see depends on your home.
You give your property details once, and Tiger.co.uk shows you the quotes that come back. Policies vary, so read the key facts before you buy. Even a big cat checks the terms before it pounces.
Rent the home out? You will need landlord insurance instead. Want help with sudden breakdowns such as a burst pipe or a failed boiler? Many people add home emergency cover too.
Got your answers ready? Get specialist home insurance quotes on Tiger.co.uk and line up the cover, excess and price of each one before you choose.
What counts as a non-standard home?
Any home an ordinary insurer may not quote for, or will only quote for on special terms. Common examples are thatched or flat roofs, timber or steel frames, listed status, a history of subsidence and homes in flood risk areas.
Is non-standard home insurance more expensive?
It often costs more than cover for a typical brick and tile house, because the insurer is pricing an extra risk. How much more depends on the feature, the insurer and your claims history, so comparing several quotes is the only way to see your own price.
Do I have to tell my insurer my house is non-standard?
Yes. Answer every question on construction, roof, listing, subsidence and flooding honestly. If the details are wrong, the insurer could reduce or refuse a claim, or cancel the policy.
Can I get buildings and contents cover on a non-standard home?
Yes, many specialist policies offer buildings cover, contents cover or both together. If you rent the home out, you will need landlord cover instead of a standard homeowner policy.
My home has two non-standard features. Is that a problem?
Not usually, but fewer insurers may quote. A listed thatched cottage or a timber-framed house near a river is a common mix. Mention every feature on the form so the price reflects your real home.
What if my renewal quote comes back much higher?
Compare it against fresh quotes before you renew. Check whether anything on the policy has changed, such as the excess, the rebuild figure or the list of insured events, so you compare like with like.
Fact-checked by Ian Wilson, Managing Director at Tiger.co.uk. 20+ years in price comparison; MEng, Queen’s University Belfast.