Any home not constructed of tiles, bricks and mortar can fall outside of the ‘standard’ bracket and be considered as higher risk by insurers. This includes wattle and daub, listed buildings, steel or timber framed builds, concrete homes, even flat roofs or non-standard extensions, the list is quite extensive.

A  premium is the amount of money you are charged to take out a particular insurance policy. In other words, it's the amount you pay every month. It's based on how likely your insurance company thinks you are to make a claim.

Non-standard home insurance is necessary for houses that aren’t built in the usual way i.e. constructed by materials other than bricks or tiles. Some homes also need non standard home insurance due to their location being in high flood risk areas. In addition if your personal circumstances are such that you have convictions, own a second home, have an unoccupied home, you will also require non standard home insurance.

They are viewed differently as they've usually been built differently,  using unusual materials or old-fashioned construction methods. As a result a specialist non standard home insurance policy is required as replacing/repairing the home can be more costly and these types of homes usually require more maintenance. It can be challenging to obtain building materials needed and usually specialist tradespeople are needed on top of that.

The difference is that buildings insurance covers the physical property such as walls, roof and floors whereas contents insurance covers the items inside the premises.

We offer you flexibility and choice in terms of levels of cover and cost but you’re still only covered for certain things.
With Open and Direct, we have three policy extras that you can choose from - Home Emergency Cover and Family Legal Cover and Unoccupied Legal Cover.

With Open and Direct you can add Home Emergency Cover or Legal Cover - we offer Family Legal Cover for properties that are the main home or Unoccupied Legal Cover for properties that are holiday homes or simply unoccupied. Home Emergency cover offers a 24/7 helpline for heating system failure, roof damage, burst pipes, plumbing issues, property damage and loss of keys.   Legal helps if you need to make a legal claim - you can receive up to £50,000 for advisers' costs* for certain types of legal action relating to your home from personal injury to faulty workmanship. *Terms and conditions apply.

If you can’t find your exact job title, choose one that matches yours as closely as possible.

Much like car insurance, being married can be a factor in assessing your risk profile potentially leading to a cheaper premium. This is because married couples are found to file fewer insurance claims than single individuals. 

Home insurance excess is the amount of money you will need to pay towards a claim before your insurance provider pays out. Excess means anyone making a claim will have to make a payment which helps to deter fraudalent claims and it also plays a part in keeping the cost of overall insurance down. 

When you get a home insurance quote, you set your voluntary excess amount which is the amount you agree to pay towards any claim you make against your policy in addition to the compulsory excess amount. Increasing your voluntary excess can help reduce your overall premium but it could also mean you have a large bill to cover in the event you need to make a claim.

Compulsory excess is set by your insurance provider and it's the fixed amount of money you will pay if you make a claim on your home insurance. Compulsory excess amounts vary depending on your risk profile so everyone's excess is different.

As well as being essential for safety, home insurance premiums may be lower if you have working smoke alarms fitted.

Non-standard home insurance is often more expensive as it provides cover for unique risks, properties that have unusual building materials, are positioned in an area with a high flood risk or have had previous claims on policies. There are things that you can try to see whether it helps to bring your cost down a little. One option is to increase your voluntary excess however you need to be able to afford this in the event of a claim. Increasing home security can also improve the cost as some insurers offer discounts for improvements to security. Using a specialist broker can also help you find a more cost competitive price in comparison with mainstream brokers. 

You will need detailed information about the property you wish to insure to include construction materials, year it was built, number of rooms as well as any risk factors such as subsidence, ground heave, flooding, proximity to water, structural issues and use of the property. Security features will also be important to declare as well as information about the contents if contents is what you also wish to insure - this includes valuable items, personal posessions etc. Previous claims history is aso needed.

The material used for the roof of the property matters greatly as often if unusual materials have been used, repair and maintenance costs can be more expensive, particularly if it is thatched or constructed from metal/glass. Sometimes specialist techniques are needed to fix any issues and that can also be costly. Flat roofs have a greater risk of water damage and leaks which presents a higher risk for insurance.

Building materials really impact the cost of insurance especially if it contains non-standard materials. This is due to the fact that these material costs usually are more expensive and they may have a higher risk of damage particularly if it is made from timber/thatch. Specialised maintence and repair work also drives up the cost as often there is a lack of standardisation with these non-standard materials therefore labour costs tend to be higher when carrying out fixes. The structure of the building can also have an impact as some materials may not be as long lasting and can be more prone to damp. 

The quantity of rooms/bathrooms helps the insurer assess the overall cost to rebuild and replace your home in the case of a total loss. Larger homes generally cost more to rebuild as they need more materials, time and labour. High end finishes can also drive costs up so your home's value and insurance needs to reflect that. More bathrooms also means there is a greater risk of water damage which is one of the most popular insurance claims.

You can still obtain home insurance however a flat roof does limit your options when it comes to providers as some insurers view it has much riskier as a result of water pooling and the potential for leaks. There may be a higher premiums as there is also an increased risk of weather damage plus the material used can also have an impact - well maintained roofs are easier to insure. If only part of your roof is flat, some insurers may be more accepting of that. 

Subsidence is a type of ground movement i.e. downward movement of the ground supporting your home. It's usually caused by issues such as clay shrinkage, mining activities, or leaking drains which can cause structural changes over time

Things to look out for are new or expanding cracks in walls particularly around doors and windows. If you notice any doors/windows sticking out without reason that can also raise alarm bells. If your home is located in an area with a history of mining, have large trees/shrubs near the foundations or is built upon clay soil, that also presents a greater risk.

Ground heave is the upward movement of the ground beneath a property caused by soil expansion following changes in moisture levels. It is a common problem in construction and engineering. Clay rich soils have a particularly high risk as they expand when moist and shrink when dry which changes the ground levels. Tree removal means the roots are no longer absorbing the excess water that can boost moisture levels in the surrounding soil and lead to swelling. Ground heave can lead to cracks in buildings, uneven floors and even structural instability. 

If a property is in a good state of repair, it is well maintained, functional and free from defects and damage. It is safe, operational and meets safety standards so no leaks, structural damage or faulty wiring.

Joints Contracts Tribunal contracts are standard forms of construction contracts which provide a legal framework for construction projects. They outline rights and responsiblities of all parties involved and there are various types depending on the project type and procurement route. 

Underpinned means that the property needed to be reinforced and strengthened overall to stabilize it's foundations. Usually a property needs underpinned as a result of subsidence (where the ground underneath the property causes the foundations to sink). It can also be required if there are structural issues or additional support is required due to some modifications of weight in the property.

Having British Standard locks fitted to external doors and windows is looked upon favourably by insurance providers. Approved locks are door locks that have been accepted by insurance companies as standard locks. There are 3 main kinds of locks - mortice deadlock, a key operated multipoint locking unit or night latch as well as key operated window locks. The more levers a lock has, the more secure it tends to be so many insurers usually accept locks with 5 levers. To check what lock you have, look at the door in question and check the lock mechanism - deadbolt/knob lock/lever handle lock/mortice lock/smart lock.

If you need a report a claim, you can contact your insurer directly. Please check your policy documents to see who your insurer is. You can visit our dedicated claims page to get their contact details to report your claim.

It is recommended that you check the cover you have in place as detailed on your schedule and verify if your policy provides cover for the loss or damage. If you're a victim of theft/malicioius damage/property has been lost or stolen whilst away from your home it's vital you contact the police and obtain a crime reference number within 24 hours ideally. Then you can contact your insurer as soon as possible. It would be helpful to have the following info handy when you call your insurance provider: Name and contact details, property address, policy number, crimer reference number if applicable, details of why you are claiming, any third party details (if required).

Yes, usually making a claim on your home insurance policy does affect your no claims bonus (NCB). The NCB is a reward for not making a claim over a period of time with insurers offering discount for each claim free year. If the claim is minor or for something outside of your control some insurers may allow you to keep part of your NCB but for larger claims and those which are at fault, the NCB will be reduced/reset.

A loss refers to the property damage made as a result of an event that is covered on your policy such as damage to the home, personal belongings etc.

Previous claims may affect your premium and the availability of insurance options from standard, mainstream providers. This is because insurers would consider you to be a higher risk. Insurers share claims history through the Claims and Underwriting Exchange (CUE) database - allowing insurers to access your claims history when you take out a new policy. It is vital that you disclose all previous claims as failure to do so can invalidate your policy.

This can be a little complicated as it all depends on your insurer. If it doesn't affect your no claims bonus it may not need you to declare it however some insurers might regard it as a claim if they have knowledge of it from checking the Claims and Underwriting Exchange (CUE) database.