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Specialist and non-standard home insurance

Specialist home insurance for non-standard homes with Howden. Includes cover for empty properties, homes with an adverse claims history or those that are just a bit unusual!

What does non-standard home insurance cover?

Bullet Point

Buildings and contents

Howden will protect your buildings and contents against risks such as fire, theft and flood for properties that have previously suffered from flooding or subsidence, or are situated in high-risk areas.

Bullet Point

Variation of risks

Cover against theft, malicious damage, structural damage and floods and storms.

Bullet Point

Property owners' liability

Property owners' liability cover for any costs or damages should a guest injure themselves at your property.

Need standard home insurance?

If you don't have specialist requirements, take a look at Howden's range of standard home insurance policies

Frequently asked questions on specialist home insurance

Not sure whether you need specialist home insurance? We’ve taken the time to answer some of your frequently asked questions.

What types of non-standard property cover are there
open

Howden are able to provide buildings cover whilst your property is unoccupied. The cover provided will depend on your unique circumstances, so be sure to check the details of your quote to find out what’s covered.

  • Theft and malicious damage cover
    Protect your buildings and contents against a range of risks like theft, attempted theft and malicious damage - check the details of your quote to find out what’s covered.
  • Property owners’ liability cover
    Property owners’ liability cover to protect you against compensation claims raised by third parties that have been injured as a result of the property not being maintained, such as a tile falling off the roof and injuring a passer-by or a visitor tripping over a broken stair.
  • Unoccupied legal cover
    Unoccupied legal cover which covers compensation for solicitors and barrister’s fees, court costs and your opponent’s costs that result from legal action carried out to evict squatters or because of property damage, nuisance or trespass.

Flooded home insurance

  • Your buildings
    Howden’s flooded home insurance will protect your buildings against lots of different risks. Cover against flood damage may be available depending on the history of the property.
  • Property owners’ liability cover
    Liability cover to protect you against compensation claims raised by third parties that have been injured as a result of the property not being maintained, such as a tile falling off the roof and injuring a passer-by or a visitor tripping over a broken stair.
  • Theft and malicious damage cover
    Protect your buildings and contents against theft, attempted theft and malicious damage. Check the details of your quote to find out what’s covered.
  • Subsidence
    Howden’s non-standard home insurance can provide cover for structural damage resulting from previous subsidence, heave or landslip.

Subsidence and underpinned home insurance

  • Buildings insurance
    Howden can protect properties that have suffered from subsidence, heave or landslip, or are situated in high-risk areas, against a large variety of risks
  • Property owners’ liability
    Property owners’ liability cover to protect you against compensation claims raised by third parties that have been injured as a result of the property not being maintained, such as a tile falling off the roof and injuring a passer-by or a visitor tripping over a broken stair.
  • Theft and malicious damage
    Protect your buildings and contents against theft, attempted theft and malicious damage. Check the details of your quote to find out what’s covered.
    Expert staff
    Howden provide a tailored service for your subsidence home insurance. Their team of non-standard insurance experts have years of experience in dealing with subsidence risks.

Holiday home insurance

  • Your buildings
    Howden’s holiday home insurance policies cover your buildings, including Airbnb properties, holiday rentals, holiday cottages and holiday lets.
  • Your contents
    Furnished your holiday home? Don’t forget contents cover.
  • Property owners’ liability
    Property owners’ liability cover for any costs or damages should a guest injure themselves at your property.
  • Emergency travel cover
    Live far away from your holiday home? No problem – get cover for any travel costs incurred, including accommodation, should you have to travel to the property following an emergency.
What is buildings insurance?
open

Buildings Insurance covers the cost of repairing or rebuilding your property and replacing any permanent fixtures, following damage caused by instances such as weather, fire, subsidence or flood. 

Read more in our guide

What is tenants liability cover?
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If you’re a tenant living in a rented home, your landlord may have furnished the property before you moved in to make it more comfortable for you. However, if any of the landlord’s belongings (such as furniture, fixtures or fittings) were to be accidentally damaged while you’re living there, the landlord may expect you to cover the cost of the damage out of your tenancy deposit.

Tenants’ liability insurance is a cover automatically provided as part of your contents insurance policy that provides a level of protection for your landlord’s belongings.

Read more in our guide

What is legal cover?
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If you’ve ever been involved in a legal dispute or had to hire a solicitor, then you’re probably already aware that hiring legal support can be costly.


Legal expenses is an optional cover you can add to your home insurance policy. 

Read more in our guide

What is new for old?
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In insurance terms, ‘new for old’ means that, should you need to make a claim, you’ll be given the equivalent value of the item that has been lost, damaged or stolen. This means that wear and tear will not be taken into account when assessing the value of your belongings.

This is a particularly useful cover, as it means even if your items have depreciated in value, you won’t be left out of pocket should you need to make a claim.

Read more in our guide

Can you cover white goods with contents insurance?
open

Yes, white goods are covered under contents insurance. However kitchen worktops are considered ‘fixtures’ and therefore covered under buildings insurance.


With contents insurance, your white goods will be covered for risks such as:

  • Fire, explosion and smoke damage
  • Flood
  • Malicious damage or vandalism
  • Theft

You will also be covered for damage caused by escape of water from any washing machine, dishwasher, refrigerator, freezer, fixed domestic water or heating installation or fixed fish tank.

Always check your exact cover with your insurer. 

Read more in our guide

Interested in specialist home insurance?

You might also be interested in...

Unoccupied home insurance

Home renovation insurance

Flooded home insurance

Subsidence home insurance

Barn conversion insurance

Buildings insurance

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