Equestrian/rural home insurance recommendations please

[ImmyS]

My partner and I are in the process of purchasing part of an old farm.

We are looking to get buildings insurance sorted for the property ready for exchange. We have spoken to NFU, but they are eye watering expensive, so I just wondered if any of you lovely H&H people could advise of any good insurance companies for this kind of property?

It’s about 2.5 acres, a detached dwelling, with two large barns, one of wood construction the other concrete.

Thanks guys!

 

[Lady Jane]

It is eye watering to insure these properties and believe wood construction pushes the price up because of fire risk. I used to use KBIS but they have passed their business to this company and I have stayed with them: https://srinsurancesolutions.co.uk/.

Reviewing the small print takes hours and hours if I change and its important you really understand what you are covered for. PM if you want to know what I'm insuring and the price.
I did check with a couple of friends with similar properties and found our prices were loosely speaking in the same ball park, its no comparison to insuring a house

 

[ImmyS]

It is eye watering to insure these properties and believe wood construction pushes the price up because of fire risk. I used to use KBIS but they have passed their business to this company and I have stayed with them: https://srinsurancesolutions.co.uk/.

Reviewing the small print takes hours and hours if I change and its important you really understand what you are covered for. PM if you want to know what I'm insuring and the price.
I did check with a couple of friends with similar properties and found our prices were loosely speaking in the same ball park, its no comparison to insuring a house

Thank you that’s really helpful, we totally understand it’s going to be more expensive, but we haven’t insured this type of property before so super helpful to get recommendations and advice on which companies are best for this purpose

 

[setterlover]

We use NFU and have found them very good .A couple of claims for storm damage were paid out very quickly and a smashed conservatory door was replaced without coming out to see it just sent photos and only 1 quote.done within a week.
We do farm and contents .
Cover house 15 acres 3 large barns an American barn and 2 garages.

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

We use NFU, they've always been great. Yes they are expensive but understand rural properties, our farm buildings are worth almost as much as the house for rebuild costs which am not sure standard house insurance would understand

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I use NFU for the small holding, also my house which is miles away and my cars. Only had to claim on cars so far and one sheep trailer but cannot fault them in paying out. Yes I might be able to insure house etc more cheaply but the reliability of NFU keeps me with them.

 

[HopOnTrot]

Try Lloyd and Whyte.

 

[sport horse]

Be very careful. Get your own valuations for buildings reconstruction from a good surveyor. Do not rely on the advice from any insurance company themselves, their agent or their valuers. The companies have a vested interest in undervaluing your buildings to keep premiums down and get your business. I was caught out by one of the companies mentioned here and after 47 years loyal insurance I was massivley underinsured on their own valuation and it cost me dear. As a result I have investigated and I am not alone. Also remember that in the event of a claim the loss adjusters will add in the cost of the building, the yard around it (even if only hardcore), the water & electric supply, planning permsiions, yard fencing etc etc. The insurers may pay out well on small claims but beware the big one they will not be so easy. so cover yourself.

 

[ImmyS]

Be very careful. Get your own valuations for buildings reconstruction from a good surveyor. Do not rely on the advice from any insurance company themselves, their agent or their valuers. The companies have a vested interest in undervaluing your buildings to keep premiums down and get your business. I was caught out by one of the companies mentioned here and after 47 years loyal insurance I was massivley underinsured on their own valuation and it cost me dear. As a result I have investigated and I am not alone. Also remember that in the event of a claim the loss adjusters will add in the cost of the building, the yard around it (even if only hardcore), the water & electric supply, planning permsiions, yard fencing etc etc. The insurers may pay out well on small claims but beware the big one they will not be so easy. so cover yourself.

Thank you that’s great advice. Luckily my partner is in construction himself so knows well the costs. We can have a fairly accurate idea of rebuild costs and valuation as to not be shafted by insurance company undervaluing!

 

[ImmyS]

Looks like NFU remains a strong contender! Thank you for any other recommendations to consider.

 

[PStarfish]

Howden Rural specialise in exactly this.

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

I had the surveyor who carried on survey on my house so us a rebuild valuation, and got them to break it down into various different aspects such as house, buildings, path, fencing etc

 

[sarcasm_queen]

Is the farm house thatched? Because that’s a whole extra layer of complication and expense.

 

[ImmyS]

Is the farm house thatched? Because that’s a whole extra layer of complication and expense.

No luckily the house is standard brick and tiles!

 

[reynold]

NFU used to be good and I don't know how recently those recommending them have tried to claim. I'd kept with them for insurance of a 'normal' house that I live in since I had to sell my farm/stud due to health reasons. My claim was last spring/summer.

The house came with an extension that had a Velux window in it. After one of the named severe storms the Velux started leaking at one of its seams where it had been hit by something, probably a branch (there were marks).

Contrary to their 'no quibble' claim in their TV adverts NFU did NOTHING BUT QUIBBLE. I had 2 independent roofers look at it and they both said the Velux had been damaged. Despite this NFU persisted in saying that it was 'normal wear and tear' and refused to pay out. They even tried to claim at one point that I'd been up on the roof and damaged it myself!

I went to appeal and they still refused. However as a result of my case and appeal I noticed that their TV adverts were changed to a claimed 'no quibble guarantee, in normal circumstances'.

This was the first claim I'd ever made to them in over 20 years of being insured by them. The amount of the claim was between £1200 and £1400 to replace the velux so not a fortune.

NFU used to be good (had all my horses insured with them as well, and my farm equipment) but they have, in my opinion, become the same as all the others and they now just look for any and every excuse to not pay out.

 

[gallopingby]

I use NFU for farmhouse and farm cover and they’ve always paid up quickly without any hassle. Last claim was 3 years ago for storm damage and they paid for full replacement cost plus damage to fencing and removal of damaged stuff. They aren’t cheap but worth it. I was originally insured with them on line but transferred to local office. I think maybe for small claims the online will go with photos but for bigger claims they send an accessor out.

 

[sport horse]

NFU used to be good and I don't know how recently those recommending them have tried to claim. I'd kept with them for insurance of a 'normal' house that I live in since I had to sell my farm/stud due to health reasons. My claim was last spring/summer.

The house came with an extension that had a Velux window in it. After one of the named severe storms the Velux started leaking at one of its seams where it had been hit by something, probably a branch (there were marks).

Contrary to their 'no quibble' claim in their TV adverts NFU did NOTHING BUT QUIBBLE. I had 2 independent roofers look at it and they both said the Velux had been damaged. Despite this NFU persisted in saying that it was 'normal wear and tear' and refused to pay out. They even tried to claim at one point that I'd been up on the roof and damaged it myself!

I went to appeal and they still refused. However as a result of my case and appeal I noticed that their TV adverts were changed to a claimed 'no quibble guarantee, in normal circumstances'.

This was the first claim I'd ever made to them in over 20 years of being insured by them. The amount of the claim was between £1200 and £1400 to replace the velux so not a fortune.

NFU used to be good (had all my horses insured with them as well, and my farm equipment) but they have, in my opinion, become the same as all the others and they now just look for any and every excuse to not pay out.

We have insured with NFU for many years but had a very large claim last year. Difficult does not even begin to state what we have been through and how much money we have lost. In our moment of disaster it was so nice to know that they would send multiple loss adjusters and take ages to pay out. In our journey of knowledge we find that our situation is prettty common and there are many people still trying to settle several years down the line. Poor is our best description.

 

[Squeak]

Interesting to hear varying views of NFU. I rang round quite a few companies this year and very few understood what it was that was needed for a house with stables and land but NFU absolutely got it and were on it.

Friends recently had a burglary from their barns and NFU paid out no problems and quickly which was a massive factor in us deciding to go with them so it's disappointing to hear that's not always the case anymore.

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

We had a claim for water damage last year as next doors downstairs bathroom had a leak which came through to ours. The NFU were great, the loss adjusters they used where not but did get everything sorted in the end..they even fixed some plaster damaged by window that was nothing to do with claim as to fix the damp wall they needed to take wallpaper off and redo whole room, in taking wallpaper off some chunks of plaster came off too so they re did that as without claim the wall paper wouldn't have been removed so in all was quite happy with their service. Am insured online but when the loss adjusters where being pains they sent an actual rep out to sort things for us so when we moved were quite happy to stay with them. Oh and we recently received a fair few £100 back because of a calculation error so 8-9 years ago, so that was nice too

 

[Spotherisk]

We use Cornish Mutual - 10 acres, non standard construction dwelling. I had the renewal yesterday and it’s gone up £200 to over £800.

We have claimed on household and that was easy and quick, and whenever I’ve rung them they’ve been great - I’m talking to someone in Cornwall who ‘gets’ that rural properties can be quite different, and asked me leading questions so I was sure I’d insured everything correctly.

Because the price has gone up so much I will look into the other recommends on here, except NFU who past experience tells me will be even more money!