Property - personal
Why I’m dreaming of subsidence this Christmas
Editor’s View: Rather than our days being merry and bright, this Christmas looks set to be wet and windy rather than white, causing Emma Ann Hughes to dream of subsidence rather than snowman building this December.
Portion of buildings underinsured falls to six-year low
The percentage of UK buildings that are underinsured has fallen to its lowest level for at least six years, but remains “unacceptably high”, according to data from valuations provider Rebuild Cost Assessment.
Why the government should examine how all insurance prices are set
James Daley, managing director of consumer group Fairer Finance, argues the government task force to tackle motor insurance should consider the way the entire general insurance market works.
Covéa CEO rules out working with MGAs again
Georges de Macedo, CEO of Covéa Insurance, has revealed the provider won’t work with MGAs again as he feels “control from an underwriting perspective” is key to returning to profit.
Why premium finance is like a teenager’s stinky socks
Editor’s View: Emma Ann Hughes reflects on the ramifications of the Financial Conduct Authority shifting from issuing warnings to kicking off a review of premium finance for home and motor insurance on Wednesday (16 October).
Six reasons Ageas could be the perfect insurance ‘partner’ for Saga
Content Director’s View: As Saga admits it is in talks with Ageas, Jonathan Swift suggests there is a lot to like about a potential ‘partnership’ between the two, not least as a spring board for further deals.
Direct Line ‘turnaround underway’ as insurer returns to profit
Direct Line Group has returned to profit after shedding almost 488,000 motor customers in the first half of this year.
Car and motorcycle complaints hit record levels
Financial Ombudsman Service statistics show a record number of new cases for car and motorcycle insurance at the start of 2024.
Consumer group warns of insurers overcharging vulnerable customers
The Financial Services Consumer Panel has published a research paper raising concerns that vulnerable customers may be at risk of overpaying for insurance.
Dagenham blaze highlights ongoing high-rise fire safety problems
After a fire tore through a multi-storey building in Dagenham, East London, insurers have observed new notifications regarding building fire safety defects continue to trickle in, and cladding problems highlighted by the Grenfell Tower blaze remain.
Circular economy: A fresh approach to property repairs
Nick Turner, head of surveying at Woodgate & Clark, on the steps that need to be taken for insurers to adopt the circular economy in property repairs.
Esure on track to return to profit in 2024
Esure CEO David McMillian has stated the insurer is on track “for strong profitability for the full year” after the provider completed its IT transformation and shrunk its home and motor book by 12.4% in the first half of 2024.
Aviva’s Storah reveals what to expect next from the provider
Aviva UK&I general insurance CEO Jason Storah, along with his chief financial officer Stephen Pond, share what lines they expect to grow the most in the latter half of 2024 and outline their approach to pricing as inflation heads closer to 2%.
Cost of insuring ground floor flats surges by 42%
The cost of insuring ground floor flats increased most significantly of any property type between April and June this year with premiums climbing by 42% from £178 to £252, according to Compare the Market.
Property insurance payouts hit record quarterly high
Insurers paid £1.4bn in claims for property damage during the second quarter of the year, according to the latest data from the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
Defaqto reveals top car, home, travel and pet insurers
AA, Post Office Money, Virgin Money and Animal Friends have been named by Defaqto as the top providers for 2024–25 across the four major personal lines of insurance.
Addressing the fire risk of rooftop solar panels
After an increase in fires involving solar photovoltaic systems, largely in residential installations, Rob Murton, senior development underwriter for Ventis Insurance, and Lee Masson, managing director at Halliwell Forensics, examine how insurers can…
Claims ‘hell’ with Policy Expert causes mother to set up group
A mother-of-two, who has been through a 17-month battle with Policy Expert following a fire at her home, has set up an action group to help “other families going through hell with claims.”
Insurers need to unlock the mass-timber revolution
Judith Schulz, fire safety engineering lead at Arup, tackles what insurers need to know about mass-timber risks.
Big Interview: Andy Bord, Flood Re
On his last day as Flood Re CEO, Andy Bord catches up with Emma Ann Hughes on how the scheme will end in 2039, his pride around Build Back Better, plus why Labour’s promise to build more homes must be accompanied by a robust planning framework.
Use ‘data explosion’ to make property claims more predictable
Lessons could be learned from the motor sector in terms of making property insurance data more standardized to help with predictability and clarity around claims.