Uninsured: the reason is secret from me - you might need to know

[Treaclewell]

It is the time of year that my house insurance is due for renewal. Last year LV declined to renew me and I had the dickens of a job finding someone . I've .an unusual house construction, a flat roof, and a teensy weeny bit of (holds up garlic) asbestos. NFU wanted a surveyors' report, but the surveyor couldn't do it as he didn't have the riight information. Eventually got the very expensive (because of the asbestos) cover through the meerkats. This year I tried them again. The company they advised want the reason LV turned me down. And in passing said that it wouldn't be the house in a village full of the construction type. I've never made a claim for anything. So I called LV, through their chat. It was because of their underwriting criteria and it's subject to business secrecy. All I can think of is my age. Elderly lady likely to have a fire or leave the tap running. They don't put this in their ads. I'm fuming. I'm waiting to contact the existing provider. They're busy. I wonder why.

So, thinking it was age, I went to Age Concern. And who do you think is their provider? L expletive V!

It won’t be your age, older people get buildings insurance all the time.

I’d ask neighbours with similar houses who they use, and start there. Or talk to a broker.

Something funny is going on in the building insurance industry this year. Ours went up from £270 to £3,500 (basically £GoAway) on a standard construction Victorian semi - we easily found insurance elsewhere at the previous years cost.

Do you know of any brokers locally who might help?

Speak to an independent insurance broker. They will find you an insurer.

So I called LV, through their chat. It was because of their underwriting criteria and it's subject to business secrecy.
Can you do (or threaten to do) a Subject Access Request

I had been woth LV for over 20 years and found them to be brilliant. Until last year when for some inexplicable reason they declined to renew. The only thing I an think of is that we bought an expensive painting and tried to add a piano to the policy.

Do we think LV are leaving the UK market by stealth or moving away from residential property? On my chats, lot of people are saying their quotes have risen for no reason - all from LV - and in different areas and styles of houses.

If they just raise costs and no-one renews, it’s easier than announcing it to the market. They’re owned by Alliance, a German firm.

LV are also no-longer taking on new Moho insurance, perhaps they are winding up domestic policies to concentrate on different markets?

L.V just renewed my insurance no problem, even after we had a major leak and £££ worth of work needed. In fact, the renewal is cheaper.

AH! Thinking about it Allianz up until last year was THE go to firm for musical instrument insurance. They they sent an email saying they are leaving that market and made all their staff in that sector redundant.

Well, I've called the existing broker and all is well, for nearly £3000! They just hadn't sent out the renewal notice yet. Tidied up a few details in their information. Why the other companies sent me stuff which they couldn't deliver I know not. AutoSergei doesn't know his business. Nor does the Halifax, despite knowing how much goes out a month - their quote was equivalent to one month's payment!
I started wondering whether it was going on the anti Iraq war march, or something I posted on here which got me black-listed! No need for paranoia. Heaves sigh of relief and wishes I could have a Tunnocks.