For you

It’s not just the super-rich who need bespoke insurance. High-value home insurance is designed for individuals with high-value homes. This includes listed buildings, typically with rebuild costs from £250,000 and contents cover from £50,000 for mid-net worth individuals, and £500,000 rebuild and £100,000 contents for high-net worth individuals.

It doesn’t always come down to the value of your possessions. Items may have been inherited, jewellery could be exclusive, especially if the cut or design is patented and no longer produced. Replacement art and antiques may also be unavailable. No two homes are the same and lifestyle, property and valuable possessions all differ, which is why we tailor policies to be as individual as you are, written in plain English, with no onerous warranties or conditions. Mid and High Net Worth policies are designed to cover all of your possessions for all risks anywhere in the world whilst temporarily removed from your home.

In urban areas, trees are essential to improve the appearance of an area. They're useful in helping absorb air pollution, whilst providing oxygen and moisture, shade and privacy. They can also help stabilise land as well as providing habitats for wildlife.

However, from the perspective of an insurer, trees can also have a negative effect on buildings that are close by. For example:

• Trees change the moisture content in soils, which can lead to uneven settlement. This can result in cracks occurring and at worst, structural failure. Trees such as Poplars, Willows, Oaks, Leylandi, Cypress and Eucalyptus are known to have a high water demand, taking the most moisture from the soil around them
• Changes in the moisture content of shrinkable soils, such as London Clay, can cause shrinkage or heave, which may cause cracking and movement in the foundations, floor slabs and of whole buildings. In these cases, whilst tree roots are unlikely to penetrate solid foundations, they can penetrate cracks or defects, making them considerably worse. The removal of mature trees can cause heave as the moisture content of a shrinkable soil increases
• An overgrown hedge, made up of trees, can also do as much damage as a large individual tree
• As trees grow, the increase in crown size, the girth of trunk and thickness of roots can damage overhead wires, push over walls and fences and lift paths
• Drains can be damaged or become blocked by invasive roots, particularly species such as Willow, Poplar, Sycamore and Cherry
• Leaves can, of course, block guttering and over time this can also result in drainage problems
• There is also the potential for significant property damage from a fallen tree or its branches, which may also threaten life

So, as a result of the many factors an insurer may consider, you should always seek expert advice when planting or removing trees close to buildings and on shrinkable soils.

Whilst building works are being carried out on your home insurers may reduce or cancel your cover completely leaving your major asset uninsured and you could be in breach of any mortgage terms or conditions.

We recommend to our clients that they allow us to arrange the insurance required for the works and the existing structure to ensure there are no gaps.

By buying direct there is no one to give you the advice you need and the difference is in the small print. The policy could have low inner limits and the terms could allow the insurer’s suppliers to replace your loss, stolen or damaged property with items that have a similar specification but not necessarily the same brand. For example, sound systems may have similar specifications, so a premium brand system that cost you thousands could be replaced with a budget brand.

What happens if you have a difficult claim and a dispute arises—who do you turn to? Policies purchased via a broker might be more expensive, but the extra expense buys you peace of mind that you have the cover you need, and in the event of a claim a dedicated claims handler is there for you every step of the way.