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The UK Home Insurance Renewal Price Report 2026

How home insurance renewal prices, claims pressure and review timing affect what households pay before the next policy year begins.

Renewal and timing signals

Typical policy term

Policy duration

12 months

MoneySavingExpert says most home insurance policies run for 12 months and generally auto-renew on the anniversary of the start date.

Source: MoneySavingExpert

Renewal notice timing

Notice period

Around a month before

MoneySavingExpert says providers will typically contact customers around a month before the renewal date with the next year's price and cover details.

Source: MoneySavingExpert

Timing guidance

Quote timing

About 15 days ahead

MoneySavingExpert notes that home insurance quotes tend to be at their lowest at around 15 days before the new policy starts.

Source: MoneySavingExpert

Market context

Property claims in 2025

Record property claims

£6.1bn

The ABI says insurers paid out £6.1 billion in property claims in 2025, the highest annual total on record.

Source: ABI, 2025

Q4 2025 combined cover

Average combined premium

£379

The ABI says the average price of combined buildings and contents cover in Q4 2025 was £379, which was £14 lower than the same period in 2024.

Source: ABI, Q4 2025

Home claims in 2025

Total home claims

£3.4bn

The ABI says insurers paid almost £3.4 billion across more than 560,000 home insurance claims in 2025.

Source: ABI, 2025

Average home claim

Average claim value

£6,000

The ABI says the average home insurance claim rose by 15% year on year to almost £6,000.

Source: ABI, 2025

What changed in the home insurance market

Home insurance is shaped by two things at once: renewal behaviour and claims pressure.

On the renewal side, the FCA changed its rules so renewing home and motor customers should not be quoted more than an equivalent new customer through the same sales channel. It also made it easier for customers to stop automatic renewals if they want to.

On the claims side, the ABI says property claims in 2025 reached a record £6.1 billion. Weather-related property claims rose, storm damage payouts increased, flood costs rose sharply, and domestic subsidence payouts also climbed.

That matters because even where pricing reforms have reduced one type of unfair renewal pricing, the wider insurance environment can still push prices around. A lower market average does not mean your own renewal quote should be accepted without review.

Why home insurance renewal still needs reviewing

Most home insurance policies run for 12 months and generally auto-renew on the anniversary of the start date. Your provider will typically contact you around a month before your renewal date with a notice setting out next year's price and cover details.

That sounds straightforward, but the decision window is still easy to miss. The notice arrives, life gets busy, and the fixed renewal date passes. Once it does, the new premium becomes the default.

The FCA's rules improved one part of the system. But that does not mean renewal quotes are always competitive or that policy quality questions disappear. The FCA's 2025 review of home and travel claims handling found examples of good practice, but also many areas where firms needed to improve.

What households should check before renewal

Compare this year's quote with last year's premium

Start by checking how far the price has moved since your last policy year.

Check buildings and contents levels properly

Home insurance can go wrong at renewal if the cover no longer matches the home, contents or rebuild position.

Review excess and optional extras

Price alone can mislead if excess levels or extras have changed quietly.

Check whether anything about the property has changed

Home improvements, changes to occupancy, or changes to what needs insuring can affect the quote and the suitability of the cover.

Review before the policy rolls over

Once the renewal date passes, the default decision usually takes over.

Sources

  • Association of British Insurers, property claims and premium data for 2025 / Q4 2025
  • Financial Conduct Authority, PS21/11: general insurance pricing practices amendments
  • Financial Conduct Authority, home and travel claims handling review, 2025
  • MoneySavingExpert, home insurance renewal guidance

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