Listed Home Insurance

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The more significant your home, the more protection it needs

Listed properties hold an important place in our national heritage. As a result, there are certain laws around the changes you can make to your home both inside and out, to help preserve the features and character that make it individual. Insuring your listed home is therefore more complex, but it is also absolutely vital.

Why do listed properties need specialist listed home insurance?

Legal obligations

Legally obliged to build back as before

If anything happens to your home, you may need to reinstate it using its original construction methods, which requires specialist skills – so rebuilding your home can often cost more than you paid for it. This is where buildings insurance becomes crucial, as it provides coverage for the physical structure, fixtures, and fittings of your listed home. We understand the skills and materials that are needed to reinstate listed properties, so we can make sure you have the correct level of listed home insurance for full protection.

The need to fix previous owners’ mistakes

As the current legal owner of your listed property, you are responsible for its preservation. If any previous owners made unauthorised changes, it could fall on you to restore your home to its original state. We know this isn’t fair, so we offer cover for the mistakes of previous owners as standard.*

*when directed by a conservation officer to make good. Please refer to policy details.

Image focusing on fixing common insurance mistakes, provided by Abode Insurance.
Conceptual image depicting the impact of timely insurance coverage

The impact of time on your listed home

Due to their age and historic interest, many listed homes are built using traditional techniques that can make them both more vulnerable to damage and more complex to repair, such as wattle and daub, lathe and plaster, mud, cob and thatch. Whether from water damage or fire, we understand the potential risks to listed homes and offer the right levels of insurance protection.

How do we find you the right cover?

Without the right listed buildings insurance, you could end up having to pay for expensive and complicated repairs out of your own pocket, so it’s incredibly important that you get the right cover for your listed home. That’s why we’re here.

When we find you a listed home insurance quote, we always ask you about the condition, construction and history of your listed home upfront. This enables us to negotiate with our panel of select insurers to find you the right policy with the correct level of protection you need for your individual home. Once we’ve found the best option, we will talk you through the product carefully, so you understand exactly what protection you’re buying.

We strive to make it as easy as possible for you. With all the right details, we can offer you a quote and set up your policy within the space of a day – and if we feel we need more information to get a better quote, we’ll chat things through with you personally. It may take a little longer than simply buying a policy from an online comparison site, but you’ll have the peace of mind you’re supported by a specialist with the knowledge and experience to ensure your insurance is designed specifically for a listed home.

Frequently asked questions

What details do I need to provide about my property for a quote?

To obtain a quote for listed home insurance, you will need to provide details such as the age and grade of the listing, the construction materials, any renovations or alterations, security features, the value of the building and its contents, and any specific risks associated with the property. In England and Wales, the grading system for listed buildings categorises them as Grade I, Grade II*, and Grade II, with Grade I being of exceptional interest.

Is listed home insurance more expensive?

Sometimes, yes – listed homeowners can typically find their premiums cost more when compared with standard properties. The main reasons for this are that experts will be required to repair and/or rebuild the property if needed, and the cost of the materials used for the repairs can be more costly because they tend to be specialist materials. Additionally, listed buildings are often of special interest, requiring preservation and special permission for any alterations or renovations.

Do I need specialist listed home insurance?

If you own a listed house, you should consider specialist listed house insurance. This is because of the cost of the materials used to fix or rebuild them. The materials used can be specialist and relatively rare compared to modern house materials, meaning they cost more to acquire.

Are listed houses worth more than normal houses?

Because there is a limited supply of listed properties, the demand for them can be high. This means their value tends to appreciate more than with standard properties. It is often also for this reason that many listed homeowners have bought them for their long-term investment value.

What changes can you make to a listed building?

Any changes you intend to make to a listed property, whether that’s an extension, any kind of alteration, changes that affect the building character, or even if you are thinking about demolition, you will need to obtain listed building consent from your local planning authority.

How can I tell if my home’s listed?

You can tell if your home is listed by checking the National Heritage List for England (NHLE) or contacting your local council. Grade I buildings are of exceptional interest. Listed status is given to buildings of historical or architectural significance, and such properties are recorded in official registers.

Do I need specialist listed home insurance if my home’s within a conservation area?

Whilst living in a conservation area may impose certain restrictions, it does not necessarily mean you need specialist listed home insurance. However, if your home is also a listed building, specialist insurance is recommended to ensure comprehensive coverage for the unique risks associated with listed properties.

Will this insurance cover me for unapproved building changes made by the previous owners?

Generally, insurance policies do not cover unapproved alterations made by previous owners. It’s crucial to ensure that all changes to a listed building have the necessary approvals and to inform your insurer about any known modifications when purchasing the policy.

How do I make a claim on my listed home insurance?

To make a claim on your listed home insurance with Abode, contact us as soon as possible. To make the process as smooth as possible, we recommend that you keep records and photographs of any damage and the repairs carried out.

For enquiries and quotes, contact our experienced team


“ Vikki Rushbrooke was very helpful and was able to tailor policy to meet my needs and reduced premium which was very much appreciated. Very efficient service. Resulted in accepting Cherish policy recommended.”

Abode Insurance client, via Feefo


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