This report analyzes the UK household insurance market, looking at drivers of uptake across different demographics and dwelling types. The report discusses the claims landscape in 2021 as well as the housing market and upcoming regulatory changes within insurance. Incumbent competitors are analyzed and compared, as are newcomers and insurtechs within the space. Future impactors in the market, including climate change, smart home devices, and changing living arrangements, are also covered.
Gross written premiums (GWP) declined by 0.2% in 2021. This was driven by a 1.4% fall in total policies written across all three products in the home insurance space. The overall average cost increased by 1.3% in 2021. However, average costs for both buildings-only and contents-only have fallen in 2021, with average premiums for each decreasing by 0.4% and 1.4%, respectively. Despite increases in average claim costs, house prices, and house repair costs, GWP still decreased. House price increases have been driven by the stamp duty holiday that was in place between July 2020 and October 2021 boosting home purchases. The bounce back from the pandemic sped up new house-build completions, and inflation and global supply-chain issues have caused repair costs to rise. We forecast a fall in GWP in the market in 2022 and for it to decline gradually year on year until 2026.
Gross written premiums (GWP) declined by 0.2% in 2021. This was driven by a 1.4% fall in total policies written across all three products in the home insurance space. The overall average cost increased by 1.3% in 2021. However, average costs for both buildings-only and contents-only have fallen in 2021, with average premiums for each decreasing by 0.4% and 1.4%, respectively. Despite increases in average claim costs, house prices, and house repair costs, GWP still decreased. House price increases have been driven by the stamp duty holiday that was in place between July 2020 and October 2021 boosting home purchases. The bounce back from the pandemic sped up new house-build completions, and inflation and global supply-chain issues have caused repair costs to rise. We forecast a fall in GWP in the market in 2022 and for it to decline gradually year on year until 2026.
Scope
- In 2021, the UK's home insurance market shrank by 0.2% to GBP6.31 billion
- For combined policies, the average premium price rose by 1.4% in 2021. They declined by 0.4% and 1.4%, respectively, for buildings-only and contents-only insurance
- All types of claims notified fell, except for escape of water. Gross claims for escape of water increased by 17.5% in 2021 as a result of lockdown relaxations meaning fewer individuals were at home
- Less than half of all UK renters have a contents-only insurance policy, making Generation Rent a large, untapped demographic for insurers
Reasons to Buy
- Identify underlying drivers of demand and premium prices for home insurance products
- Examine the nature of the claims landscape in 2021
- Compare the performances of market leaders throughout the year
- Determine how insurtechs are attempting to gain traction in the market
- Understand the progression of home insurance lines into the future
Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary
2. Market Dynamics
3. Competitor Dynamics
4. The Market Going Forward
5. Appendix
List of Tables
List of Figures
Companies Mentioned (Partial List)
A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to:
- RSA
- Lloyds Banking Group
- Aviva
- Allianz
- Direct Line Group
- AXA
- Ageas
- Chubb
- NFU Mutual
- Zurich
- LV=
- Admiral Group
- Tryg
- Citra
- Ceta
- Urban Jungle
- Getsafe
- Samsung
- Amazon
- Apple
- British Gas
- Flood Re