kateg60

Any recommendations for companies to try to obtain homeowners insurance? When I do this online, I get a message stating they cannot insure me either online or if I phone. I am assuming this is based on my not having a credit history or not being employed? In any case I need house and contents but not sure which companies offer to people in my situation. Many thanks.

christmasoompa

There's no requirement to be employed for buildings and content insurance, and I can't see why you'd need a credit score either unless you're wanting to pay in instalments? If you're paying upfront for the year then that shouldn't be relevant.

I wonder if you're putting something in that is marking you as ineligible for non specialist cover. Is it a listed building by any chance? Or do you run a business from the home? Are you saying you'll be leaving the house empty for long periods of time?

And just checking, but you're not using a US address anywhere in the application or saying you're not resident in the UK?

durham_lad

What is your situation exactly? Your location says "Virginia", are you living in the USA and trying to insure a home you own in the UK?

In November last year our daughter moved to England, bought a house here in January from the proceeds of her house sale in California and insured it easily enough even though she had no credit history here.

kateg60

I am permanently resident in the UK. I have no mortgage, it's new home. I have not checked any red flags that I am aware of. What are good companies to try?

durham_lad

Sounds like you are in the same situation as our daughter and she got her house insurance through Aviva, who also insures her car. Being a dual citizen she also registered to vote as soon as she arrived so possibly that helped in the absence of a credit report.

Twitcher1958

We had to change our house and contents insurance company recently, and were recommended to try Tower House insurance brokers. Even with the slight complication of living outside the UK at present, they got us a better deal than the company we were previously with, so I’d suggest you try them.

kateg60

Thanks all for your help.

christmasoompa

Very odd, no idea why you wouldn't just be able to get cover as normal then. I just switch every year to whoever is cheapest, but Direct Line were brilliant when I had to make a claim for storm damage. Have you tried using a comparison site like Confused.com or GoCompare? They should weed out any companies that won't consider you from the answers you give them.

C.2s

How new is the home? Some times the postcode isn't 'active' and therefore the insurance company computer says it can't quote . The following is from the GoCompare website:
"Taking out new build insurance is the same as buying home insurance for any other property. Get quotes with us by filling in a few details about you and your new home.The only thing that might be slightly different is that some insurers might not recognise your postcode. This is because your home is so new it’s not been logged on that insurer’s database yet. If this happens, you can either contact the insurer directly, or shop around for another provider. To check whether your postcode has been registered, use the Royal Mail’s postcode finder. If you can’t find it, you can let Royal Mail know so it can update the database."

Helen1964

I use NFU, the National Farmers Union. I was finding it very difficult to get landlord insurance last year since I’m resident abroad and they gave me a decent quote. My brother suggested them as he uses NFU to insure commercial property and had had to make a couple of claims. He said they were excellent. Paid out promptly without a quibble. You never know how good your insurance company is until you need them.