If your rental property has been declined by a standard insurer, you haven’t run out of options — you’ve just run out of the wrong ones.
WS Insurance Brokers accesses specialist property markets and Lloyd’s of London syndicates to arrange cover for the risks that automated underwriting systems reject. If a comparison site couldn’t help, call us.
Standard landlord insurance works for straightforward buy-to-let properties. The moment your property has a flood history, is built from non-standard materials, houses tenants that mainstream insurers decline, or sits empty for longer than 30 days — automated systems reject it.
As an independent, FCA-authorised broker with access to specialist markets and Lloyd’s syndicates, we find cover for the properties comparison sites can’t help with.
Non-standard landlord insurance is specialist cover for rental properties that fall outside the criteria mainstream insurers use to automate their underwriting. Standard systems are built to process common risks quickly — and anything outside a narrow set of parameters triggers an automatic decline or heavy policy exclusions.
A specialist broker works differently. We present your risk directly to specialist underwriters, Lloyd’s syndicates, and niche Managing General Agents who assess each property individually. The result is a policy that reflects your property’s actual risk — not a computer’s best guess.
A standard insurer’s online form doesn’t give you the space to explain why your property’s risk is acceptable. We do. We speak to you directly, understand the property’s history, condition, and tenancy, and identify the strongest way to present it to market.
Not all insurers see risk the same way. We know which specialist underwriters and Lloyd’s syndicates have an appetite for flood-risk properties, non-standard construction, ex-council stock, HMOs, and DSS tenants — and we approach them directly.
Getting a quote is only part of it. We review the wording to make sure exclusions are fair, excesses are manageable, and the cover will actually respond when you need it. Then we manage the policy on your behalf — including at the point of any claim.
Being declined by a standard insurer — or receiving a renewal with exclusions that make the policy worthless — is more common than most landlords realise. Here is what to do:
Don’t accept that cover isn’t available. A decline from an automated online system is not a market-wide verdict on your property. Specialist markets assess risk very differently.
Don’t leave your property uninsured. Even during the search for cover, an uninsured property exposes you to potentially catastrophic financial liability. Short-term specialist cover can be arranged quickly if needed.
Gather your paperwork. If your property has had previous claims, subsidence, or a flood history, collect all relevant documentation — remediation records, engineer reports, Environment Agency assessments. This gives specialist underwriters the evidence they need to offer competitive terms.
Call a specialist broker. This is the most direct route to a solution. WS Insurance Brokers deals with declined and complex landlord risks every day. We know which markets to approach and how to present your risk to best effect.
Coverage
Letting via Airbnb, VRBO or other short-term platforms voids most standard landlord policies. We arrange specialist cover for serviced accommodation and short-term let landlords.
A common reason for decline. We access markets that underwrite DSS and Universal Credit tenants fairly, including rent guarantee cover that continues to pay during eviction proceedings.
Standard landlord insurance does not extend to licensed HMOs. We arrange dedicated HMO cover that accounts for communal area footfall, licensing requirements, and higher fire risk.
A history of water damage, fire, or theft makes renewal difficult. Specialist insurers take a longer view than mainstream markets — and we know which to approach.
Landlords living abroad or with non-UK residency face restricted access to standard markets. We can arrange cover and structure the policy to meet mortgage lender requirements.
Not sure whether your property qualifies as non-standard? Call us and describe it.
If a standard insurer has declined or restricted you, that’s usually the answer — and we can help from there.
Cover for the structure against fire, storm, flooding, subsidence, escape of water, vandalism, and malicious damage. We ensure your rebuild sum is calculated correctly — a critical point where online policies routinely leave landlords underinsured.
Protects you against compensation claims from tenants or third parties injured at your property due to a defect or maintenance failure.
Limit options from £2 million to £10 million.
If your property becomes uninhabitable following an insured event, loss of rent cover pays your rental income during repairs. Particularly valuable for non-standard properties where repair timelines are longer.
For furnished rental properties — covers landlord-owned furniture, white goods, and fixtures. Essential if tenants report damage and you need to make a swift claim without dispute.
Non-standard landlord insurance is specialist cover for rental properties that fall outside the underwriting criteria mainstream insurers use. Standard landlord policies are designed for straightforward buy-to-let situations — brick-built, tile-roofed, occupied by employed tenants, with no claims history, in a low-risk location. The moment any of those parameters change, most mainstream insurers either decline the risk entirely or apply exclusions that leave you materially underinsured.
Non-standard cover is placed through specialist insurers, Lloyd’s of London syndicates, and niche Managing General Agents (MGAs) who underwrite complex risks individually rather than through automated systems. A specialist broker like WS Insurance accesses these markets and negotiates a policy that accurately reflects your property’s actual risk profile.
Common examples include:
Timber frame properties
Thatched cottages
Cob or wattle and daub buildings
Steel or concrete framed structures
Prefabricated or PRC homes
Flat-roofed properties (over ~25%)
Clad buildings (including composite panels)
Listed or heritage buildings
Converted commercial buildings may also fall into this category depending on structure.
Insurers see non-standard properties as higher risk due to:
Increased fire spread potential
Specialist repair materials
Higher rebuild costs
Limited contractor availability
Structural performance concerns
As a result, fewer insurers operate in this space, reducing competition.
In most cases, yes.
Premiums are typically higher due to:
Specialist underwriting
Increased claims severity
Reinsurance loading
Limited insurer appetite
However, pricing varies significantly depending on construction type, condition, and location.
Yes — but it usually requires a specialist broker.
Standard online insurers often decline these risks automatically, whereas brokers can access niche or Lloyd’s markets tailored to unusual construction types.
Cover is broadly similar to standard landlord insurance, including:
Buildings insurance (rebuild cost)
Property owners’ liability
Loss of rent
Alternative accommodation
Accidental damage
Legal expenses (optional)
Policy wording may be more restrictive depending on risk profile.
Rebuild cost is based on full reinstatement — not market value.
For non-standard properties this includes:
Specialist materials
Heritage craftsmanship
Planning compliance
Demolition complexity
Professional fees
A rebuild cost assessment is strongly recommended.
Yes — thatched roofs are considered one of the highest fire risks in property insurance.
Insurers often require:
Fire retardant treatments
Spark arrestors
Electrical inspections
Chimney maintenance evidence
Premiums and excesses are typically higher.
If the property is mortgaged, lenders require buildings insurance that fully reflects reinstatement cost — regardless of construction type.
Failure to arrange suitable cover can breach mortgage conditions.
Yes.
Specialist brokers can structure portfolio policies incorporating:
Standard construction properties
Non-standard units
HMOs
Mixed-use buildings
This often improves pricing efficiency.
Typically:
Construction type & materials
Roof composition & percentage flat
Year built
Rebuild value
Claims history
Occupancy type
Tenant profile
Property condition
The more detail provided, the more competitive the terms.
A specialist broker can:
Access niche insurers
Negotiate terms manually
Structure layered cover
Place unusual risks
Avoid automatic online declines
This is critical where properties fall outside standard underwriting criteria.
