Case Study: Navigating previous claims to protect a high value home

Navigating previous claims to protect a high value home: A Private Client success story

At Howden, we understand that Private Client insurance is rarely straightforward. This case study highlights how our team helped a client overcome a challenging renewal situation -balancing high-value contents and a history of claims.

The Challenge

The client owned a property in Brighton with a buildings sum insured of nearly £800,000, contents valued at over £60,000, and £125,000 in jewellery and watches. Despite having a monitored alarm system and a safe with a cash rating of £35,000, their existing insurer quoted a renewal premium that had increased by 25%, citing three claims in the past five years.

Concerned by the sharp increase and unaware of alternative options, the client was referred to Howden Private Clients and connected with Aaron Parsons, one of our experienced advisors.

The Solution

Aaron reviewed the client’s risk profile and identified an opportunity to restructure the policy using a floating limit for jewellery and watches - an approach the client hadn’t previously considered.  Some clients will benefit, in terms of a lower premium, by taking a “floating” jewellery and watch limit.

Although the new policy came with an excess of £1,000 (compared to the previous £500), it offered a £300 saving on the quoted renewal premium. To further support the client, Aaron recommended excess protection, ensuring peace of mind in the event of future claims.

The Outcome

The client was delighted with the outcome, praising the team’s responsiveness and expertise:

“Just a note to thank you both for all your assistance on setting up our house insurance - great service .”

The client now has a robust policy tailored to his lifestyle and risk profile, with improved understanding of his cover options and confidence in the Howden Private Client team.

Key Takeaway

This case demonstrates our ability to navigate complex underwriting scenarios and deliver bespoke solutions - even when the claims history presents a challenge.