Case Study: Securing specialist contents cover

Tailored contents cover for a £2.5M London flat: A Private Client Success Story

At Howden, we understand that Private Client insurance isn’t always about buildings - it’s often about the high-value possessions within it. This case study highlights how our Private Client team supported a client in securing a bespoke contents only policy for their London property,

The Challenge

The client owned a £2.5 million flat in London and required a contents-only policy with high sums insured, including nearly £300,000 in jewellery and watches. Having been with the same insurer for over 30 years, the client had never needed to shop around - until his existing provider unexpectedly withdrew cover due to the number of bathrooms in the property.

Suddenly without cover and unsure where to turn, the client needed a solution that could accommodate both the value and complexity of his contents.

The Solution

Aaron Parsons quickly a tailored policy that met the client’s needs. Initially, the policy was based on the assumption that the client had a Grade 3 safe with a £35,000 cash rating, allowing for a 50% floating limit on jewellery and watches.
Some clients will benefit, in terms of a lower premium, by taking a “floating” jewellery and watches sometimes referred to as a valuables limit.

However, it was later confirmed the safe was Grade 2, with a lower cash rating of £17,500. You can read more about safe grades in our article: What are the different grades of safe.

Despite this, we successfully negotiated with the underwriter to maintain the floating limit, with the understanding that any future purchases would require an additional safe.

The Outcome

The client was extremely pleased with the outcome, particularly the speed and clarity of communication throughout the process. He now has a robust contents-only policy in place, tailored to his lifestyle and assets, and has expressed interest in reviewing his wider insurance portfolio with the Howden Private Client Team.

Key take-away

This case demonstrates our ability to navigate complex underwriting requirements and deliver bespoke solutions for Private Clients. Whether it’s high-value contents, specialist risks, or legacy insurance challenges, our team is committed to providing expert guidance and exceptional service.