Cannot insure home due to conviction

KamikazeCaz

I have been trying for the last year to obtain contents insurance but as my husband has a criminal record no company will insure us. I would rather not go into the details of his conviction but he was convicted just over 5 years ago and received a years' sentance.

I have tried all the big names but they won't touch us with a barge pole and I have been referred many times to some less known brokers who tell me that due to the nature of the crime, they won't offer us insurance (he is on the reg. S. offender list until 2014).
We have had absolutely no issues regarding his past since he returned home in 2005. We have moved on from this and to be honest I find it very unfair that I cannot insure the contents of my home due to this.

Can anyone of any advice or does anyone know of any companies that may insure us?
Thanks.

dunstonh

Forget the internet and direct companies. They cherry pick the easy business and leave the more complicated stuff to the brokers. Most towns still have insurance brokers in them, albeit not in the same numbers as they used to be. Go to one of them. However, expect it to be expensive as you will pay based on the level of risk your husband is.

to be honest I find it very unfair that I cannot insure the contents of my home due to this

As you said, you dont go into details but a flat refusal from all insurers and a years sentance means it was serious enough and there has to be a consequence to crime otherwise everyone would commit it. it shouldnt be made easy for criminals.

silvercar

If you represent a greater risk you have to pay a greater premium. If everyone paid the same, the innocent would be subsidising the guilty.

There are two elements to the greater risk you pose. One is that having committed a crime you could be a target for crime and/ or associate with criminals, which would mean more likelihood of a claim. The other is that you are more likely to make a potentially fraudulent claim.

KamikazeCaz

dunstonh wrote: »

it shouldnt be made easy for criminals.

Point taken, but it's not my husbands name the insurance will be in, it's mine. All insurance companies want me to confirm that anyone living the same house as me does NOT have a criminal record other than driving.

dogbot

Point taken, but it's not my husbands name the insurance will be in, it's mine. All insurance companies want me to confirm that anyone living the same house as me does NOT have a criminal record other than driving.

The fact that he is living there is still material. As far as insurers are concerned there is a heightened risk of loss because he lives there, they can't be expected to be perfect judges of each and every applicants character - we all know that there are plenty of repeat offenders out there.

There is an extreamly strong correlation between those with criminal convictions and "moral hazzard" be it deliberate or accidental.

Brokers make their money by placing more difficult risks. They can also act as the eyes an ears for an insurer writing business on a manual business, so find a couple of good local brokers and give them a ring. There were links to some who specialise in such cover on another thread on the forum.

dunstonh

it's not my husbands name the insurance will be in, it's mine.

One assumes he lives with you in the same house. So, the risk is the same whether he is on the policy or not.

dogbot

Astaroth wrote: »

Could try:
http://www.adrianflux.co.uk/fairplay-detail-go.php
http://www.unlock.org.uk/xoffenders.aspx?id=4

If it is a "serious" crime then most mainstream insurers will not want to touch you because what they see serious crimes as "clearly indicate a poor moral hazard"

here is the links found here
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=306433

cogito

I believe that Towergate have just launched a household policy that caters for people with criminal convictions. Might be worth a try.