Over 80% Of Properties Are Underinsured

With the rising labour, materials, and other associated costs, the cost of rebuilding a property has risen by as much as 20% just in the last 12 months.

Over 80% of property owners could be underinsured. The findings arise from the insurance industry’s most reliable benchmark around property sums insured, RebuildCostASSESSMENT.com’s annual rebuild cost analysis and infographic. The data results from almost 27,000 rebuild valuations carried out by RebuildCostASSESSMENT.com between September 2021 and the end of August 2022.

This year’s infographic highlights how 83% of these properties were found to be underinsured, up from 80% in 2021. On average, these buildings were insured for just 66% of what they should have been. The percentage last year was 68%, which shows how the buildings underinsurance gap is widening in the UK.

This gap is biggest among buildings insured for up to £500,000, which are on average only covered for 51% of their rebuild cost. Buildings insured for more than £2 million are closer to what they should be, but still only covered on average for 70% of reliable rebuild cost.

When it comes to overinsurance, 13% of buildings assessed were covered for too much this year, on average by 132%.

Significant shortfall

RebuildCostASSESSMENT.com director, Will Molland MCIOB AssocRICS, commented: “Given the huge rise in the cost of buildings materials, as well as associated costs such as professional fees, it isn’t really surprising that the underinsurance gap is widening.

“These figures do paint a worrying picture for many property owners, who are exposed to a significant shortfall in claims payments should they suffer a loss. Let’s be clear, UK buildings are on average covered for just two thirds of what they should be, according to our extensive data.”

Will added: “On a more positive note, over the past 12 month we’ve helped the owners of almost 27,000 properties reduce their risk of underinsurance. We know from the unprecedented demand for our services that the insurance industry is taking this issue very seriously and recognises their customers need support and protection from what can be severe financial and emotional consequences.

If you’d like to know more about rebuilding costs please get in touch. We also have special deals via RebuildCostAssessment if you think you may be underinsured and you’d like a cost effective rebuild review.