High value buildings and contents insurance

If you own a large house and have a high level of contents, you will find that the standard home insurance market is unable to provide appropriate cover to properly protect your assets. Instead, they are structured for the one size fits all mass-market, which offers little flexibility for those who require more bespoke cover.

As specialist high value home insurance brokers, our panel of insurers include the best insurance companies for high value homes on the market. High value home insurance – or high net worth home insurance – policies will not contain many of the limits or restrictions that are found in an off-the-shelf insurance policy, such as an onerous alarm specification or requirement to fit certain locks, which can be a hinderance if you own a listed building or have pets, for example. Our specialist home insurance companies will include much wider levels of cover and provide flexibility when providing cover, sympathetic to the fact not all homes or sets of circumstance are the same. We work closely with our insurers to ensure we provide all our clients with the correct level of cover at the most competitive premium

The following features and benefits are available within our policies:

 

  • Buildings including accidental damage
  • Contents including accidental damage anywhere in the world
  • Fine art, antiques and collectables anywhere in the world
  • Jewellery and watches anywhere in the world
  • Legal expenses insurance to provide legal support and guidance for a wide variety of disputes and circumstances
  • Home emergency assistance
  • Property and public liability cover for a minimum of £5,000,000
  • Liability cover for domestic employees up to £10,000,000
  • Dedicated claims lines open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in the case of an emergency

Buildings insurance

Free buildings survey / appraisal

According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI) it is estimated that 20% of UK homes are underinsured.  Most standard insurers will apply a clause that if a home is found to be underinsured in the event of a claim, the insurer will only pay a percentage of the claim dependent on the level of underinsurance.  If you are unsure of the rebuild cost for insurance, many of the insurers on our panel offer a free appraisal service to ensure adequacy of sums insured and peace of mind in the event of a claim.

Accidental damage
All our policies include accidental damage and extend to cover your home, outbuildings and external areas such as tennis courts, swimming pools, landscaping, boundary walls and electric gates.
Alternative accommodation
In the devastating scenario that your home cannot be lived in following damage, our insurers provide the widest cover on the market for comparable alternative accommodation for you and your family to live in whilst your home is restored to its former glory.
Trace and access costs
Claims for burst pipes and escape of water can cause significant damage, but many insurers will only cover the cost of the damage that has been caused. However, great expense is incurred in finding the source of the leak. Our insurers will provide trace and access cover to pay for the cost of finding the source of the leak and subsequent repairs to floors, walls and ceilings.

Contents insurance

Worldwide cover including accidental damage
Many standard home insurance policies will only provide cover for contents within the home itself. By contrast, our insurers will insure your contents and belongings anywhere in the world, including accidental loss and accidental damage, allowing you complete peace of mind that in the unfortunate event of loss or damage, your belongings are comprehensively insured.
No deductions for wear and tear
Unlike many insurers, our high net worth insurers will not make deductions for items of clothing or linen. In our experience, items such as suits, handbags and shoes get forgotten when setting the contents sum insured, but in the event of a claim for smoke damage following a fire, for example, claims for these items can escalate. Ensuring belongings such as these can be replaced as new without a deduction for wear and tear can make a big difference.
Cover for valuables
Items of fine art, antiques, collections, jewellery and watches can also be included. Our insurers recognise that these items need to be insured on a more bespoke basis and offer enhanced levels of cover under specific valuables sections of their policies with access to specialists, if required, in the event of a claim.
Home business contents insurance
Now more than ever, people are working from home and running their business from a home office. Our specialist home insurance policies provide wide levels of business contents insurance and stock at home to accommodate this growing requirement.

Fine art, antiques and collectables insurance

Worldwide all risks cover – including in transit

Items of fine art and valuables are insured anywhere in the world, including accidental loss and accidental damage, including whilst in transit to / from a dealer or being lent to a museum or gallery for exhibition purposes.

Depreciation in value following a claim
If an item has been partially damaged, our insurers will pay the costs of restoration plus resulting depreciation in value
Defective title
If you are legally required to return an item following a claim of ownership from someone else, your policy will cover the costs incurred or the financial loss as a result.
Death of artist
Our insurers will increase the sum insured of an item by 100% if, during the period of insurance, the artist dies. Under this section of cover, the insurer will also pay for any costs or expenses you have incurred for items commissioned by you but remain incomplete at the time of the artist’s death.
High single item limits
Specialist high value home insurance companies generally do not require items of fine art, antiques or collectables to be individually specified on your policy until the individual value exceeds £30,000, allowing greater flexibility when arranging your cover.
Agreed value cover
Items individually listed are insured on an “agreed value” basis, which means in the event of a claim the insurer will pay the full pre-agreed sum insured, with no deductions for market depreciation or wear and tear.
We understand that works of art, antiques and collectables need to be insured differently to general contents due to the often-unique nature of these items, taking into account not only the monetary value but also the sentimental value to the owner.

Jewellery and watches insurance

It is imperative that bespoke items of jewellery and expensive watches are insured correctly, and a specialist high value home contents insurance policy will ensure this is the case, taking into account both the monetary value and often sentimental value to the owner.

A standard home insurance policy will not usually include jewellery and watches of high value, and in the event of a claim may impose specific requirements regarding their replacement through the insurer’s own approved outlets. A high net worth insurance policy will give you greater flexibility in the unfortunate event of a claim and allow for your input about how and where the damaged items are repaired or replaced.

High single item limits

Specialist high value home insurance companies generally do not require items of jewellery to be individually specified on your policy until the individual value exceeds at least £10,000, allowing greater flexibility when arranging your cover

Agreed value cover
Items individually listed are insured on an “agreed value” basis, which means in the event of a claim the insurer will pay the full pre-agreed sum insured, with no deductions for market depreciation or wear and tear.
Worldwide cover
Items of jewellery and watches, like all other contents, are covered on an “all risks” basis anywhere in the world, giving you peace of mind that if you are taking a holiday overseas or attending a special occasion, your most prized items are covered wherever you go for accidental loss or damage.
Reward
Insurers will offer to pay a reward to any person or organisation, for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person who committed a criminal act which resulted in the loss or damage of your valuables.

How to obtain a quotation from Alastair James Insurance Brokers

Requesting a quotation could not be easier.  Either upload your current Policy Schedule or Renewal Notice.  Alternatively you can request a call back at a specific time convenient to you, or telephone the office directly.

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I had tried lots of other brokers but some didn’t bother to get back to me

I had tried lots of other brokers but some didn’t bother to get back to me, and others couldn’t offer cover for our property. I found your service very professional and efficient. It is nice to speak with an individual person rather than a large company of telesales people!

I should be happy to reco…

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Mrs H.W

I had tried lots of other brokers but some didn’t bother to get back to me

I had tried lots of other brokers but some didn’t bother to get back to me, and others couldn’t offer cover for our property. I found your service very professional and efficient. It is nice to speak with an individual person rather than a large company of telesales people!

I should be happy to recommend you to anyone or act as a reference.

Mrs H.W

Great service and made sure I had everything I needed! Thank you!

Alastair kindly helped me with my office insurance when setting up the office last year! Great service and made sure I had everything I needed! Thank you!

Fran Coulter

Great service and made sure I had everything I needed! Thank you!

Alastair kindly helped me with my office insurance when setting up the office last year! Great service and made sure I had everything I needed! Thank you!

Fran Coulter

Would highly recommend

Great service for our home insurance. Found us a much cheaper and more comprehensive insurance than we’d previously had. Would highly recommend

Janet Flowers

Would highly recommend

Great service for our home insurance. Found us a much cheaper and more comprehensive insurance than we’d previously had. Would highly recommend

Janet Flowers

Open and honest at all times, and I would recommend him without a moment’s hesitation.

My situation has been complicated by a previous subsidence claim, but Alastair has gone above and beyond to help me find appropriate cover.
He has been responsive and efficient, while always providing excellent advice.
I have found him to be open and honest at all times, and I would recommend him without a mo…

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Dave Cooper

Open and honest at all times, and I would recommend him without a moment’s hesitation.

My situation has been complicated by a previous subsidence claim, but Alastair has gone above and beyond to help me find appropriate cover.
He has been responsive and efficient, while always providing excellent advice.
I have found him to be open and honest at all times, and I would recommend him without a moment’s hesitation.
Thank you Alastair.

Dave Cooper

Alastair has constantly found me better deals and provided exceptional service throughout

I have used Alastair James for car, building and contents insurance. Alastair has constantly found me better deals and provided exceptional service throughout. I will definitely be using their services again in the future.

Kier James Roff-Stanion

Alastair has constantly found me better deals and provided exceptional service throughout

I have used Alastair James for car, building and contents insurance. Alastair has constantly found me better deals and provided exceptional service throughout. I will definitely be using their services again in the future.

Kier James Roff-Stanion

I would thoroughly recommend using Alastair for all your insurance needs.

Alastair has sorted out a number of insurances for us with total professionalism and efficiency. He has dealt with our car and home insurance and in all cases he has come up with exactly what we wanted, balancing cost with cover and also some additional benefits we had not considered. I would thoroughly…

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Christine Helps

I would thoroughly recommend using Alastair for all your insurance needs.

Alastair has sorted out a number of insurances for us with total professionalism and efficiency. He has dealt with our car and home insurance and in all cases he has come up with exactly what we wanted, balancing cost with cover and also some additional benefits we had not considered. I would thoroughly recommend using Alastair for all your insurance needs.

Christine Helps

Will continue using for the foreseeable future.

Alastair has helped my brother and I with numerous insurance requirements for several years. He has always provided exceptional service and prompt responses. As a result we have always found the best deals for all our insurance needs. Will continue using for the foreseeable future.

Rowan Roff-Stanion

Will continue using for the foreseeable future.

Alastair has helped my brother and I with numerous insurance requirements for several years. He has always provided exceptional service and prompt responses. As a result we have always found the best deals for all our insurance needs. Will continue using for the foreseeable future.

Rowan Roff-Stanion

Really got to know me and my business and helped me get a better understanding of which cover I should have in place

Alastair provides a professional and personal insurance service. He really got to know me and my business and helped me get a better understanding of which cover I should have in place. Would definitely recommend talking to Alastair if your insurance is up for renewal

Miss A.T

Really got to know me and my business and helped me get a better understanding of which cover I should have in place

Alastair provides a professional and personal insurance service. He really got to know me and my business and helped me get a better understanding of which cover I should have in place. Would definitely recommend talking to Alastair if your insurance is up for renewal

Miss A.T

Alastair listens to your exact requirements

Alastair listens to your exact requirements and finds the policies that suit you. Drop him a message

Mr S.C

Alastair listens to your exact requirements

Alastair listens to your exact requirements and finds the policies that suit you. Drop him a message

Mr S.C

Excellent service, Alastair, thank you for all your help. I

Excellent service, Alastair, thank you for all your help. I look forward to speaking again when my other policies are due

Mr G.D

Excellent service, Alastair, thank you for all your help. I

Excellent service, Alastair, thank you for all your help. I look forward to speaking again when my other policies are due

Mr G.D

Thank you for your help

Thank you for your help. You have been most patient with me and it’s appreciated

Ms R.D

Thank you for your help

Thank you for your help. You have been most patient with me and it’s appreciated

Ms R.D

Polite, very helpful and professional.

Polite, very helpful and professional.

Tess Mariapa

Polite, very helpful and professional.

Polite, very helpful and professional.

Tess Mariapa

PRIVATE CLIENT INSURANCE BROKERS

As private client insurance brokers, we have access to a variety of insurers and underwriting agencies who specialise in the insurance of high value homes, contents, valuables, performance cars and classic cars.

COMMERCIAL CLIENTS

Through our role as commercial insurance brokers we can provide comprehensive cover for individual company directors and sole traders through to small and medium sized enterprises and national organisations.

ABOUT ALASTAIR

Alastair established Alastair James Insurance Brokers Limited after nearly twenty years’ experience in the insurance industry, in both the Commercial and Private Clients sector.

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