Property - personal
FCA to clamp down on premium finance outliers in 2024
Briefing: The Financial Conduct Authority’s head of insurance Matt Brewis has labelled premium finance a “poor product”, and warned the regulator has “talked about it enough,” hinting at potential action surrounding the practice in the next 12 months.
Satisfaction with insurers back to pre-pandemic levels
Data analysis: Customer satisfaction with insurance policies is back to July 2018 levels, research by the Chartered Insurance Institute has revealed.
Storm Gerrit packs a punch to property
Association of British Insurers confirms priority for providers is helping homeowners in Manchester whose homes were torn apart last night by Storm Gerrit.
Understanding property underinsurance and its implications
Cos Kamasho, head of product at the Building Cost Information Service, on how horror stories of families finding their insurers won't fully fund a rebuild highlight how all parties need to understand the primary causes of underinsurance.
Questions remain as more brokers sign leasehold pledge
Seven more broking firms have signed up to the leasehold commission pledge in association with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Podcast: How climate change is transforming insurance
Climate change means the areas impacted by subsidence will double by 2050, and double again by 2080, Heikki Vesanto, manager for GIS data science at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, has warned.
BIA 2023 Video: Winners Q&A with Policy Expert’s Steve Hardy
Following its recent win in the Customer Experience category at the 2023 British Insurance Awards, Policy Expert CEO Steve Hardy shared his thoughts on what made it stand out.
Storm Babet to cost insurers at least £450m
Fresh estimates from PWC calculate the costs of damage due to the severe weather caused by storm Babet to be between £450m and £650m.
Why cannabis farms are a growing problem for property insurers
Analysis: Fiona Nicolson examines why the illegal cultivation of cannabis is a growing problem for both residential and commercial landlords as well as the wider community.
Five brokers to scrap third-party leasehold commissions
Five insurance broking groups have pledged to stop sharing buildings insurance commissions with landlords and to cap their own fees.
Admiral is the most complained about general insurer in H1 2023
Data analysis: Admiral, Direct Line Group, Aviva, Axa and RSA were the most complained about general insurers in the first half of 2023, according to the latest Financial Ombudsman Service data.
Essential policy providers accused of price walking practices
Regulatory experts have urged insurers to check whether their pushing of “essential” home and motor policies isn’t replicating the price walking sales practices that have been banned by the Financial Conduct Authority.
FCA rules out banning broker commission
The Financial Conduct Authority has ruled out banning broker commission, despite being concerned by “high” 62% charges for arranging cladding insurance.
FCA promises action against overcharging brokers
The Financial Conduct Authority has warned brokers it will “take action” against those charging inflated commissions for arranging cladding cover, with some charging up to 62%.
Top 75 MGAs: ICW Insurance Services
With offices in London, Belfast and South Shields, ICW’s links with mortgage lenders have made it one of the UK’s prominent providers of building warranties and building control.
Who’ll buy RSA’s home and pet books if sale is green-lit?
Content Director’s View: With RSA and parent Intact floating the idea of a possible sale of its remaining personal lines business, Jonathan Swift looks at who could be in the market for a new pet and/or household book.
Heather Smith’s exit sees further changes at top of Allianz
Allianz has named Henry Topham as the new managing director of its UK retail business, following the news Heather Smith will be leaving to head up Axa Health.
A fire-free summer does not call for complacency
Paul Redington, regional major loss manager of Zurich, explains why insurers and the government should work together to create a risk map of areas vulnerable to wildfires.
#29 ASR
Netherlands-domiciled ASR is in 29th place in this year’s Insurance Post Top 30 European Insurers 2023 List after reporting 3.7% average premium growth for the year.
#27 Crédit Mutuel
France-domiciled Crédit Mutuel is in 27th place in this year’s Insurance Post Top 30 European Insurers 2023 List after reporting 10.9% average premium growth for the year.
Data analysis: Trends in the buildings and contents insurance market
Defaqto’s Angela Pilley examines how many building and content insurance providers are operating today compared with a decade ago, how product features have changed, and the types of fees and charges attached to this type of cover.
Zurich to focus on HNW, MGAs and partnerships as it pulls out of broker PL
Zurich UK has today announced plans to refocus its personal lines home and motor business to concentrate on high-net-worth through Zurich Private Clients, alongside its MGA and partnership channels.
Government grills FCA on broker commission
Sheldon Mills, executive director for consumers and competition at the Financial Conduct Authority, conceded the regulator needs to “be tougher on brokers” after Dame Angela Eagle slammed them for “ripping off leaseholders”.
Allianz reveals Treloar’s successor at LV
Allianz has named Serge Raffard as its new personal managing director, following the recent news that Steve Treloar has decided to leave to pursue new opportunities.