Looking for cheap home insurance? Don’t buy a period home
It costs significantly more to insure a property built before the First World War than one built after 2000, analysis suggests. How can you reduce home insurance costs?
Period properties might come with character and charm, but insuring one could cost you hundreds of pounds more a year than a new-build, new research suggests.
Analysis from price comparison site Compare the Market shows owners of period homes – properties built before 1911 – pay £376 for annual combined contents and buildings cover compared to £179 for those living in homes built from 2000 and later.
Homes built in the Stuart period are the most expensive to insure, with the average annual premium setting homeowners back £545.
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Georgian properties are the second most expensive to insure, with the average combined policy costing £446, Compare the Market found.
The average cost of insuring period homes was 15% higher in 2025 (£442), according to its data.
Period home type | Average premium 2025 | Average premium 2026 |
Tudor (1485–1603) | £506 | £418 |
Stuart (1603–1714) | £639 | £545 |
Georgian (1714–1830) | £478 | £446 |
1831–1836 | £456 | £351 |
Victorian (1837–1901) | £284 | £252 |
Edwardian (1901–1910) | £288 | £243 |
1911–1999 | £219 | £200 |
2000 onwards | £193 | £179 |
Credit: Compare the Market
Why does it cost more to insure older homes?
Insurance on older properties costs more than new-builds because there is more risk involved for the insurer.
The older a property, the more likely it is that plumbing, electrics and external features such as roofs are outdated.
For example, a loose tile on your roof could allow rainwater in while a thatched roof poses a fire risk.
Repair costs for older properties are also typically greater than newer ones because repairs often demand specialist materials.
If your property is listed, you may also be restricted on what you can change or replace in a home, which can bump up the cost of a premium.
Nathan Blackler, home insurance expert for Go.Compare, said: “Higher premiums on older homes will likely be down to older homes being more vulnerable to issues such as fire damage, poor drainage and corroded pipework, and repairing or rebuilding traditional features can be costly, all of which can push premiums up.”
How to cut insurance costs on older homes
If you live in a period home, there’s not much you can do other than take practical steps to reduce your premium.
One is improving security through locks, burglar alarms and security lighting, says Blackler.
Another is regular maintenance of your property to ensure smaller problems don’t turn into bigger ones, says Amy Rootham, home insurance expert at Compare the Market.
“Regularly clearing gutters, checking for damp, and addressing minor repairs early could reduce the risk of larger, more expensive claims,” she says.
“Similarly, installing adequate fire safety measures, such as smoke alarms, is essential, especially for properties with features like thatched roofs.
Make sure you’re shopping around for the best deal as well, by using price comparison websites like Go.Compare, Compare the Market and MoneySuperMarket.
What are the different types of home insurance?
There are two types of home insurance policy – contents and buildings. You can also buy combined contents and building insurance policies.
Buildings insurance covers the cost of repairing any damage to the structure of your property, including any walls, floors, ceilings or a roof. It also covers you if permanent fixtures such as your bathroom, kitchen, garage or shed are damaged.
Buildings insurance generally covers you for damage caused by fires, floods, storm or wind damage and theft or vandalism.
Contents insurance says what it does on the tin – it covers you in case the contents of your home, such as furniture, electronics or jewellery, are damaged or stolen.
Not all home insurance policies cover the same things though, so it’s worth delving into the terms and conditions of each deal before buying one.
Most home insurance policies also come with an “excess” – the amount you have to pay towards a claim.
Increasing your excess will see your policy go down, but means you’ll have to fork out more if you have to make a claim.
