Sponsored content: Stephen Kennedy, director of insurance pricing at Pearson Ham Group, discusses whether home insurance premiums are turning a corner
Over the past two years, UK home insurance prices have seen significant increases driven by a combination of inflationary pressures, materials availability, labour shortages, weather events, increased claims and a challenging economic environment.
However, movements observed in recent months could indicate a shift in market dynamics.
In the 24 months to August 2024, premiums rose significantly, with the average competitive quoted price increasing by around 63%.
This upward trend is primarily due to rising costs associated with home repairs and rebuilding, which have been exacerbated by supply chain disruptions, higher material costs and a shortage of skilled labour. Additionally, extreme weather events, such as storms and floods, have led to an increase in claims, further driving up premiums.
However, the pace of price increases has varied throughout the year. The early part of 2024 saw the most significant hikes, with insurers adjusting prices to reflect the ongoing economic challenges and the increased cost of claims.
In contrast, the latter half of the year has seen a more stabilised, albeit still elevated, pricing environment.
Slight cooling
In the last three months, there has been a slight cooling in the rate of premium increases, with relatively flat quarter-on-quarter movements.
This moderation can be attributed to several factors.
Firstly, there has been a relative stabilisation in the cost of building materials, which had previously been a major driver of price increases.
Secondly, insurers have been more cautious in raising premiums further due to increasing competition in the market.
Another key driver in recent months has been the shift in consumer behaviour. With the cost of living crisis putting pressure on household budgets, more customers are actively shopping around for better deals, pushing insurers to offer more competitive rates.
This has led to a more fragmented market, where some insurers are willing to absorb short-term losses in exchange for market share, while others maintain higher premiums to protect profitability.
Profitability pressure
Despite the increase in premiums, profitability for insurers has been under pressure. The combination of higher claims costs and the need to remain competitive on pricing has squeezed margins. Some insurers have reported lower profit margins in their home insurance divisions, reflecting the challenging environment.
However, not all insurers are equally affected. Larger insurers with diversified portfolios and better risk management practices have been able to maintain profitability, while smaller insurers have struggled more. This has led to some consolidation in the market, with mergers and acquisitions becoming more common as insurers seek to scale up and reduce costs.
While UK home insurance prices have risen significantly over the past couple of years, recent months have seen a slight tempering of this trend.
The market remains competitive and, while profitability is under pressure, insurers are adapting to the changing landscape.
If inflation starts to ease and the cost of materials continues to stabilise, we could see a more subdued pricing environment. Conversely, any new economic shocks or severe weather events could lead to further upward pressure on premiums.
The rest of 2024 remains uncertain and more important than ever for providers to monitor market changes to respond appropriately.
