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UK Household Insurance: Market Dynamics and Opportunities 2019

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    Report

  • 51 Pages
  • October 2019
  • Region: United Kingdom
  • GlobalData
  • ID: 4850408
UK Household Insurance: Market Dynamics and Opportunities 2019

Summary

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the UK household insurance market. It looks at market size and performance ratios as well as changes in premiums, claims, contextual and economic factors, regulations, and opportunities. It provides a thorough overview of the market along with future forecasts and analysis of emerging technologies and products.

In terms of gross written premiums (GWP) the household insurance market reverted to type, declining by 4.9% in 2018 following a rare annual increase in 2017. Severe weather incidents at the start of 2018 were offset by insurers curtailing claims in almost every other category, which allowed insurers to keep premiums suppressed.

Traditional players RSA, Lloyds Bank, Direct Line, and Aviva continue to lead the market, although they face increasing competition from insurtechs honing in on Generation Rent. A large percentage of uninsured customers in this space are not being effectively targeted by traditional insurers and policies. Modern players offering digital and flexible policies aimed at renters will alter the market going forward, with on-demand, flexible policies likely to become commonplace.

Scope
  • UK household insurance GWP declined by 4.9% in 2018 to £6.2bn. Over 2014-18, GWP recorded a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -2.1%
  • Total claims increased by 13.3% in 2018. This was caused by weather-related claims rising by in excess of 150% during the year. Other categories recording declines prevented an even sharper rise.
  • RSA’s market share rose by 1.0 percentage point in 2018 to overtake Lloyds Bank as market leader.

Reasons to Buy
  • Benchmark yourself against the rest of the market.
  • Ensure you remain competitive as new innovations and insurance models begin to enter the market.
  • Be prepared for how regulation will impact the household insurance market over the next few years.

Table of Contents

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1.1. The UK household insurance market is declining
1.2. Key findings
1.3. Critical success factors
2. MARKET DYNAMICS
2.1. Introduction
2.2. Market conditions softened in 2018
2.2.1. UK household insurance GWP declined by 4.9% in 2018
2.2.2. Premium rate declines returned in 2018 following a rare year of growth
2.2.3. Combined cover is still the dominant product
2.2.4. Underinsurance among Generation Rent remains a major concern
2.2.5. Regulators still see dual pricing as a major problem
2.3. Weather incidents caused claims to rise in 2018
2.3.1. Two severe countrywide storms saw weather claims rise by over 150% in 2018
2.3.2. Claims inflation is challenging profitability
2.3.3. Underwriting profitability dropped significantly in 2018
2.3.4. Flood Re continues to help at-risk houses across the UK
2.4. Home insurance demand was hit by a reduction in new house registrations
2.4.1. New home registrations and completions remained static in 2018
2.4.2. Mortgage approval rates dipped slightly in 2018
2.4.3. Penetration rates are high among owner-occupiers but lower for tenants
3. COMPETITOR DYNAMICS
3.1. The top 10 insurers account for two thirds of GWP
3.1.1. RSA overtook Lloyds and Direct Line to lead the household market
3.2. Analysis of the market leaders
3.2.1. Direct Line lost key partnerships as RSA picked up Nationwide
3.2.2. Lloyds Bank partnered with US startup Trov to sell products to home owners
3.2.3. Aviva is evolving its proposition using technology
3.2.4. Allianz’s acquisition strategy will make it a key player in the household market
3.2.5. Saga responded to FCA warning with three-year fixed product
4. THE MARKET GOING FORWARD
4.1. Introduction
4.2. The market is expected to drop to £5.9bn in GWP by 2024
4.2.1. Insurers controlling claims should see the market steadily decline over the forecast period
4.3. Startups have turned their attention to Generation Rent
4.3.1. The Generation Rent trend could mark a shift in home insurance
4.3.2. Urban Jungle targets Generation Rent
4.3.3. Brolly launches its own contents policy to combat an antiquated market
4.3.4. Lemonade’s move to Europe poses a threat to established players
4.3.5. Other US startups are also worth watching
4.4. Competition from retailers is growing
4.4.1. Amazon is on the verge of entering the market
4.5. Growth of smart home devices will impact the market
4.5.1. Water detection and education are essential to reducing escape of water claims
4.5.2. Cybersecurity is an emerging market for individual customers
5. APPENDIX
5.1. Abbreviations and acronyms
5.2. Methodology
5.2.1. UK Insurance Consumer Survey
5.2.2. UK Top 20 General Insurance Competitor Analytics methodology
5.2.3. Forecasting methodology
5.3. Secondary sources
5.4. Further reading
List of Tables
Table 1: Household insurance GWP and annual growth rate, 2013-18
Table 2: Quarterly average household insurance premium rate movements, 2014-Q1 2019
Table 3: AA Shoparound average home insurance premiums quarterly change, Q1 2015-Q4 2018
Table 4: Household gross claims incurred by type and number of claims notified, 2014-18
Table 5: Underwriting profit results for UK household insurance, 2008-18
Table 6: New home registrations and completions, 2014-18
Table 7: Percentage of respondents holding any form of home insurance, 2017-18
Table 8: Top 10 UK household insurers by market share, 2016-18
Table 9: Total GWP and average premium forecasts, 2018-24f
List of Figures
Figure 1: Household GWP declined in 2018 after growth in 2017
Figure 2: All premium rates decreased at the start of 2019
Figure 3: Rates have fluctuated, but changes have been limited over the past two years
Figure 4: Consumers shifted further towards combined home insurance in 2018
Figure 5: The proportion of UK consumers living in a rented property increased in 2018
Figure 6: Insurance penetration among renters remains below 50%
Figure 7: Over 15% of renters are still purchasing unnecessary cover
Figure 8: Weather claims soared in 2018 following two severe events in the UK
Figure 9: Claims fell over the review period despite the 2018 weather claims
Figure 10: Growth in household rebuild costs has stabilized since 2018 following sharp fluctuations
Figure 11: The Consumer Durables Price Index has fluctuated significantly
Figure 12: Underwriting profitability plummeted following severe weather incidents in 2018
Figure 13: New registrations and completions remained static in 2018
Figure 14: Mortgage approval has declined marginally since the start of 2017
Figure 15: Nearly half of private tenants do not hold home insurance
Figure 16: Direct Line recorded a second consecutive sharp decline in 2018, meaning RSA now leads the market
Figure 17: Steady declines in GWP are predicted up to 2024
Figure 18: Urban Jungle caters for young tenants
Figure 19: Brolly’s cover is flexible and can be managed within its app
Figure 20: Lemonade’s platforms are easy to use and understand
Figure 21: Consumers’ willingness to purchase home insurance from Amazon doubled in 2018
Figure 22: Forecasting methodology

Samples

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Companies Mentioned (Partial List)

A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to:

  • Lloyds Banking Group
  • Direct Line Group
  • Aviva
  • RSA
  • AXA
  • Ageas
  • Legal & General
  • NFU Mutual
  • Allianz
  • LV=
  • Zurich
  • Neos
  • Google
  • Amazon
  • HomeServe
  • Bought By Many
  • Urban Jungle