Abode Insurance is not your typical mainstream, mass-market provider. They are highly specialised experts in listed property insurance and historic homes across the UK. With nearly 20 years of experience protecting some of Britain’s most unique buildings, from Tudor terraces to thatched cottages and grand manor houses. Abode understands that a standard one-size-fits-all policy simply does not work for heritage properties.
Operating as part of Howden UK Brokers Limited (a major global brokerage that acquired Aston Lark), Abode acts as a specialist intermediary. They negotiate with a carefully selected panel of high-net-worth and heritage underwriters (such as Ecclesiastical, Chubb, Hiscox, and Aviva) to provide bespoke cover for properties that standard insurers often refuse to touch.
You can get independent advice and a personalised quotes comparison of Abode’s specialist policies alongside other home insurance deals from one of our expert advisers below:
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You can use our expert advisers to compare home insurance deals from Abode with products from other providers across the market.
They will round up personalised quotes from Abode and alternative providers and offer bespoke advice on which one to choose.
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What type of home insurance do they provide?
Because Abode deals with non-standard and listed properties, their cover is heavily tailored. They typically offer policies like Abode Premier Home, Abode Elite Home, and Abode Premier Thatch.
Buildings insurance
This covers the structure of your historic property, which is vital because rebuilding or repairing a Grade I, II*, or II listed home requires specialist materials and tradespeople.
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Bespoke Sums Insured: Unlike standard policies with a £500k blanket limit, Abode works with you to calculate a highly accurate rebuild cost, ensuring you are never under-insured for heritage materials
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Previous Owners' Mistakes: A unique feature of Abode's cover is that they often include protection against the costs of correcting unauthorised alterations made by previous owners (which you inherit the legal liability for when buying a listed home)
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Trace and Access: Essential for older homes, this covers the cost of removing and replacing walls or floors to find a water leak
Contents and Collectibles insurance
This protects your household goods, fine art, antiques, and personal belongings.
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New for Old: Standard items are replaced without a deduction for wear and tear
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Fine Art & Antiques: Specialist cover is available for high-value collections, compensating you for the current market value or depreciation in value following a repaired damage
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Outdoor Items: The Elite tier offers generous limits (e.g., up to £20,000) for items kept in your garden or outbuildings
Combined home & contents cover
Most listed property owners combine their buildings and contents cover to avoid disputes between different insurers during a major claim (like a fire or flood). Abode provides a dedicated personal account executive to manage your combined policy, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.
How Abode calculates premiums
Insuring a listed or thatched property is complex, and Abode does not rely on simple computer algorithms. Their premiums are calculated through individual, manual underwriting. Factors include:
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Listing Grade: Whether your home is Grade I, Grade II*, or Grade II (or Category A/B/C in Scotland) significantly impacts the cost of repairs.
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Construction Materials: Cob walls, timber frames, wattle and daub, or thatched roofs carry higher risks (especially fire) than standard brick and tile.
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Rebuild Cost: The exact cost of sourcing heritage materials and specialist craftsmen required for non-standard construction homes
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Security & Maintenance: Because historic homes can be vulnerable, robust security measures and a history of good maintenance (like annual boiler and chimney checks) will help lower the premium
Pros and cons
Here are the pros and cons of choosing a specialist policy through Abode Insurance:
Abode Home Insurance (Premier / Elite)
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Pros |
Cons |
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Heritage Experts: Deep understanding of the legal and structural challenges of owning a listed building. |
Not for Standard Homes: Their bespoke service is unnecessary (and likely too expensive) for a modern, standard-build home. |
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Covers Previous Mistakes: Often pays to rectify unapproved building work done by prior owners. |
Manual Quote Process: You cannot get an instant online price; it requires a consultation. |
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Personal Service: You get a dedicated personal advisor rather than a distant call centre. |
Higher Base Premiums: Historic properties naturally cost more to insure than modern builds. |
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Premium Underwriters: Access to top-tier insurers like Chubb, Hiscox, and Ecclesiastical. |
Customer reviews
Because Abode operates in a highly niche market, they don't have the tens of thousands of reviews that mass-market brands do, but their reputation among historic homeowners is exceptional.
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Feefo: Abode is rated Exceptional, typically holding a score of 4.8 or 4.9 out of 5 based on hundreds of verified reviews. Customers overwhelmingly praise the patience, knowledge, and efficiency of their personal account handlers
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Industry Standing: As part of Howden UK Brokers Limited, they are formally recognised for their professional standards and capability within the specialist insurance sector
How to get an Abode home insurance quote
You cannot buy Abode insurance on standard price comparison websites. Because your property is unique, they require a phone consultation to understand the specific nuances of your home before negotiating with their panel of insurers. However, Abode is not the only heritage broker in the UK. To ensure you are getting the most competitive premium for your listed property, it is crucial to consult the wider specialist market.
At Money Helpdesk, our home insurance experts have access to niche underwriters. If you are wondering whether Abode is the right choice for your historic home, get in touch and we will review this for you.