Sources
12 August 2026
Updated to reflect lender services
15 July 2025
First Published
RCIB (Right Choice Insurance Brokers) are one of the UK’s most prominent independent brokers specialising in non-standard, high-risk, and tailored insurance lines. Founded in 2008 and based in Romford, Essex, RCIB operates as a core trading style of Right Choice Insurance Brokers Limited (part of the broader Lucida Group).
RCIB is an independent insurance broker rather than a direct underwriter. They act as an intermediary, using specialised algorithmic search engines and manual broker desks to compare policies across an extensive panel of top-tier UK underwriters and specialist risk carriers, including AXA, Ageas, Covéa, Markerstudy, and Prestige Underwriting. RCIB has built a strong reputation across the UK for securing coverage for hard-to-place risks that automated comparison sites reject, including non-standard construction homes, unoccupied properties, flood-risk regions, and applicants with adverse credit or criminal conviction histories.
You can get independent advice and a personalised quotes comparison of top-tier property policies, including how RCIB’s broker-panel rates compare to the wider open market, from one of our expert advisers below:
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You can use our expert advisers to compare home insurance deals from RCIB with products from other providers across the market.
They will round up personalised quotes from RCIB and alternative providers and offer bespoke advice on which one to choose.
To get started, fill in our quick online form below and one of our expert home insurance advisers with be in touch today!
What type of property insurance do they provide?
Because RCIB operates as an independent broker, they avoid rigid, single-insurer templates. They structure their home insurance portfolio across standard residential, landlord, and complex non-standard risk profiles:
RCIB Policy Coverage Comparison
|
Policy Component / Scheme |
Standard Household |
Landlord & Let Property |
Non-Standard & Hard-to-Place |
|
Buildings Rebuild Cap |
Standard schedule limits |
Rebuild cover for let structures |
Bespoke limits tailored to property survey |
|
Contents Replacement |
New-for-Old replacement |
Landlord contents & fixtures |
Custom limits based on security setup |
|
Alternative Accommodation |
Covered up to standard limits |
Loss of rent / rehousing options |
Expanded emergency rehousing allowances |
|
Target Property Profile |
Standard UK brick-and-mortar homes |
Residential buy-to-let & student lets |
Timber frame, thatch, flood risk, active subsidence |
|
Target Applicant Profile |
Standard suburban homeowners |
Single & portfolio landlords |
Adverse claims history, CCJs, IVAs, criminal convictions |
Specialised Non-Standard & Household Highlights
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Standard Household Insurance: Combined Buildings and Contents cover featuring public liability, replacement locks and keys, freezer food protection, trace and access leak location, and outbuilding theft protection.
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Hard-to-Place Property Cover: Active willingness to find underwriter solutions for properties with non-standard construction (such as timber framing, 100% flat roofs, or thatched roofs), homes in recognised flood plains, or properties with active/historical ground heave and subsidence.
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Adverse Personal History Support: Dedicated underwriting desks capable of placing risks for homeowners facing personal obstacles, such as unspent non-motoring criminal convictions, active CCJs, IVAs, or multiple recent property claims.
How RCIB calculates premiums and fees
RCIB’s pricing mechanics combine multi-underwriter panel bidding with human broker expertise:
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Multi-Insurer Panel Bidding: When you request a quote, RCIB’s system queries an active panel of major UK risk carriers. Underwriters compete in real-time to offer the lowest rate for your property profile.
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Human-in-the-Loop Risk Assessment: For complex properties or adverse applicant histories where standard online comparison engines trigger automatic rejections, RCIB’s Romford-based household team can manually present risk details to underwriters to negotiate terms.
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Premium Financing Options: Policyholders can spread annual premiums across 12 monthly installments via standard credit finance arrangements (subject to APR interest charges).
Pros and cons
Here is a quick look at the pros and cons of securing property protection through RCIB:
Pros:
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Exceptional Non-Standard Appetite: High willingness to place complex physical risks (thatch, flat roofs, subsidence) and adverse personal histories (convictions, CCJs).
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Wide Insurer Panel: Access to leading UK risk carriers and specialist MGAs (such as AXA, Ageas, Covéa, and Prestige).
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Part of Lucida Group: Backed by a major UK insurance broking group with established market relationships.
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UK-Based Human Expertise: Supported by an experienced household broking team based in Romford, Essex.
Cons:
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Intermediary Broker Fees: As a traditional broker, setup, mid-term policy changes, and cancellations carry administrative processing fees.
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Accidental Damage Extra on Base Tiers: Everyday drops, spills, and DIY mishaps are excluded from basic baseline rates and require a paid add-on.
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Varying Policy Terms: Because policies are placed across different panel underwriters, compulsory excesses (such as Escape of Water) will vary depending on which underwriter provides your policy schedule.
Customer service and claims handling
Customer care and emergency claims are coordinated through RCIB’s Romford operations and underwriter network:
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Romford Administrative Hub: Customer support, policy modifications, document requests, and renewal queries are managed by their UK team on 01708 388 000 or via their online customer contact channels.
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Underwriter-Directed Claims: If your property suffers storm, fire, flood, or theft damage, claims are reported to and administered by the dedicated 24/7 claims desk of the assigned panel underwriter listed on your policy schedule.
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24/7 Emergency Assistance Options: Policyholders holding optional Home Emergency add-ons gain access to emergency repair helplines to dispatch vetted contractors for essential utilities and plumbing failures.
Sourcing a quote against the market
To obtain a quote, you can visit the official RCIB website or contact their Romford broking team directly over the phone. However, because broker administrative charges, compulsory water excesses, and single-item declaration thresholds fluctuate across the market, running a parallel cross-market search is always recommended. Comparing alternative direct underwriters and specialist brokers ensures you secure the absolute lowest voluntary excesses and the most suitable coverage terms for your postcode.
At Money Helpdesk, our independent property specialists can handle this cross-market search for you. Get in touch today, and we will compare your choices to help you find the ideal protection for your home.
RCIB (Right Choice Insurance Brokers) is an independent insurance broker. They do not carry the insurance risk directly; instead, they arrange and manage policies using a panel of leading UK underwriters (such as AXA, Ageas, and Covéa).
Yes. RCIB specialises in non-standard personal lines insurance, maintaining dedicated broker desks to arrange property cover for policyholders with unspent criminal convictions, active CCJs, IVAs, or adverse claims histories.
Yes. RCIB has a strong appetite for non-standard structural risks, including properties with timber framing, thatched roofs, 100% flat roofs, or historic subsidence.