New research from Go.Compare has highlighted a potential area where brokers could take a more active role in supporting clients, with a quarter of surveyed UK homeowners allowing their home insurance to renew automatically without reviewing it.
Of the 25% who auto-renew, 17% said they do so without checking other available options, while 8% admitted they only consider alternatives after the renewal has already been processed.
Men were more likely than women to auto-renew without comparing deals (28% compared to 21%), and the highest incidence was among 25- to 34-year-olds, with 35% in that age group allowing their policy to roll over.
The survey, which polled 2,000 UK residents, also found that 29% of respondents actively shop around for home insurance ahead of the renewal date, while 24% wait until renewal is due before exploring options.
Market data from earlier this year also suggests conditions are shifting in a way that could present an opportunity for brokers to engage more proactively with clients. The Pearson Ham Group’s General Insurance Price Index recorded a 3.3% decrease in the average top-five quoted combined buildings and contents cover during the first quarter of 2025.
This pricing softening, though modest, indicates there may be competitive rates available for clients willing to review and adjust their cover at renewal rather than defaulting to automatic continuation.
A 2024 client service survey also revealed that 83% of insurance buyers valued consistent communication from their brokers – whether weekly or monthly – and that 48% ranked the ability to negotiate renewals as one of the most important service factors.
This suggests that beyond simply processing renewals, brokers who actively track renewal dates and initiate discussions on policy terms could strengthen client relationships and ensure coverage remains appropriate and competitively priced.
Go.Compare’s findings also suggest a missed opportunity for brokers to engage with clients in the lead-up to renewals. By monitoring renewal dates and proactively initiating policy reviews, brokers could help ensure cover remains aligned with client needs and competitive on price, rather than relying on customers to initiate the process themselves.
Nathan Blackler of Go.Compare Home Insurance said many people view automatic renewal as the simplest option, given the number of policies and contracts they manage.
“It’s also easy to assume your cover needs will have stayed much the same over the past year, especially if there’s been little or no change to your home or household in that time, but this isn’t always the case. When it’s time to renew think about any work you have had done to your home, and the value of the property,” he said.
Blackler also noted that comparing policies can reveal variations in additional benefits, such as legal cover, home emergency assistance, or accidental damage protection, which may be included at no extra cost in some products.
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