Home insurance renewal gone up? When and how to switch

Your renewal quote lands, it's noticeably higher than last year, and you're deciding whether to just accept it or start shopping around. If your home insurance renewal has gone up a lot, switching is often worth it — but only once you understand why the price rose and how to compare fairly. Here's what's going on, and the exact steps to switch.

Why your renewal went up — even after the FCA loyalty-penalty ban

Since January 2022, FCA rules have banned the "loyalty penalty": your insurer can no longer quote you a renewal price higher than it would offer an equivalent new customer for the same policy. Before that, loyal customers were quietly "price walked" upwards year after year while new customers got the cheap deals.

The rule stopped that specific trick, but it did not freeze prices. Renewals can still rise for legitimate reasons — general claims inflation, a higher rebuild cost, your postcode's risk profile, or a claim you've made. And crucially, the ban only stops your own insurer overcharging you relative to its new customers. It does nothing about the fact that a different insurer might price your risk far more cheaply. That gap between insurers is why switching still saves money.

Should you switch?

Switching is usually worth it if your renewal rose by more than a few percent, if you haven't compared prices in over a year, or if your circumstances have changed. If the increase is small and the cover still fits, staying put and haggling can be enough on its own.

How to switch home insurance provider

1. Don't let it auto-renew. Most policies roll over automatically. Your renewal notice must show last year's premium next to this year's — check that comparison first.
2. Note your current cover. Write down your buildings sum insured (the rebuild cost), contents value, excess, and any add-ons, so you compare like-for-like instead of just headline price.
3. Shop around early. The cheapest quotes tend to appear around three to four weeks before your renewal date, not on the day itself — leaving it late often costs more.
4. Compare cover, not just price. A cheaper policy with a much higher excess or no accidental-damage cover isn't actually cheaper the moment you claim.
5. Go back to your current insurer. Once you have a lower quote elsewhere, ask them to match it — the loyalty-penalty rules don't stop you negotiating.
6. Switch cleanly. Line your new policy up to start the day the old one ends, so there's no gap in cover and no overlap you pay twice for.

You can switch at renewal with no penalty. Mid-term you can still cancel and switch, though you may owe a small cancellation fee and any refund is pro-rata.

How the Aviva ChatGPT app helps

Once you know what cover you need, the next step is a quote to compare against your renewal. The Aviva ChatGPT app gives you a home insurance quote without leaving ChatGPT. When you're ready to buy, you complete your purchase on aviva.com.

To try it, install it from the ChatGPT App tab (or go to chatgpt.com/apps), search "Aviva", and ask in your own words — for example, "What would buildings and contents insurance cost for a 3-bed semi in Bristol?"

FAQ

Home insurance renewal gone up a lot — should I switch? Usually yes, if it rose more than a few percent or you haven't compared prices in a year. Get two or three like-for-like quotes and take the best one back to your current insurer to match.

Can I switch home insurance before renewal? Yes. You can switch mid-term, though there may be a small cancellation fee and your refund is pro-rata. Most people switch at renewal to avoid both.