Claims history is a record of all insurance claims you’ve made, past and present, under a home, landlord, or business policy. Insurers use it to assess your risk profile, calculate premiums, and decide whether to offer or renew cover.
Your claims history typically includes:
- The number of claims you’ve made
- The type of incidents (e.g. flood, fire, theft, escape of water)
- The value of each claim and whether it was paid
- Whether claims were settled, withdrawn, or declined
Claims history can relate to you, your business, or even a specific property, particularly with commercial buildings or rental properties that may have had multiple owners or tenants.
Examples of claims history in context
Homeowner: Multiple escape of water claims
You’ve made two water damage claims in five years. Even though they were valid, insurers may now increase your premium, add a higher excess, or exclude escape of water cover on renewal.
Landlord: Fire damage at the property
A rental flat you own had a kitchen fire three years ago under a previous tenant. Even if you weren’t the policyholder at the time, failing to disclose this could lead to policy cancellation or refusal of future claims.
Business owner: Burglary and flood history
Your retail unit has experienced both a theft and a flood in recent years. Future insurers may treat this as a higher-risk property, requiring improved security or flood prevention, or they may charge more for cover.
Is claims history linked to the policyholder or the property?
In most cases, claims history is tied to you as the policyholder and it reflects your personal or business track record when applying for insurance. Insurers use this to assess how likely you are to claim again and how much risk you represent.
However, some insurers also consider the claims history of the property itself, especially for:
- Buy-to-let properties or commercial buildings
- Properties with a history of repeated issues (e.g. subsidence, escape of water, flood)
- Situations where the location itself carries higher risk
This means you may be asked to declare past claims at a property even if you didn’t live there or hold the policy at the time. If you’re buying or insuring a property, it’s worth asking the previous owner or landlord for any known claims.
Why claims history matters
It affects your premiums
More claims usually equals higher perceived risk, and higher premiums. Some insurers may also apply exclusions (e.g. no flood cover), increase your excess, or offer limited terms.
It impacts future insurance applications
When applying for new insurance, you must declare previous claims, usually going back 3 to 5 years. Incomplete or inaccurate disclosure can invalidate your policy or lead to claim refusal later.
Properties can carry their own claims history
In some cases, insurers ask about the history of the property itself, even if the claims were made by a previous owner or tenant. This is especially relevant for buy-to-let properties and commercial premises.
FAQ’s
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How far back do I need to declare claims history?
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Most insurers require disclosure of claims within the past 3 to 5 years. Always check the specific timeframe in the application as under-declaring could void your cover.
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What if I don’t know the full history of a property?
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Ask the previous owner, agent, or landlord for any known claims. Some insurers will still offer cover, but may apply conditions if damage is later discovered.
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Does every claim affect my premium?
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Not always. A one-off claim may have minimal impact but frequent or high-value claims, especially for the same issue (e.g. repeated water damage), can result in higher premiums or reduced cover.
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Will withdrawn or declined claims still appear on my record?
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Yes. Even if you didn’t receive a payout, the act of notifying your insurer and opening a claim can be logged on your record, and may be visible to future insurers.
