Finding home insurance can be challenging if you have a criminal record. Many standard insurers do not cover ex-offenders with unspent convictions. Home insurers need to know about previous or pending criminal convictions. This information can affect the insurance risk. It might seem unfair, but insurers have the right to adjust the price. They can also choose not to offer cover as they see fit. This article will guide you through the steps to securing home insurance with a criminal record.
A criminal conviction can cover a range of situations and punishments, from a prison sentence, a community service order, to a fine. Most types of offence count when applying for home insurance, however minor its perceived to be.
Yes, if there are any ‘unspent’ convictions. When applying for insurance the duty is with the applicant to answer all questions fully and accurately due to the principle of utmost good faith.
There are only a couple of exceptions where convictions do not need to be disclosed:
• Only unspent convictions matter and need to be disclosed. Even if asked, by law you do not have to disclose any convictions that are ‘spent’. Convictions become ‘spent’ following a certain time after the date of conviction. This depends on the nature of the conviction, how long the sentence was and how long ago it was. Once this time has passed a conviction does not need to be disclosed. This is stated in law according to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The government have some helpful information to calculate if your conviction is ‘spent’ or if it still needs to be disclosed. Guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975
• Generally, you don’t need to disclose ‘motoring convictions’ such as speeding fines for home insurance, as these are not relevant to assessing home insurance risk. However, make sure to read all questions carefully and answer them honestly.
If you need to disclose a conviction then the insurer will likely need to know the nature of the conviction, the date of the conviction and any sentencing, included length of the sentence, any fines or community service.
As well as offering the most comprehensive policy, Intelligent Insurance are also very proud of the customer service we deliver, both over the phone and by online chat. Our team excels in product knowledge and service delivery, training to exceptionally high standards. This excellence has earned us an ‘Excellent’ rating on Trustpilot for our service, with 94% of our customers recommending us on Reviews.IO.. These ratings take into account live reviews received every day and are based on reviews from over 4,000 of our happy customers.
In terms of home insurance, you must disclose anyone living at the property with an unspent criminal conviction, even if they are not named on the insurance policy. This could be a relative living at the property, a spouse or even a lodger. Insurance companies need to know any information relating to this and they will need the same detail as if it was the main policyholder.
When you don’t disclose convictions, your insurance claims may face rejection. Insurers have the authority to cancel policies if they find dishonesty in the application responses. Had insurers known about the convictions initially, they might have either not issued a policy or issued one with different terms.
Data protection laws strictly guard sensitive information like this, ensuring its confidentiality. Only relevant parties, such as insurers assessing your risk to determine your premium, receive this information. Always review the Privacy Policy of any company you share your information with to understand their data sharing practices. Companies must store all data securely and use it only as outlined in their policies.
Intelligent Insurance are a specialist provider of home insurance for people with non standard or unusual circumstances. We understand that discussing a criminal record is a sensitive area and it can be difficult to talk about. We offer full online quote and buy, but if you prefer to speak to someone, our team are discreet and will help you find the cover you need where possible. Get in touch via our Online Chat or call us on 03333 11 11 10.
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