UK Home insurance statistics 2024

This page includes relevant UK home insurance statistics for 2024, such as:

• The evolution of the UK home insurance market
• The impact on average UK house insurance costs
• Home insurance claim statistics outlining the most common claims

The UK insurance sector is the 4th largest in the world, managing investments of £1.8 trillion and employing 300,000 people. The UK also has one of the highest insurance penetration rates in Europe, at over 14%. Approximately 41.6 million UK adults possess some form of general insurance, with the main ones being buildings, contents, and combined home insurance policies.

Our report collates UK home insurance statistics for 2024, alongside our own data, to analyse patterns and show how the market is changing. By analysing past and present trends, this allows us to compare home insurance data and suggest what the future holds for UK home insurance customers.

Overview: Top UK home insurance statistics

• The UK home insurance market value is expected to reach £4.1 billion by the end of 2024
• As of 2024, there are around 35 million home insurance policies in the UK
• More than half (51.8%) of people bought their home insurance policy online in 2023-24
• It’s estimated that around a quarter of UK homes (7 million) are currently without home insurance
• The total value of gross net written premiums for UK home insurance in Q3 2023 was £24.41 billion
• Around 90% of UK home insurance policyholders in 2022 were existing customers, with 50% staying with their existing provider and 40% choosing to switch
• Around 75% of UK home insurance customers choose to shop around before committing to buy a policy

UK home insurance market share statistics

Between 2018-24, the UK home insurance market size decreased by an average of 1.6% per year. By the end of 2024, its market value is predicted to be worth around £4.1 billion, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of +2.1%.

A breakdown of UK home insurance policy sales figures 2018-24

(Source: Statista)

There are almost 35 million home insurance policies across the country, over half of which (51.8%) were bought online.

UK home insurance statistics show that the number of new policies bought online has increased by over 5% since 2018. It went from 17.25 million to just over 18 million in 2024. The opposite has happened for offline policies, going from 18.39 million to 16.53 million. This is a drop of more than 10% in the last 5 years.

Between 2018-24, property insurance statistics indicate that the number of new policies will have decreased by around 1 million (or 2.7%) over this 6-year period.

A breakdown of UK home insurance market share statistics by quarterly expenses, losses, and net written premiums (NWPs)

Our home insurance report reveals levels of profitability within the UK home insurance industry fluctuated between 2022-23. Since Q1 2022, the value of gross net written premiums (NWPs) has generally increased quarter-on-quarter. Going from £20.64 billion to £24.41 billion as of Q3 2023 – a rise of +18%.

During this time, combined losses have shifted from 106.45% in Q1 2022, down to 96.55% the following quarter. While the expenses ratio has normally varied between 39% and 41%, it’s the reported losses that have impacted the industry’s profitability the most between 2022-23.

As of Q3 2023, losses from policy claims accounted for just over half (51.49%) of all outgoings for that financial quarter – the 2nd-lowest recorded figures across 2022-23. But in Q1 2022, the respective figure was more than 66%.

UK Home insurance providers statistics

In a survey of 24,000 home insurance customers by Consumer Intelligence, Aviva was found to be the most popular company in the UK for property insurance in 2022 (representing 8.7%).

A breakdown of the largest UK home insurance companies by market share

(Source: Consumer Intelligence)

This was followed by LV= (7.3%), Direct Line (6.2%), and Admiral (6.1%).

A breakdown of UK home insurance companies and their percentage gain in market share 2022

(Source: Consumer Intelligence)

According to a home insurance report by Consumer Intelligence, home insurance providers Policy Expert and Aviva both saw a +0.9% growth in their market share between April-November 2022. The former, which introduced a new Bronze, Silver, and Gold tier system in April 2022, grew its customer count by more than 30% in the 8 months to November.

How many home insurance customers renew their policy each year?

UK home insurance statistics show that around 9 in 10 (90% of) combined buildings and contents home insurance policyholders are existing customers. Of these, half (50%) choose to renew their policy, with 2 in 5 (40%) choosing to switch providers.

Over 80% of combined cover policyholders who renew still search for alternative policies and/or negotiate a new deal, before agreeing to renew with their existing provider.

Consumer Intelligence's home insurance report found that price was a significant factor in shaping whether a customer renewed their existing home insurance policy. Less than half (44%) of policyholders were offered a lower price after shopping around.

(Source: Consumer Intelligence)

Of all UK home insurance companies surveyed, Policy Expert had the highest customer retention rate in 2022, with almost 87% of customers renewing their existing home insurance policy. This was marginally ahead of NFU Mutual, in second place, with just under 85%.

The same report found that more than 7 in 10 customers from Nationwide (75.1%), NatWest (75%), and Sainsbury’s (74.7%) also chose to stay with their home insurance provider.

These home insurance statistics are the first to be published since the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) enforced a ban on dual pricing. This involved the practice of setting different prices in different markets for the same product or service, with the intention of making a profit.

The figures have shown a change in strategy among some multi-brand insurance groups. For example, Sheilas’ Wheels became more competitively priced for home insurance in 2022, growing its customer base by 40% across the year.

Almost 3 in 4 (72%) customers still prefer to shop around for their home insurance, with just under half (47%) switching providers.

High-value and mid-value home insurance are 2 of the many different types of home insurance policies available in the UK. In 2022, the high-value home insurance market was valued at £671 million, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of +6% between 2022-26. This is largely attributed to a growing number of high-net-worth individuals, alongside rising double-digit premium rates.

By contrast, the mid-value home insurance market was worth around £350 million in 2022, with a forecasted CAGR of +3% between 2022-26.

According to our home insurance report, there are more than 400,000 high-net-worth individuals in the UK (those with liquid assets of more than £1 million).

Despite recent economic hard times, the number of high-value home insurance policies has actually increased, by an average of +3.9% per year between 2018-22. At the same time, there are around 15.7 million people in the UK considered mid-net-worth clients (those with liquid assets of between £50,000 and £1 million).

The future of the UK home insurance market

Our home insurance report suggests the UK home insurance market should grow by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of +7.3% from 2019 to 2028.

By the end of 2024, home insurance costs could rise by 16% across the year, compared to 2022 figures.

This means that by the end of 2024, a typical UK home insurance policy is likely to rise by an average of £87 per policy since 2022.

Home insurance companies will need to consider the changing landscape of the UK housing market. The ONS claim that UK homes are responsible for nearly 25% of our country’s total carbon emissions. Therefore, this will need to be reflected in companies’ underwriting and pricing strategy.

According to EY, the increased use of modular buildings and non-traditional construction methods could have future impacts on the home insurance market and prices. For example, customers may require specialised, non-standard home insurance policies for their properties, such as timber frame home insurance, to fully protect themselves.

UK home insurers are expected to lose money by the end of 2024. This is due to rising prices and a drop in premium rates.

Across 2022, net combined ratios (NCRs) reached 122% for the year. This represents the worst results for the UK home insurance industry in over a decade. This is expected to drop to 104% by the end of 2024.

This decrease in 2024 is driven by many factors, including:

• Lower rates of inflation (10.5% in December 2022 versus 4% in 2023).
• Stabilisation in the frequency of claims after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Home insurance across the UK

There were an estimated 28.2 million households in the UK in 2022. This is an increase of +6.1% over the last decade, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

It’s believed that 25% of UK homes don’t have any form of home insurance. This means there could be as many as 7.5 million properties in the country currently unprotected.

What is the average UK home insurance cost?

As of December 2023:

• The median average UK home insurance cost was £251.58 per year
• The average price for separate buildings insurance was £208.57
• The average contents insurance policy cost was £86.56.

The cost of insurance differed by house type. The median cost of home insurance for a detached house (£268) was around two-fifths (41%) higher than a terraced house (£190), and a third (33%) more than a semi-detached home (£201).

There was significant variation in average home insurance costs by age group. Average costs for those aged 35-44 (£244) were around a third (36%) higher than those aged 18-24 (£180).

Average price of home insurance in the UK by year

Recent UK home insurance statistics found that the median average cost of home insurance in December 2023 stood at £251.58, according to quotes from Confused.com customers. This represents a rise of more than a third (38%) from the previous year and is around 50% higher than the typical cost in 2021.

A breakdown of the average price of home insurance in the UK by year

UK average home insurance costs decreased year-on-year between 2013 and 2016 before slowly increasing in the following years. The latest price for 2023 is the largest annual increase over the last decade, with the next-highest increase occurring between 2021 and 2022 (+9%).

The cost of single buildings insurance policies also followed a similar pattern. The latest median annual cost of £208.57 for December 2023. This is more than around 49% higher than in 2022, and almost two-thirds (63%) more than the 2021 average.

UK home insurance price changes 2022-23

Between 2022 and 2023, the monthly rate of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for UK home insurance generally fluctuated between +2% and -1.5%. CPI values dropped to their lowest in May 2023 (-1.5%), yet peaked in January 2022, when they were +10.8%. 

A breakdown of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) monthly rate for UK home insurance 2023

As of December 2023, property insurance statistics show the monthly CPI rate for home insurance is -0.4% – the 2nd consecutive month with a negative value.

Throughout the whole of 2023, there was an average CPI rate of -0.2% a month, partially increased by the figures for February (+2.7%) and March (+1.8%).

Regional differences in average UK home insurance costs

Our home insurance stats reveal that customers in Northern Ireland pay the highest home insurance costs of anywhere in the UK, with a median average cost of £340 per year. This was 53% higher than the UK average and 12% more than the next highest region in the UK (London).

Based on the average cost of home insurance quotes for Confused.com customers, Londoners continue to pay the highest prices of anywhere in England with typical costs of £304 per year. Those in the English capital are now charged almost two-fifths (37%) more than the UK average to insure their property.

As of 2023, London and Northern Ireland are the only 2 regions paying above the collective average.

A breakdown of the median average cost of UK home insurance by region (2023)

Residents in the North East were quoted the lowest average home insurance costs. The region’s median price of £169 means that residents in the area pay around 14% less than any other UK region.

Lancashire (£189) and the South West (£191) both had average costs that were almost 25% below the UK average of £251.58.

Regional increases in UK average home insurance costs in 2024

Average home insurance costs rose in 2023 across all UK regions by almost a third (+32%). The North East saw the smallest increase at +32.1%, while the South East saw the largest rise at +38.5%.

A breakdown of the annual and quarterly changes in home insurance costs by UK region (2023)

(Source: Consumer Intelligence)

Throughout Q3 2023, average price increases for UK home insurance were between +6.8% (North East) and +9.5% (Yorkshire and The Humber). The Eastern region and West Midlands saw the 2nd-highest 3-month spikes, both at +9.1%.

Average UK home insurance costs by age of the property

UK home insurance stats from Consumer Intelligence show that older properties continue to attract the highest prices for home insurance. Victorian-era properties (1850-1895) have average costs that sit at roughly £247. This is more than a fifth (21%) higher than those for the next most expensive houses, which were built between 1910 and 1925.

A breakdown of average UK home insurance costs between different property ages (2023)

(Source: Consumer Intelligence)

In 2023, UK home insurance statistics revealed that prices rose by almost two-fifths (+39.3%) for homes built between 1925 and 1940. This is the largest increase of all property ages over this period.

During Q3 2023, average payments for home insurance rose across the board for properties of all ages. The increases ranged from +7.4% for those built after the year 2000, to +9.3% for houses built between 1925 and 1940.

Also, it’s estimated that there are more than 60,000 thatched properties in the UK, and more than 7 in 10 (75%) of these are listed buildings. Insurers may view thatched housing as riskier than those with a standard roof due to increased fire risk and damage from birds, vermin, and weather. Therefore, specialised thatched roof home insurance is a potential solution for anyone looking to insure a property with a plant-based, roofing material.

Average UK home insurance costs by type of property

Analysing our own data, we compared a range of property types in the UK. By looking at the number of insurance policies for each property type and the cost of each policy, we ranked each property type based on the median cost of home insurance.

More than four-fifths (81%) of Confused.com home insurance customers in 2023-24 bought a policy that fell into one of these categories:

• Terraced houses
• Semi-detached houses
• Detached houses

Of these property types, detached houses have the highest average home insurance costs. With a median average price of £268 per year, this type of property costs a third (33%) more to insure than a typical semi-detached house (£204.41). This is two-fifths (41%) more than a standard UK terraced house.

A breakdown of average UK home insurance costs without claims by type of property

(Source: Confused.com)

Self-contained flats located on either the ground floor or 1st floor were found to have median average home insurance costs of £188. This was 25% lower than the UK average (£251.58) and nearly a third (30%) lower than the cost to insure a typical detached house (£268).

Bungalows also cost less than the UK average to insure, at £197 per year. This means that combined buildings and contents insurance for a bungalow costs around 2% less, on average, than a policy for a UK semi-detached house.

Average UK home insurance costs by number of bedrooms

Our analysis of home insurance found that the average cost of home insurance rises sharply for homes with more than 2 bedrooms. These increases begin to slow at 7 bedrooms, with the average cost of home insurance remaining fairly stable from this point onwards.

A breakdown of average UK home insurance costs without claims by number of bedrooms

(Source: Confused.com)

Based on Confused.com customer quote data from 2023, UK 2-bedroom properties had the lowest average home insurance costs at £152 per year. This was around 6% less than 1-bedroom homes (£162), and 16% lower than the cost to insure a typical 3-bedroom property (£182).

The biggest single increase was between homes containing 4 and 5 bedrooms, where median average home insurance costs increased by nearly 47% (from £260 to £381).

The annual cost to insure an 8-bedroom home (£741) is around 9% less than a 9-bedroom home (£817) and 12% less than a 10-bedroom property (on average).

Average UK home insurance costs by number of bedrooms

Our data reveals that those aged 45-54 generally pay the most for their home insurance. With a median average cost of £258, this is around 3% more than the December 2023 UK average of £251.58 per year for home insurance.

A breakdown of average UK home insurance costs by age group

(Source: Confused.com)

According to Confused.com customer data, the average home insurance cost for 2023 rose with every age group from 18-24 onward. It peaked for those aged 45-54. From here, this trend reverses and prices begin to decline with every subsequent age category.

Those aged 18-24 paid the least for their home insurance in 2023, with median average costs of around £180 per year. This was around a fifth (19%) lower than the UK average and almost a third (30%) less than those aged 45-54.

The only other age groups with median average payments below £200 per year were those aged 25-34 (£199) and 65+ (£186). All remaining age groups all generally pay more than £240 per year for their home insurance.

The biggest individual increase occurred between those aged 25-34 and 35-44, with median costs rising almost a quarter (23%) from £199 to £244 per year for home insurance.

When it came to buildings-only insurance policies, those in the oldest age bracket typically paid the least in 2023. With median annual costs of around £160, those aged 65+ paid around 14% less than those aged 35-44 and almost a fifth (17%) less than those in the 45-54 age group.

What factors affect the cost of home insurance?

Some of the factors that impact your home insurance costs are under your control, such as:

• The type of door locks you have
• Any security measures installed on your premises
• How much voluntary excess you choose

Some factors, such as prolonged extreme weather, are sometimes unavoidable. In 2023, it was estimated that extreme weather events cost UK insurers somewhere in the region of £352 million in property claims.

However, throughout 2023, rebuilding costs decreased by 16%. In January 2023, the House Rebuilding Costs Index – a national average based on the annual changes in rebuilding costs for various house and flat types – stood at 18.7%. This was largely driven by high levels of inflation impacting the cost of labour and materials. This reduced in December 2023 to 2.7%.

The impact of storms on home insurance

2022 and 2023 were particularly heavy for stormy weather across the country. UK home insurance companies dealt with an estimated 36,100 home insurance claims in 2023 for property damage caused by storms.

Since the launch of the Flood Re Scheme in 2016, sourcing affordable home insurance for high-risk areas has become a lot easier. Every insurer that offers home insurance in the UK must pay into the scheme. This costs companies £180 million a year to help protect those properties most at risk of flooding (providing your house was built before 1 January 2009).

The impact of subsidence on home insurance

According to home insurance stats from the ABI, UK home insurance companies spent £782 million in home insurance payouts for Q2 2023. The insurance industry group links the rise primarily to a surge in subsidence insurance claims.

This was partly due to the lasting effects of the heat waves during the summer of 2022. These led to 18,000 more subsidence claims for the year. This is the same as 1 new claim every 15 minutes during the 2nd half of 2022.

This was largely driven by record UK summer temperatures, which peaked at 40.3°C on 19 July 2022.

Of the 23,000 total subsidence claims made during 2022, the vast majority (78%) were made between July and December. In total, the average subsidence claim pay out in 2022 stood at £9,600.

FCA pricing reforms and the impact on UK home insurance costs

On 1 January 2022, the FCA introduced new rules regarding the approach to pricing for UK home and car insurance policies. This ensures that the price paid by renewing customers is no greater than the price quoted to an equivalent new customer, for a like-for-like policy.

However, the FCA hasn't set a cap on the level of premiums paid for either new or existing customers.

In 2022, the average price to renew a combined buildings and contents home insurance policy fell by 10% (on the 2021 average price of £316), to around £285 for the year.

How does the amount of voluntary excess affect home insurance costs?

UK home insurance statistics show that those with a voluntary excess level of £150 pay the least for their home insurance, on average. Those with this level of excess pay a median annual cost of £218 – around 5% lower than those with no voluntary excess.

A breakdown of the average price of home insurance in the UK by total voluntary excess

(Source: Confused.com)

Confused.com customers with £250 of voluntary excess pay just over 1% more for their home insurance than those with £150 excess. Those with £400 excess typically pay around a fifth (19%) more than any other group (£272). This shows that homes on the highest voluntary excess typically are worth more. So, they have higher insurance fees.

How do estimated rebuild costs affect home insurance costs?

UK homes with estimated rebuild costs of between £200,000 and £300,000 have the lowest home insurance costs, on average. With median home insurance costs of £168 per year, these homes cost 14% less to insure than those with rebuild costs below £100,000 (£197).

A breakdown of the average cost of home insurance by estimated rebuild cost

(Source: Confused.com)

Homes with estimated rebuild costs of between £100,000 and £200,000 had the next lowest average costs for home insurance, at £177 per year. This was 5% more than properties with rebuild costs between £200,000 and £300,000. But more than a fifth (21%) lower than homes in the £300,000-£400,000 category.

The average price of home insurance rises sharply once rebuild costs exceed £300,000. Homes in the £400,000-£500,000 bracket cost almost a third (31%) more to insure than those in the category below (£300,000-£400,000).

UK homes with rebuild costs exceeding £500,000 had the most expensive home insurance costs from 2023, with median annual costs of £432. This is around 1.5 times (157%) more than homes in the £200,000-£300,000 category.

UK home insurance claim statistics

Between January and December 2022, the claim frequency rate for UK home insurance policies remained low for both buildings-only as well as buildings and contents home insurance (3.19% vs 5.47%, respectively).

A breakdown of UK home insurance claim statistics for buildings-only and joint business and contents home insurance 2022

(Source: FCA)

Of those claims submitted, more than three-quarters (76%) were accepted for buildings and contents insurance policies. Paying out an average of £3,733.28 per claim. Almost two-thirds (68%) of buildings-only insurance claims were successful in this period, at a cost of £4,856.18 per claim.

There were around 7 times more combined buildings and contents insurance policies in 2022 than buildings-only policies (14.5 million vs 2.04 million). However, the overall value of payouts for combined home insurance was over 10 times more than buildings-only cover (£4.18 billion vs £394.43 million).

Nearly three-fifths (56.89%) of payments paid out for buildings-only insurance between July-December 2022 were for claims. Compared to just over half (50.37%) for combined home insurance policies.

A breakdown of UK home insurance companies by the smallest percentage of claims accepted and the average claim payout (2022)

(Source: FCA)

According to the FCA, almost 1 in 4 (23%) home insurance claims were rejected by providers in 2022, with some firms refusing to pay out on almost half (45%) of cases.

This is contrasted by the latest car insurance stats, which show almost 99% of insurance claims are approved (according to FCA figures).

Claim payouts from UK home insurance companies vary significantly. Some companies, like Rentokil Insurance, pay out between 40-45% of their customers' claims. For others, such as Hiscox Insurance Company and Chubb European Group, this figure is between 95% and 100%.

A breakdown of UK home insurance companies by the largest percentage of claims accepted and average claim payout (2022)

(Source: FCA)

There’s a stark contrast between different UK home insurance companies in terms of average payout value. China Taiping Insurance, which accepts 95-100% of claims, has an average payout of £500-£1,000. Hiscox Insurance Company has an identical acceptance rate for claims, yet pays out 20 times more than Greenwood, at £20,000-£20,500 on average.

AA Underwriting Insurance, on the other hand, only accepts 50-55% of claims, yet awards an average payout of around £3,500-£4,000. Rentokil Insurance approves 10% less by comparison, but pays out almost half the amount (£1,000-£1,500).

It is important to bear in mind that the average payout of each company is likely to have been affected by the type of claims they are receiving most often and the level of cover they are providing their customers.

The most popular UK home insurance claims by region

We looked at regional home insurance data and found the top 3 most common insurance claims in each UK region between January 2023 and February 2024.

Every region had escape of water in their top 3 claims. It accounted for nearly 21,700 claims in the UK overall throughout 2023. London was responsible for the most buildings claims for escape of water (5,178), followed by the Midlands (2,778), and the South (2,389).

A breakdown of the most popular home insurance claims by region throughout 2023

In 2023, more than four in five (85%) UK regions had buildings damaged from storms in their most common claims. Northern Ireland and Central Scotland were the only exceptions. London was the region with the most claims for this type of event (2,270). The South West recorded 1,841 claims for storm damage. Lancashire recorded 1,318. They had the 2nd and 3rd highest number of claims for the year.

Every UK region had accidental loss and damage home claims in their top 3. These claims totaled 21,727 – the most of any type The Midlands had the highest figures for this type of claim (3,481), followed by London (3,449) and Lancashire (2,414).

UK home burglary statistics

Burglaries by country – England and Wales (2023)

Around 1.28% of UK adults reported a domestic burglary in the year ending September 2023, according to ONS figures.

A breakdown of home burglary statistics by age groups in England and Wales (2023)

Adults between 16-24 were most likely to be victims of domestic burglary (3.1%) in 2023, followed by 25-34 and 45-54 year-olds (1.6%). The over-65s were the least likely age range to report a domestic break-in in 2023, at 1%.

A breakdown of home burglary statistics by different demographic factors in England and Wales (2023)

(Source: ONS)

ONS home burglary statistics reveal that those not born in the UK had the same risk of being a victim of domestic burglary as those who are (1.3%).

Single adults with children are the most likely demographic to be burgled in their homes (2.7%). This is more than double the reported figures for adults with no children (1.2%).

A breakdown of home burglary statistics by housing tenure in England and Wales (2023)

In 2023, social renters in England and Wales were almost twice as likely to be a victim of domestic burglary than homeowners (2.2% versus 1.1%). Around 1.3% of reported burglaries for the year ending March 2023 were from those in private rentals.

A breakdown of home burglary statistics by housing type in England and Wales (2023)

Those in a house (detached, semi-detached, and terraced) were around 2.5 times more likely to report a burglary in 2023 compared with those living in a flat or maisonette (4.8% versus 1.2% respectively).

A breakdown of home burglary statistics by rurality in England and Wales (2023)

Those living in urban areas of England and Wales were around twice as likely to be burgled in their home in 2023. This is compared to those residing in rural areas (1.9% vs 1%).

Reported domestic burglaries were highest in two types of urban areas. They were highest in the ethnically central parts (2.2%) and in the constrained city dweller districts (2.2%). This contrasts with suburbanites (1%), urbanites (1.2%), and hard-pressed living areas (1.2%). They were the groups least affected by domestic burglary in the year ending March 2023.

The ONS classifies the UK population into 8 ‘supergroups’. These groups are used to classify areas of the UK based on their:

• Population structure
• Household composition
• Type of housing
• Socio-economic characteristics
• Employment patterns.

They‘re designed as a broad generalisation for the people living in those areas. In reality, there’s a degree of variability within the characteristics, and shouldn’t be taken to mean all people living there will fall under these descriptions, or indeed match all of them.

A breakdown of ONS supergroup classifications for the UK population

(Source: ONS)

A breakdown of home burglary statistics by level of economic deprivation in England and Wales 2023

In 2023, those living in the 20% most deprived Output Areas (OAs) of England were more likely to report a domestic burglary. Compared to those in the 20% least-deprived regions (1.7% vs 1.2%). The same is true in Wales, but the figure is closer in favour of the 20% most deprived areas (0.9% vs 0.6%).

A breakdown of home burglary statistics by regions of England and Wales 2023

Those living in the North East are most likely to be a victim of domestic burglary across England and Wales. 1.7% of adults reported a break-in in the year ending March 2023. This is followed by the East Midlands (1.6%).

At the other end of the scale, people in the West Midlands are less than half as likely to suffer domestic burglary. Compared to those in the North East. At 0.8% of adults, this makes it the least likely region of England and Wales to be impacted by domestic break-ins.

People in the East of England (1%) and Wales (1.1%) also reported low numbers of domestic burglaries in the year ending March 2023.

A breakdown of home burglary statistics by police forces and regions of England and Wales 2023

(Source: ONS)

Home burglary statistics for England and Wales by region (2023)

Burglary statistics reported by the ONS reveal there were more than 5.5 million crimes reported in England and Wales for the year ending September 2023. Of these, around 3.4% (or 187,000) were classified as domestic burglaries.

In total, 94% of all domestic burglaries reported in 2023 were from homes situated in England.

When broken down by region, more than 1 in 5 (20.2%) were from London properties. This made it the most prevalent area for domestic burglaries in 2023 (with over 38,000 reported cases). This was followed by Yorkshire and The Humber (25,435) and the North West (25,361).

The region least affected by domestic burglary in 2023 was Wales. There were just under 6,000 cases. This was almost 1.8% of all reported home burglaries in 2023 in England and Wales.This was followed by the North East (10,547) and South West (10,865).

Home burglary statistics for England and Wales by police force (2023)

(Source: ONS)

London’s Metropolitan Police dealt with more home break-ins in 2023. They had more than any other police force in England and Wales. There were 37,988 for the year ending September 2023. This was almost all of the burglaries reported in the capital last year.

This was followed by Greater Manchester Police, who dealt with over half (53%) of domestic burglaries recorded in the North West in 2023. In total, the 13,393 reported offences accounted for 3.7% of all crimes handled by the police force over the year.

In Yorkshire and The Humber, more than 2 in 5 (43%) home burglaries were reported to West Yorkshire Police. The 10,913 recorded cases of domestic break-ins last year accounted for 3.55% of all crimes reported in 2023.

By comparison, South Yorkshire Police dealt with 2,018 fewer cases of domestic burglary. Yet their figure of 8,895 represented almost 5.58% of all crimes in the area. This is the highest percentage recorded by any constabulary.

In contrast, the City of London police recorded the fewest home burglaries. They recorded just 21 for the year ending September 2023 (or 0.28% of all crimes). This was followed by Cumbria (838) and Dyfed-Powys in Wales (854). They represented 2% to 3% of crimes reported in 2023 to these police forces.

A breakdown of home burglary statistics showing the percentage change in reported residential burglaries between 2022-23 by regions of England and Wales

Most of England saw a decrease in the number of reported cases between September 2022 and September 2023. Over this 12-month period, domestic burglaries dropped by 3.9%, on average.

The regions that saw the largest percentage decrease in reported cases of home burglaries were:

• North West (-19.73%)
• Wales (-16.75%)
• South West (-6.29%)

Only 3 regions experienced a percentage increase in domestic burglaries between 2022-23:

• Yorkshire and The Humber (+6.03%)
• East Midlands (+3.2%)
• North East (+2.02%)

Which counties saw the biggest increase in residential burglaries?

The City of London Police saw a 23.53% rise in domestic burglary cases. This was over the period, compared to a 21.66% rise in Devon and Cornwall. Cases also rose in Sussex and Cleveland by 17.62% and 15.87%, respectively.

A breakdown of home burglary statistics showing the percentage change in reported residential burglaries between 2022-23 by police forces of England and Wales

However, some police forces saw a drop in home burglaries throughout 2023. The largest was in Greater Manchester (-25.28%), followed by Gwent (-21.91%), and Cumbria (-19.89%). There were four other counties that saw decreases of more than 15%, they were:

• Bedfordshire (-16.8%)
• North Wales (-15.89%)
• Avon and Somerset (-15.69%)
• Merseyside (-15.41%)

Surrey and West Mercia’s rates remained stable, with minimal rises of 0.04% and 1.87%, respectively.

A breakdown of home burglary statistics showing residential burglary rate per 1,000 population and per 1,000 households by regions of England and Wales 2023

(Source: ONS)

Home burglary statistics for England and Wales show that in 2023, there were an average of 3.1 domestic break-ins per 1,000 people. And 7.5 per 1,000 households.

When broken down regionally, Yorkshire and The Humber had the largest amount per 1,000 population (4.6). Followed by London (4.3), the North East (3.9), and the West Midlands (3.8). A similar trend followed per 1,000 households, with Yorkshire and The Humber coming out top (10.9), followed by London (10.7), and the West Midlands (9.4).

At the other end of the scale, Wales and the South West had the fewest domestic burglaries per person. The rates were 1.9 per 1,000 residents and 4.2 and 4.4 per 1,000 households, respectively.

A breakdown of home burglary statistics showing residential burglary rate per 1,000 population and per 1,000 households by police forces of England and Wales 2023

(Source: ONS)

Cleveland Police dealt with an average of 7 domestic break-ins per 1,000 people in 2022 (or 16.6 per 1,000 households) – the highest of any police force in England and Wales. This was followed closely by:

• South Yorkshire (6.4 per 1,000 people, or 14.8 per 1,000 households).
• West Midlands (5.1 per 1,000 residents, or 13.2 per 1,000 households).

Some police forces in England reported remarkably low numbers of domestic burglaries in 2022, the lowest of which was Devon and Cornwall Police (1.1 per 1,000 population/2.5 per 1,000 households). This was followed by Norfolk Police (1.3 home burglaries per 1,000 residents, or 3 per 1,000 households) and Suffolk Police (1.5 per 1,000 people, or 3.4 per 1,000 households).

Burglaries by country – Scotland 2023

Police in Scotland recorded 289,362 crimes in the year ending December 2023 – a 1% decrease from the previous year (286,464), and 5% lower than in 2018 (305,699).

Crimes of Dishonesty (of which housebreaking is included) saw an 11% rise in 2023 compared to the previous year, with 103,393 reported incidents. However, 2023 figures were 10% lower compared to the year ending December 2018, decreasing from 114,506.

As of 2022-23, the national rate for Crimes of Dishonesty stood at 189 per 10,000 people – an increase of almost 12% from 169 per 10,000 in 2021-22.

A breakdown of home burglary statistics in Scotland between 2013 and 2023

Over the 10-year period from 2013-23, housebreaking in Scotland dropped by more than three-fifths (60.5%). This included a 3.6% increase from 2021-22 to 2022-23 when reported incidents of housebreaking rose from 8,489 to 8,796 cases, respectively.

Housebreaks across Scotland rose by nearly 4% from 2021-22. But, they were still lower than the year ending December 2018. Back then, 13,777 domestic break-ins were reported.

Of the 2023 crime figures, less than 1 in 10 (9%) were attributed to housebreaking. This was the 4th highest after theft (36%), shoplifting (28%), and fraud (16%).

Also, there were 1,297 reported incidents of ‘Theft By Opening Lockfast Places’ in 2023. An 8% increase compared to 2022 when the number stood at 1,203. However, 2023 shows a decrease of 60% over the 10-year period from 2013-14 to 2022-23.

Burglaries by country – Northern Ireland 2023

Between January and December 2023, there were 107,095 crimes reported in Northern Ireland – a decrease of 2,809 (-2.5%) compared to the previous 12 months.

As of 2023, reported cases of burglary stood at 3,596. This represented 3.4% of all recorded crimes for the year and a 6.2% reduction compared to 2021-22.

This trend highlights a gradual decline in incidents of burglary in Northern Ireland since 2013-14, when respective figures represented 8% of all reported crimes. Burglary offences for January-December 2023 are the lowest seen within the last decade.

Following a decline in burglaries at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21, the decline of burglary offences in Northern Ireland has continued to fall in the years since lockdown restrictions were eased.

What our home & lifestyle insurance expert says

“The threat of burglary is one of the main fears for homeowners across the UK. Thankfully, there are several easy steps you can take that drastically reduce your level of risk.

“Basic checks like ensuring doors are locked and windows are closed may sound simplistic. But they’re among the main ways to discourage opportunistic burglars from targeting your home. Failure to do these checks could also invalidate your home insurance policy, so making sure you stay on top of your own security is essential.

“Having basic home security equipment like alarms or CCTV installed will drastically reduce the chances of a burglar successfully breaking into your property.

“Finally, though it’s impossible to completely eliminate the threat of burglary, a comprehensive home insurance policy can ensure you’re covered if the worst happens. A robust policy covering both your buildings and contents ensures that you’re able to retrieve some or all of the financial damage of a burglary”

Matthew Harwood Home & Lifestyle insurance expert

Glossary of terms

Buildings insurance

Buildings insurance is a type of home insurance that provides financial protection in the event of damage to the structure of your house including the:

• Walls
• Roof
• Floors

Depending on the type of policy you have, this can be extended to fixtures and fittings.

Compound annual growth rate (CAGR)

The rate of return on an investment across the year, assuming any profits are reinvested at the end of each year back into the company/business.

Consumer Price Index (CPI)

A measure used by the UK Government to judge the rate of inflation, by taking into account the average price paid for a representative basket of goods and services over a given time period.

Contents insurance

Contents insurance is a type of home insurance that covers loss or damage to anything in your home that’s not considered part of the building or structure. Your policy covers the cost of repairing or replacing those items should they become destroyed, damaged, or stolen (up to a designated value).

High-value home insurance

High-value home insurance is targeted towards individuals with more than £1 million in liquid assets, and who wish to insure expensive items within their home. This includes:

• Antiques
• Artefacts
• Artwork

Home insurance premium

A home insurance premium is the amount of money you need to pay, in order to keep your home insurance policy active during a given term (usually a year).

Mid-value home insurance

A mid-value home insurance policy is designed for those people with an above average level of wealth and/or belongings that require insurance. This is usually for those with liquid assets over £50,000, but less than £1 million.

Net combined ratio (NCR)

The net combined ratio (NCR) is a measure used to evaluate the profitability and financial health of an insurance company. It’s calculated by taking the total sum of incurred losses and expenses throughout the year, and dividing it by the amount earned through net written premiums (NWPs), expressed as a percentage. A value of less than 100% means the company is in profit, whereas a value greater than 100% indicates the company is losing money.

Net Written Premiums (NWPs)

Net written premiums (NWPs) refers to how much customers pay for their insurance policies across a given time period (usually a year). This figure is calculated by subtracting the total amount of money given up to reinsurance companies, plus any assumed reinsurance. Once calculated, this represents the amount of money an insurance company gets to keep for assuming the level of risk associated with its customers.

FAQ about UK home insurance

How much is home insurance in the UK?

According to quotes from Confused.com customers, the median average cost of home insurance in December 2023 stood at £251.58 – up 38% from 2022 and 50% higher than 2021.

How much is home insurance a month in the UK?

The average cost of home insurance a month in the UK is about £25.

Why has UK home insurance gone up in 2024?

UK home insurance costs have gone up during 2024 for a number of reasons, including:

• The rise in subsidence claims (23,000 in 2022 alone).
• The increased cost of building materials and labour associated with high levels of inflation (the House Rebuilding Costs Index is now at 18.7%)
• A surge in frozen pipe payouts from a cold winter spell
• Large amounts of extreme weather events (170,000 claims made in 2022 for storm property damage, to the sum of £473 million)

How much will my home insurance go up after a claim in the UK?

After you make a claim, how much your home insurance costs increase depends on the type of claim you’ve made. In January 2022, a survey published in the Independent found that home insurance customers who made a claim saw their costs increase by 57% the following year, at an average of £91 per policy.

How big is the UK home insurance market?

The UK home insurance market is predicted to be worth around £4.1 billion by the end of 2023. It is forecasted to grow at a rate of +2.1% each year. However, between 2018-23, the UK home insurance market decreased in size, by an average of 1.6% per year.

What percentage of people in the UK have home insurance?

At the end of 2023, there were around 34.76 million home insurance policies in the UK, accounting for about three-quarters (75%) of UK homes.

How many people don't have home insurance in the UK?

Within the home insurance industry, it’s believed that a quarter of UK homes (or up to 7 million properties) don’t have any form of home insurance.

Sources and methodology

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