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Construction costs in the UK have not all moved in the same direction during the first half of 2026. Building materials cost more overall than they did a year ago, although some products have fallen in price. Average pay across the construction industry has changed very little. The prices contractors agree for building work are still rising, but more slowly than some of their costs. For brokers and property owners, national figures are a useful guide to what is happening acro

Property values are back in the news following Andy Burnham’s arrival in Downing Street. Before becoming Prime Minister, Burnham called for Council Tax reform and questioned why homes in England are still placed into bands using property values from 1991. News coverage has since explored several possible changes, including updated bands and taxes linked to property or land value. However, at the time of writing, no detailed plan for wider Council Tax reform has been announced

Two historic homes can look almost identical. They may be the same age, similar in size and in the same area. Yet the amount needed to rebuild them after a major fire, flood or other serious damage can be very different. The point that we always come back to is this: The amount a building is insured for should reflect the likely cost of rebuilding it, rather than what the property would sell for. What do “listed” and “heritage” mean? A listed building has legal protection bec

Only 6% of listed buildings are accurately insured, with 79% underinsured and 15% overinsured. In total, 94% were insured for the wrong amount. The underinsurance gap is particularly stark. Listed buildings that were underinsured were covered, on average, for just 64% of their required rebuild cost. “Listed buildings often carry rebuild cost details that are easy to underestimate from an insurance point of view,” said Johnny Thomson, Head of Strategic Planning at RebuildCostA

Energy efficiency upgrades are now a familiar part of property ownership. Solar panels, heat pumps, battery storage, better insulation, triple glazing and sustainable materials are increasingly common in UK homes and commercial buildings. But one important insurance question can easily be missed: if a building becomes greener, would the rebuild cost still cover what it would take to put it back as it now stands? At RebuildCostASSESSMENT.com, we have already looked at how ener

The Building Safety Act 2022 has made rebuild cost assessments more complex for some buildings in England. Today, building safety compliance is an important consideration for affected higher-risk buildings and other complex properties where reinstatement would need to meet current building regulations. “The Building Safety Act has changed the way risk, responsibility and building information are managed for affected high-rise residential buildings,” Gautham Rajendar, Technica

Our latest Infographic found that 93% of UK properties are insured for the wrong amount. The regional breakdown behind that figure shows why location still matters when calculating rebuild value. National figures show the scale of the issue. Regional data helps show where inaccurate sums insured are more common. Local differences in labour, logistics, site access and planning rules can all affect rebuild costs, which is why a national average can miss important local detail.

In 2026, rebuild cost accuracy is under pressure from five key areas: labour capacity, regulatory standards, material price variation, property complexity and the age of the valuation. It is no longer enough for a sum insured to look plausible. It also needs to be supported by evidence that reflects current reinstatement conditions. “Rebuild cost accuracy is about more than the price of materials,” said Gautham Rajendar, Technical Lead at RebuildCostASSESSMENT.com. “It’s a co

When should a property alteration prompt a rebuild cost assessment? Property alterations can improve a building, but they can also change its rebuild cost. Where works materially affect a building’s size, layout, specification or services, the sum insured may need to be reviewed. “It is a common misconception that smaller renovation projects will not affect the rebuild cost of a property,” said Sharon Masters AIIRSM MARLA, Technical Lead and Surveyor at RebuildCostASSESSMENT.

A new regional breakdown of RebuildCostASSESSMENT.com’s latest data has revealed just how unevenly inaccurate building insurance is spread across the UK, with Wales, the North West and Northern Ireland emerging as some of the areas most exposed to underinsurance. Based on the latest RCA analysis, 70% of properties in the UK are underinsured overall, while 23% are overinsured. That leaves only a small minority covered for the right amount, reinforcing the scale of the challeng

Commercial properties across the UK face a growing risk of underinsurance in 2026 as rebuild costs and compliance requirements continue to change. Rising rebuild costs, regulatory change and more complex rebuilding requirements can leave even well-managed portfolios underinsured if sums insured are not kept up to date. “Commercial reinstatement is inherently more complicated than domestic rebuilding,” said Gautham Rajendar, Technical Lead for Commercial Properties at...

Materials inflation has eased. Labour costs remain elevated and that is where reinstatement values can shift most quickly. Recent government data shows materials price growth easing, with the “All Work” materials index rose 3.3% in the year to December 2025. However, construction earnings data and insurer commentary continue to highlight labour shortages and sustained pay growth. Where skilled trades are constrained, repair and reinstatement costs can remain under pressure. “

If you’ve ever seen “desktop” and “site” rebuild cost assessments and thought, “Right… but what’s the actual difference — and does it matter?” you’re not alone. It’s one of the questions we’re most often asked by people coming to us for the first time. And the honest answer is: both options can be the right one – it just depends on the building, the level of complexity, and what you need the valuation to stand up to. What do “desktop” and “site” actually mean? A desktop rebui

Renewal season is approaching, and for many property owners, that means one crucial question: does your current sum insured still reflect today’s rebuild cost? In 2026, the answer is often “no.” With rebuild costs still rising and insurers tightening their focus on valuation accuracy, renewal reviews are now essential to avoiding both underinsurance and unnecessary premium spend. To understand the scale of inaccurate property insurance in the UK, take a look at our latest inf

Construction costs across the UK remain high as we enter winter 2026. While inflation has slowed in the broader economy, rebuild costs continue to rise – driven by elevated labour rates, material inputs, and regulatory pressures. For property owners and insurance professionals, this means one thing: regular, data-driven review of sums insured is more critical than ever. Rebuild costs still rising “While the headline rate might look moderate, the detail tells a different story

Eviction is becoming slower and more costly. With Section 21 ending under the Renters’ Rights Bill, landlords now face longer court delays and higher legal fees when a tenant stops paying rent. Protecting rental income is more important than ever. Three types of cover support this: Rent Guarantee Insurance – protects you when a tenant does not pay Landlord Legal Expenses Insurance – covers the legal cost of eviction Loss of Rent Insurance – replaces income when the property c

Thatched properties are some of the most beautiful homes in the UK, full of history, character, and craftsmanship. But they’re also among the most complex when it comes to insurance. Because every thatched home is unique, estimating what it would cost to rebuild can be difficult. Most people run to free online calculators, which are even more of a risk. If your building's insurance hasn’t been reviewed for a while, there’s a real risk it no longer reflects the true rebuild co

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025, which received Royal Assent on 27 October 2025, marks the biggest overhaul of England’s private rental sector in a generation. While much of the attention has centred on tenant protections and the end of “no-fault” evictions, the law could also reshape the financial landscape for landlords and insurers, particularly when it comes to rebuild costs. Higher property standards, higher rebuild values A major shift lies in the extension of the Decent H

Landlord insurance quotes in the UK can vary a lot – not only in price, but in what they actually cover. Before you compare policies or look for the lowest premium, it helps to understand what drives those costs and how to make a fair comparison. A key factor is your property’s rebuild cost – the amount every insurer uses to set your premium. If that figure is wrong, the rest of your cover can quickly fall apart. Recent data from over 43,000 assessments by RebuildCostASSESSME

Landlord insurance add-ons: are they really protecting you? When you take out landlord home insurance cover, you want to protect both your income and your property. Many landlords looking for total landlord legal & rent protection insurance add extras. These include rent guarantee, landlord home emergency cover, or boiler breakdown insurance. All which help with the most common problems, such as broken boilers, burst pipes, or tenants who stop paying rent. But what if, even w