How to cancel your home insurance policy (2024)

Written ByAlice CampionSenior Writer4 min read|Reviewed 12/05/2023

You can cancel your home insurance any time by calling your insurer. But you might have to pay a cancellation charge if it’s over 14 days since you bought the policy.

If you’re moving home, you might be able to transfer your home insurance policy, but your policy price might change. You might be charged for changing your details too.

We explain how to cancel your insurance policy in more detail.

How to cancel your home insurance policy (2)

Who do I speak to about cancelling my home insurance?

You need to tell your existing insurer if you want to cancel your policy. You can usually do this by phone or by email. You should be told at this point if you’ll get any fees for cancelling.

Only cancel your direct debit with the bank after you’ve cancelled the policy with your insurer.

If you cancel the direct debit for your insurance with your bank and don’t inform your insurance company, the policy remains active.

If this happens the insurer might chase you for payments. They could also withhold documents, such as confirmation of your no-claims bonus, until you make full payment.

When can I cancel my home insurance?

You're allowed to cancel your home insurance policy at any time. Usually, people tend to cancel when their home insurance policy is ready to renew.

Be aware that the timing may play a part in whether or not you pay extra charges. If you cancel your home insurance policy outside of your insurer's cooling-off period, you usually pay a cancellation fee.

What is a ‘cooling off’ period?

This is the 14-day period after you’ve bought your home insurance policy. By law, you’re allowed to cancel the policy within this time if you’ve changed your mind or found a better deal.

This period starts either from the day your insurance policy starts or from when you get your policy documents, whichever is later.

If you decide to cancel within 14 days, you should get a refund of any insurance costs you've already paid. Your insurer is likely to reduce this amount depending on how many days the policy has been active.

This usually applies to any add-on policies you bought at the same time. Your insurer may charge you a set-up fee, which is about £15 too.

What happens if I cancel my home insurance after the cooling-off period?

Most insurers give you a pro-rata refund, provided you haven’t made any claims during the policy year.

So if you cancel after 6 months, your insurer should return half of your annual costs, minus charges.

Administration or cancellation fees are typically between £35 and £50 – you can check your documents to find out how much you'd need to pay.

If you had a discount on your insurance costs at the time you bought the policy, your insurer is likely to cancel that. They usually deduct the amount from your refund.

Is my no-claims discount lost if I cancel my home insurance mid-term?

No, your existing no-claims discount remains intact. But you don't earn any no-claims discount for that year.

What do I do if I disagree with the cancellation charges

You can make a complaint to the insurer if you think the cancellation charges are unfairly high. Or if you feel you have to cancel because of a mistake on the insurer’s part.

Write to the insurer’s customer services. Give clear details of your case and explain what happened, when, and why you think you’ve been unfairly charged.

Even if the fees are laid out in the policy booklet, you may be able to challenge them.

Keep a record of who you speak to and who you write to.

If the company doesn't deal with your complaint to your satisfaction, you can take your case to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

I'm moving house. Should I cancel my home insurance?

You don't have to cancel your home insurance policy if you're moving house. You can call your insurer and update your details. But your insurance price might change and you might be charged an admin fee.

It's worth comparing home insurance quotes anyway though. But you need to weigh up whether any potential savings could be lost by administration charges or cancellation fees from cancelling your policy.

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How to cancel your home insurance policy (2024)

FAQs

How to cancel your home insurance policy? ›

To cancel a home insurance policy, you will first need to contact your current provider. If you have a mortgage on your home, you will also need to contact your lender. It's highly likely that they require you to carry home insurance and they will need to be notified if you want to switch providers.

What do you say when Cancelling insurance? ›

The body should include:
  1. The date you would like your policy to be canceled.
  2. A request for a refund of unused premiums.
  3. A statement that you no longer authorize the insurer to withdraw funds from your payment account for premiums (if applicable)
Jul 19, 2022

How do I cancel my home insurance policy? ›

Canceling homeowners insurance can be as simple as contacting your insurance provider and filling out a brief cancellation form. But before making it official, make sure you have another policy lined up so you aren't leaving yourself without coverage for any period of time.

What is a good reason to cancel insurance? ›

Car insurance can be canceled for a variety of reasons, often dictated by state laws. The most common acceptable reason for cancellation is that you didn't pay the premium on time.

How do I write a letter to cancel my homeowners insurance? ›

This letter is to inform you of my intention to cancel my home insurance policy {policy number} effective {cancellation date}. Please refund any unused portion of my home insurance premium. Please send written confirmation of this letter within 30 days. Thank you in advance.

How do you write a good cancellation policy? ›

An effective cancellation policy should detail time frames for cancellations, specify associated late cancellation fees, address last-minute cancellations, and provide guidance for handling unavoidable emergencies.

What do you say in a cancellation letter? ›

How to write a cancellation letter for an event
  1. Choose a letter format. The first step is to choose a letter format. ...
  2. Make the cancellation clear. ...
  3. Share why the event was cancelled. ...
  4. Apologise for the cancellation. ...
  5. Include information about event refunds. ...
  6. Share words of appreciation.
Sep 5, 2022

How do you cancel an insurance policy? ›

Contact your insurer or agent to find the best way to cancel your policy. Some insurance companies permit you to cancel right over the phone or online. Other insurers may require written notification or a signed document.

Should I drop my homeowners insurance? ›

However, going without coverage is inadvisable for many reasons, not least that gaps in your coverage will negatively affect your rates or ability to find affordable coverage. The best option that most homeowners have is to shop around.

Does home insurance cancel automatically? ›

You'll need to keep your home insurance coverage active up until your closing date, in case something accidental happens before the sale closes – like a fire. No, it automatically cancels when you stop paying the premium on the house you no longer own.

What happens to my mortgage if my homeowners insurance is cancelled? ›

Key Takeaways. Failing to maintain homeowners insurance can breach your mortgage terms, resulting in penalties, mortgage recall and potential financial challenges. Without coverage, lenders may impose lender- or force-placed insurance, which is a costly alternative to standard home insurance policies.

How do I write a letter to surrender my insurance policy? ›

I am _____________ (your name) holding an insurance policy having policy number ________________(policy number) from your company ( insurance policy company name). All the premiums are paid till date and due to_____________________ (mention the reason of surrender), I would like to surrender my policy.

What is a reason to cancel a plan? ›

Health or family reasons were among the most reasonable excuses. Conversely, excuses regarding a better offer, such as finding something better to do, were among the most unacceptable reasons to cancel plans. Over 80% of the sample reported feeling annoyed when they found out that an excuse to cancel was a lie.

How do I politely cancel my insurance? ›

Clearly State Your Cancellation Request

Clearly state your intention to cancel your policy. Be specific about the date you want the cancellation to be effective and the reason for cancellation if you wish to include it.

How do I cancel my homeowners insurance policy? ›

A policyholder can also initiate a home insurance cancellation. Perhaps you found a cheaper company or you have sold your home. You can call your agent or carrier to request that your policy be canceled on a specific date. You may need to sign a cancellation form to confirm your request.

What is an example of a cancellation letter for insurance? ›

I am writing this letter to inform you of my intention to cancel auto insurance policy {Insurance policy #}. The reason for cancellation is {reason you want to cancel your policy}. The effective date of policy cancellation is {cancellation date}.

How do I notify my insurance company of cancellation? ›

Typically you'll need to:
  1. Contact car insurance company or insurance agent to request a cancellation. Check your insurance ID card, policy paperwork, or the insurance company's website for contact information. ...
  2. Sign and return a cancellation form. ...
  3. Look for a cancellation notification. ...
  4. Look for your refund.
Mar 10, 2024

How do I write a notice to cancel my insurance policy? ›

Dear [Recipient's Name], I am writing this letter as a formal request to cancel my life insurance policy with your company. My policy number is [Policy no], and please make it effective from [mention date]. I further request that you cease all charges associated with the premium and return the payments made earlier.

How do I terminate an insurance policy? ›

Contact your insurer or agent to find the best way to cancel your policy. Some insurance companies permit you to cancel right over the phone or online. Other insurers may require written notification or a signed document.

How do you tell your insurance company you are leaving? ›

Insurance resignation letter
  1. Template no 1- Dear [Employer Name], I am writing to inform you of my decision to resign from my position as Insurance at [Company Name]. ...
  2. Template no 2- Dear [Employer], I regret to inform you that I am resigning from my position as Insurance in your company. ...
  3. Template no 3-

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