At Verlingue, we understand that owning and managing a historic house is both a privilege and a responsibility. As a corporate member of the Historic Houses Association, we work closely with custodians of the UK’s most treasured properties to protect their heritage, their livelihoods, and their legacy.
Historic buildings and country houses present unique challenges that standard insurance simply cannot address. From listed building regulations and traditional construction methods to the protection of irreplaceable collections, our role is to provide tailored insurance solutions that reflect the true nature of your property.
Why Verlingue
Heritage expertise
We understand the complexities of listed buildings, conservation requirements, and non-standard construction.
Bespoke, independent advice
We design tailored insurance solutions by working with leading heritage insurers, not off the shelf policies.
Dedicated support
You will have a personal adviser and expert claims support to ensure your property is protected and restored with care.
Our approach
Every historic house is unique, and so is our approach. We take the time to understand your property in detail, from its architectural features and history to how it is used today. We work in partnership with owners, estate managers, and trustees to assess risks and create insurance programmes that support both preservation and practical operation. Whether your property is a private residence, an estate with commercial activities, or open to visitors, our solutions are designed to protect its future while respecting its past.
Our approach is built on three principles:
Recognising heritage value alongside financial value
Supporting long-term preservation
Providing clarity and confidence in complex risk environments
Our services
We offer a comprehensive range of specialist insurance solutions for historic houses and estates:
Listed and protected buildings
Building valuations where available as part of insurer surveys
Protection of valuable assets in the open
Grounds, maintenance, equipment and vehicles/plant
Vandalism, arson and purposeful damage
Event Management – cancellations and liability risks
Dedicated in-house claims team
Terrorism threats and lone wolf attacks
Collections, antiques and fine art
Estate and staff liability
More than insurance
Looking after your people
Historic and country houses rely on skilled, committed people. Our dedicated Employee Benefits team helps you to attract and retain talent through flexible, competitive and cost‑effective benefit solutions.
Protecting historic properties through a risk managed approach
Verlingue’s property loss control strategy focuses on identifying and reducing risks such as fire and water damage. Through practical, proportionate measures, we help protect historic buildings, strengthen resilience, and preserve them for the future.
Our specialist team
Simon Carr, Client Director - Hospitality
“I am a Client Director at Verlingue, specialising in the hospitality sector. I partner with businesses to deliver tailored insurance solutions, risk management insight, and long‑term strategic support.”
FAQs
What is historic or country house insurance?
Historic house insurance is specialist cover designed for listed buildings, estates and heritage properties. It accounts for traditional construction, conservation requirements and the higher cost of restoration using period materials and techniques.
Why isn’t standard property insurance suitable?
Standard insurance policies typically don’t account for:
Listed building consent requirements
Specialist materials and labour
Extended rebuild timelines
Historic properties often require “like-for-like” restoration, which increases both complexity and cost.
What does historic house insurance typically include?
Cover is tailored but often includes:
Buildings and reinstatement
Collections and contents
Liability protection
Business interruption
Estate infrastructure and grounds
What types of properties need specialist cover?
You may need specialist insurance if your property is:
A listed building (Grade I, II* or II)
Located in a conservation area
A country house or estate
Of historic or architectural significance
*Note: Grade II refers to “particularly important” listed buildings, a distinct category between Grade I and Grade II.*
Do I need consent to carry out repairs?
Yes. Most works on listed buildings require listed building consent, particularly if they affect the character of the property.
Can insurance cover antiques and historic contents?
Yes. Specialist policies can include protection for antiques, artwork and heritage features within the property.
Do you cover estates with commercial activities?
Yes. We can arrange cover for estates that generate income through events, hospitality or tourism, including cover options for associated risks and business interruption, where required.
*Cover is subject to underwriting criteria, policy terms, conditions, and exclusions. Not all risks can be covered; we will discuss any limitations relevant to your property.
**Membership to the Historic Houses Association does not imply endorsement of our insurance products.