New policy initially available on Zurich webnsite and Gocompare

Houses

Zurich has launched an own-brand online home insurance product.

The new policy will initially be available on Zurich’s UK website and price cmparison site Gocompare.

The insurer will “soon” roll out the new online policy on the remaining big aggregators - Compare the Market, Moneysupermarket and Confused.com.

The online home product marks the latest step in the relaunch of Zurich’s direct personal lines business, which began with the launch of its direct online motor offering last year.

Like the motor product, the new home offering will be administered through a strategic partnership with its subsidiary Endsleigh, which is responsible for carrying out sales, servicing and premium collections.

Zurich personal lines managing director John Dyke said: “The low-cost operating model which underpins our new home insurance product recognises the reality of an aggregator-dominated direct personal lines market in the UK.

“This approach gives customers choice and flexibility, as well as the combined benefit of Zurich’s proven expertise in underwriting, claims and pricing and Endsleigh’s systems and service excellence.

“This is a significant move for our business – but it’s important to stress that our total commitment to the broker market and to brokers themselves remains a fundamental priority.

“We are already active in the personal lines market and will remain so, and our commitment to personal lines brokers won’t be affected by this development.”

The new home product offers cover of up to £600,000 for buildings and up to £60,000 for contents.