Renovation Underwriting

What Renovation Underwriting does

Renovation Underwriting is a UK-based Managing General Agent (MGA) specialising in private client contract works insurance, founded in 2010 (as Renovation Insurance Brokers) and re-launched as an MGA in May 2018. It operates from headquarters in St Neots, Cambridgeshire and a London office, with a team of 11-50 employees. The company is majority-owned by Ardonagh Advisory Holdings Ltd, a subsidiary of The Ardonagh Group, following an April 2023 acquisition.

The MGA underwrites a portfolio of five core specialist products: Renovation Master (high-value residential, up to £70m properties, £50m rebuild costs), Renovation Ultra (ultra-high-net-worth, contract values up to £150m, liability up to £20m), Renovation Asset (commercial OCIP programmes, contract values up to £150m), Renovation Unoccupied (vacant properties, 3-12 month policies), and Renovation Non-Neg Pro (non-negligent liability up to £5m, launched November 2025). Underwriting capacity is provided by A-rated partners including Allianz, Munich Re, HSB, QBE, and Talisman Specialty. The technical platform comprises the Broker Hub online portal for broker workflow, the Contract Works Academy online training platform (launched December 2024), and a CPD training programme for brokers covering JCT contracts, liability, and Party Wall Act topics.

Renovation Underwriting distributes exclusively through a UK network of specialist insurance brokers operating under Terms of Business Agreements (TOBA), spanning both national brokerages (Marsh, Willis Towers Watson, Arthur J. Gallagher, Howden, Lockton, PIB, Towergate, Lycetts, Markham, Lumley) and regional partners across all UK regions. Revenue is earned through insurance premiums on quote-based, multi-year contract policies. Complementary services include the Lorega Claims Concierge (integrated as standard from April 2026) and ongoing broker education via CPD training (615+ hours delivered in 2021 alone). The company self-describes as the industry leader in private client contract works insurance in the UK.

Name

Renovation Underwriting

Legal name

Renovation Underwriting Services Ltd

Website

https://renovationunderwriting.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Renovation Underwriting is a UK-based Managing General Agent specialising in private client contract works insurance. It provides renovation, unoccupied, commercial, and non-negligent liability cover through an exclusive network of specialist insurance brokers serving high-net-worth homeowners and commercial property developers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Insurance (Contract Works / Renovation Insurance)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Insurance Program Administration & MGA/MGU Services (FSAEADAK)

Keywords

• Contract works insurance
• Renovation insurance underwriting
• Managing general agent
• Specialist broker distribution
• Property renovation cover

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Neots

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Insurance Premiums: Renovation Underwriting operates as an MGA earning revenue through insurance premiums on specialist renovation insurance policies. Products include Renovation Master (up to £70m properties), Renovation Ultra (up to £150m contract values), Renovation Asset (commercial), Renovation Unoccupied, and Renovation Non-Neg Pro.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Renovation Underwriting operates as a Managing General Agent (MGA) underwriting specialist contract works insurance for properties undergoing renovation, covering the existing structure, ongoing works, and liability exposures under a single policy. It distributes exclusively through a UK-wide network of specialist insurance brokers operating under TOBAs and is supported by A-rated capacity partners including Allianz, HSB, Munich Re, QBE, and Talisman Specialty. The portfolio spans high-value residential (Renovation Master, Renovation Ultra), commercial (Renovation Asset), vacant property (Renovation Unoccupied), and non-negligent liability (Renovation Non-Neg Pro) segments, with complementary broker training via the Contract Works Academy and CPD programme plus the Lorega Claims Concierge for complex claims.

Product overview

Renovation Underwriting is a UK-based MGA (Managing General Agent) specializing in private client contract works insurance. The company operates a portfolio of five core renovation insurance products—Renovation Master, Renovation Ultra, Renovation Asset, Renovation Unoccupied, and Renovation Non-Neg Pro—designed to protect properties undergoing renovations across residential, commercial, and high-net-worth segments. All policies package coverage for the existing structure, contract works, and liability exposures under a single policy. The company distributes through a network of specialist brokers and offers complementary services including the Lorega Claims Concierge (for claims management), Contract Works Academy (online training platform), and CPD Training programs. Renovation Underwriting is the industry leader in private client contract works insurance, providing market-leading expertise to homeowners, renovators, project professionals, and insurers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Renovation Master A comprehensive high-value home renovation policy for UK homeowners undertaking building works and extensions on properties with rebuild costs up to £50m, covering existing structure, contract works, and homeowner's liability under one single policy (Homeowner's Liability options of £2m, £5m and £10m). For projects up to 5 years.
• Renovation Ultra The widest available cover for ultra-high-net-worth UK homeowners undertaking bespoke building work and extension projects with contract values up to £150 million, including property owner's liability from £5 million to £20 million. Includes a concierge service.
• Renovation Asset A comprehensive policy for UK commercial property owners and developers who renovate, refurbish or extend existing properties, or undertake new builds, with rebuild costs up to £50 million and contract works value up to £150 million. Designed for OCIP programmes.
• Renovation Unoccupied A policy tailored for properties that are vacant on a permanent or temporary basis (such as second homes, properties pending probate, or future redevelopment), covering both standard and non-standard construction with 3, 6 and 12 month policy options. Voluntary excess levels up to £10,000 attract premium discounts.
• Renovation Non-Neg Pro A standalone Non-Negligent Liability Insurance for UK private and commercial projects undertaking renovation or construction work, protecting against damage to neighbouring properties where no party can be proven at fault, with limits up to £5M and duration up to 4 years. Includes in-house structural engineer support and Burland Scale assessment.
• Lorega Claims Concierge A dedicated expert claims team working solely on behalf of policyholders to prepare, calculate and negotiate any qualifying claim over £20,000, from first notification to final settlement, acting independently of the insurance company.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average claim size over £35,000
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lorega (Claims Concierge)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Lorega Claims Concierge service incorporated into Renovation Underwriting contract works policies as standard from April 2026. Provides clients with a dedicated expert claims team working on their behalf to prepare, manage and negotiate complex qualifying claims over £20,000.
• Len AlbonminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023Non-neg liability specialist underwriter who joined Renovation Underwriting as a Consultant to develop the in-house non-negligence liability cover offering and embed the new Renovation Non-Neg Pro product.
• MGAA (Managing General Agents' Association)minorOthersThe Managing General Agents' Association is a UK-based not for profit organisation dedicated to representing MGAs. Renovation Underwriting is a member.
• BIBAminorOthersBritish Insurance Brokers' Association. Commitment to BIBA 2023 Conference confirmed. Industry association representing insurance brokers in the UK.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Beazley: London-listed specialty insurer with global reach across professional indemnity, cyber, marine, and political risks. Comparable as a UK-headquartered specialty carrier that also operates via delegated authority to a broader portfolio of niche MGAs and program participants.
• Hiscox: London-listed specialty insurer with significant UK high-net-worth and broker-distributed specialty business. Comparable as a UK specialty carrier with HNW exposure, broker-led distribution, and a portfolio that overlaps the kind of affluent personal lines risk RU underwrites.
• QBE Insurance: One of QBE Insurance's top-20 global specialty insurers and a named A-rated capacity partner of Renovation Underwriting. Comparable as a wider specialty carrier that provides capacity to specialist MGAs like RU and writes overlapping property and casualty risks in the UK market.
• Markel International: London-based specialty insurer of the Markel Group focused on marine, energy, casualty, professional lines and HNW personal lines distributed through brokers. Comparable to RU in its specialty underwriting posture, Lloyd's market roots and broker-led distribution.

Direct peers

• Burns & Wilcox: Specialty wholesale broker and MGA platform distributing niche commercial and personal lines exclusively through retail brokers. Comparable to RU in its broker-only intermediated model and focus on underserved specialty niches that standard carriers won't underwrite.
• CFC Underwriting: London-based specialist MGA writing niche commercial and high-net-worth lines through a broker distribution model. Most direct analogue to Renovation Underwriting: small specialist MGA team, broker-only GTM, deep domain expertise, and A-rated capacity partnerships.
• Arch Insurance UK: Specialty insurer and MGA operating across UK and Ireland, focused on construction, property and casualty lines distributed through brokers. Comparable to RU in its focus on specialty construction/contract works risks underwritten on delegated authority via brokers.

Emerging players

• Accelerant: Technology-led MGA platform connecting specialty underwriters with capacity via data-driven portfolio exchange. Comparable to Renovation Underwriting as an MGA-style specialist operating in niche specialty lines via intermediated distribution, though broader in scope and capital-markets enabled.

Others

• Allianz: Named A-rated capacity partner of Renovation Underwriting since trading began in 2018. Comparable as a global Tier-1 insurance group that supplies reinsurance/capacity to specialist MGAs like RU and writes overlapping specialty commercial and personal lines risks.
• The Ardonagh Group: Majority owner of Renovation Underwriting since April 2023 via Ardonagh Advisory Holdings Ltd, and one of the world's largest insurance broker groups. Comparable as the parent controlling the company and providing access to its wider broker network, advising on acquisitions and broader group strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/renovationuw
• Facebookfacebook.com/RenovationUnderwriting
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/renovation-underwriting

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Renovation Underwriting