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Motor Trade: info@crowthornemt.co.uk
01344 771626
info@crowthorne.co.uk
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Specialist Insurance for Cob, Earth, and Natural-Build Homes Across the UK

Cob homes are full of character, charm, and heritage — but their unique construction also means they need specialist insurance. At Crowthorne Insurance Services, we understand the nuances of cob and earth-built properties and provide tailored insurance solutions that standard home insurers often won’t.

Whether your cob property is centuries old or part of a modern eco-build, we’ll ensure it’s properly protected with a policy that reflects its true rebuild cost and preservation needs.

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What Is a Cob House?

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A cob house is built from a mixture of clay, sand, straw, and water, forming thick, breathable walls with exceptional thermal qualities. These beautiful, sustainable structures are common in parts of the UK — particularly Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, and Somerset — and can last for hundreds of years if properly maintained.

However, because cob is considered a non-standard construction material, many mainstream insurers may:

  • Decline cover altogether, or
  • Offer inadequate protection at inflated premiums

That’s why specialist cob house insurance is essential.

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What Is Cob House Insurance?

Cob house insurance is designed to provide full buildings and contents cover for homes built with cob, clay lump, or other earth-based materials. These properties often need specialist repair techniques and heritage-approved materials, which can increase rebuild costs.

Our policies provide cover for:

Cob homes and cottages (historic or modern)

Clay lump or earth-built properties

Eco-builds and natural homes using lime, straw bale, or earth plaster

Cob barn conversions or heritage-listed cob dwellings

Owner-occupied or landlord-owned cob houses

Why Cob Homes Need Specialist Insurance

Cob and earth-built homes are durable — but their construction makes them different from modern brick or block properties.
Common challenges include:

  • Water damage or erosion if walls aren’t properly maintained
  • Cracking or structural movement from ground moisture changes
  • Limited contractor experience with cob restoration
  • Higher rebuild costs due to specialist materials and techniques
  • Difficulty obtaining standard insurance

Our specialist insurers understand these risks and can offer cover based on your property’s true rebuild value and heritage character.

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What Our Customers Say

"Other insurers said no—Crowthorne said yes."
I struggled to get cover for my listed cottage with a thatched roof. Other companies either refused or quoted astronomical prices. Crowthorne understood the risks and worked with me to get fair, realistic cover. The service was personal and straight to the point—exactly what I needed.

What Does Cob House Insurance Cover?

We offer a full range of cover options for both homeowners and property owners, including:

Buildings Insurance

Covers the structure of your cob home, including:

  • Walls, roof, floors, and permanent fixtures
  • Damage from fire, flood, storm, or escape of water
  • Subsidence and ground movement
  • Specialist rebuild and restoration using like-for-like cob materials
  • Outbuildings, garages, and boundary walls

Contents Insurance

Protects your household items, furniture, and personal possessions.
Optional landlord contents insurance available for let properties.

Accidental Damage Cover

Optional protection against mishaps such as cracks, breakages, or internal damage caused during renovations or DIY.

Home Emergency Cover

Provides 24/7 assistance for urgent issues like leaks, electrical faults, or heating failures.

Legal Expenses Cover

Covers legal disputes relating to property boundaries, defective work, or tenancy issues.

Alternative Accommodation or Loss of Rent

If your cob property becomes uninhabitable due to an insured event, we’ll help cover the cost of temporary housing or lost rental income.

Who Needs Cob Property Insurance?

This type of policy is ideal for:

  • Homeowners living in cob or clay lump houses
  • Landlords letting out cob cottages or eco-builds
  • Investors or developers managing non-standard or heritage properties
  • Owners of listed cob homes or barn conversions
  • Sustainable builders using natural materials like lime render or straw bale

We also provide cover for unoccupied cob properties undergoing renovation or awaiting sale.

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Cob Property Insurance for Landlords & Owners

If you rent out your cob home or hold it as part of an investment portfolio, you’ll need Property Owners Insurance that covers cob construction.
Our landlord options include:

  • Buildings and landlord contents cover
  • Loss of rent following damage
  • Property owners’ liability
  • Unoccupied or renovation cover

Whether it’s a single rental or a collection of rural cottages, we’ll ensure your assets are fully protected.

Why Choose Crowthorne for Cob House Insurance?

  • Specialist cover for non-standard and natural-build properties
  • Access to expert underwriters who understand cob and heritage homes
  • Tailored policies for homeowners, landlords, and developers
  • Accurate rebuild assessments and heritage-approved protection
  • Competitive pricing with full transparency
  • Expert guidance throughout the policy and claims process

We believe that unique homes deserve unique protection — and we make it easy to arrange.

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Tailored Insurance Review

Every risk and budget is unique. We’ll assess your needs and design a policy that fits—at a competitive price.

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Explore your options and select the policy that best matches your requirements and budget.

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Let’s Talk Insurance On Your Terms

We know insurance can feel complicated  and the last thing you want is to be stuck on hold or passed around a call centre. At Crowthorne Insurance Services, we do things differently.

  Guaranteed callback within 30 mins

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Simply fill in the form today and a member of our team will be in touch.
Testimonials

What Our Clients Say

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“Crowthorne Insurance were very useful for when I needed 28 day chassis insurance on my unregistered classic Japanese import car in order to drive it to and from an MOT for its registration. Quick replies and no fuss. The price was high considering it was only for 28 days but I guess not unusual for that kind of specialist insurance. Would use again in the future!”
Beth L
“Contact with the Cowthorne team is a pleasurable experience - they are always helpful, efficient and will search the market for the best policy.”
Peter Foister
“Went there for my Car insurance. Got a great deal better than on line and other shops. Boss was a very nice chap and the man that served me Neil ,was very helpful.and sorted me out a great deal. Yes i can recommend this company. Hope i can say the same next year when i get the renew price. If they play there cards right they may get my house and other car and holiday insurance. Thanks Crowthorne insurance.”
Ray Thorpe
“I used Crowthorne Insurance recently as a new driver, and they really helped me out. They are always friendly and polite, never kept me waiting long over the phone or e-mail, and were always happy to answer any questions I had.I had a particularly good experience talking to Jack, who went above and beyond to get me a policy which wasn't prohibitively expensive at a time when the insurance market is particularly harsh to new drivers. It would not be an exaggeration to say that thanks to his efforts, I've saved thousands of pounds.I highly recommend this company and look forward to working with them again when it's time to renew. Thanks guys!”
James Lill
“I've been using Crowthorne insurance Ltd for quite a few years now. Never had any issues or problems. The staff are very friendly and professional. I highly recommend giving them a try.”
Richard Reynolds
“Very helpful and straightforward company to deal with . Thank you .”
Moira Scott
“I have been using Crowthorne insurance for years. I would highly recommend them. the staff are friendly and very helpful. on the occasions I have had issues or need changes they have been most helpful and speedy to resolve the problems. They now handle my whole family's insurance needs all 4 generations.Great job guy thank you”
Ian Howlett
“I have continued to use Crowthorne Insurance Services for many years now. The staff are always very accommodating to my ever changing vehicles and personnel.I would thoroughly recommend Paul and his team .”
Mark Bullen
“Outstanding service provided from Crowthorne Insurance from start to finish, highly professional service will definitely be using them for years to come!!”
Samuel Coombes
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