It’s estimated that as many in 7 in 10 homes in the UK are underinsured. Worse still, when it comes to commercial properties, that figure jumps up to almost 80%.
Most people are aware of contents insurance — which covers the value of everything inside the property — but what if you needed to repair (or even completely rebuild) your property after a fire or a flood, for example?
This is where a building insurance valuation becomes essential, yet it’s all-too-often overlooked by home and business owners, sometimes due to a mistaken belief that standard insurance policies automatically cover full rebuild costs. Unfortunately, they don’t.
Without an up-to-date valuation (often more straightforwardly referred to as a rebuild cost assessment), you risk being left significantly out of pocket at the worst possible time.
With this in mind, we run through 10 of the best building insurance valuation providers in the UK.
1. Rebuild Cost Assessment (RCA)
If you’re looking for a rebuild cost assessment service, you surely can’t go far wrong with a provider that literally has it in their name.
RCA doesn’t just win the award for most distinctly does-what-it-says-on-the-tin moniker, though. It’s one of the best-known services for UK property owners looking to ensure they’re adequately covered.
Created in partnership with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), RCA delivers a quick and cost?effective way to obtain an accurate assessment of a building’s rebuild cost — they even have a desktop rebuild cost assessment service that makes getting an insurance valuation much more efficient and affordable.
RCA uses data-driven approaches and construction cost indices to assess the value of your property. The results are usually available in just a few days, making it ideal for those who want to review or adjust their insurance coverage promptly.
As well as being backed by RICS, RCA is accredited by the Financial Services Qualification System (FSQS). It’s ideal for both residential and commercial properties, providing a streamlined approach for landlords, insurers and brokers alike.
Key features:
- Created in partnership with RICS.
- Desktop assessment service for quick, cost-effective valuations.
- Tailored for both residential and commercial properties.
2. Barrett Corp & Harrington (BCH)
As one of the UK’s leading names when it comes to professional building insurance valuations, Barrett Corp & Harrington (BCH) are renowned for their thorough approach, using experienced surveyors and sophisticated methodologies to assess a building’s rebuild cost.
What sets BCH apart is their ability to provide highly detailed, site?specific assessments for a range of properties, from heritage buildings and listed properties to large industrial and commercial spaces.
They understand that every building has unique characteristics — and they take these into account when assessing risk and estimating the rebuild cost.
If you have a listed or historic property, BCH is an especially good choice. Their team has worked with some of the UK’s best?known heritage buildings and can produce highly tailored, authoritative rebuild cost assessments.
Key features:
- Highly detailed site?specific valuations.
- Specialisation in heritage and listed buildings.
- Skilled surveyors with deep sector knowledge.
3. Rebuild Cost Surveyors
Another provider with a fairly on-the-nose name, Rebuild Cost Surveyors are a popular option for both residential and commercial buildings across the UK. They focus on providing accurate, RICS?regulated assessments that ensure property owners have the right level of insurance in place.
What differentiates this service is its approachable, human-first approach. They’ll walk you through every step of the process, making sure you understand why certain factors affect the final valuation. From construction methods and material costs to geographical location, their reports cover every angle.
Rebuild Cost Surveyors also operate across a range of property types — from traditional homes and flats to office buildings and retail spaces — making them a solid choice for multi?property portfolios.
Key features:
- RICS?regulated surveyors.
- Clear, jargon?free explanations of rebuild cost.
- Services for residential and commercial buildings.
4. Gleeds Cost Management Services
Gleeds Cost Management Services is a global consultancy, but it has a strong presence in the UK. It’s particularly ideal for owners of larger or more complex buildings.
Gleeds’ team of surveyors and cost managers have extensive experience with heritage buildings, multi?site portfolios, high?rise office spaces, and large?scale developments.
More than just providing basic cost estimates, Gleeds delivers highly detailed and nuanced assessments that account for everything from site constraints and heritage status to long?term planning and risk exposure.
Their approach is ideal for owners and managers of complex properties, offering tailored, forward?looking valuations that stand the test of time and consider evolving regulations.
Key features:
- Global expertise available for complex sites.
- Tailored reports for heritage and commercial buildings.
- Risk analyses and long?term planning support.
5. BCH Insurance Surveys
Unlike some of the aforementioned providers, BCH doesn’t just assess rebuild costs. In fact, it also offers in?depth insurance survey services for property owners and businesses.
Its approach goes beyond a simple cost estimate, providing services like risk analyses, site inspection and risk mitigation recommendations.
This makes BCH ideal for businesses with more complex insurance needs, like multi?site retailers or industrial operators. Their surveyors assess buildings, review policies, and help clients understand the potential implications of underinsurance.
For those seeking more than a basic rebuild cost estimate, BCH delivers a more rounded service that looks at the “bigger picture”.
Key features:
- Comprehensive site survey services.
- Tailored recommendations for risk mitigation.
- Ideal for multi?site businesses and complex insurance needs.
6. BCM Property Services
BCM Property Services has built a strong reputation for providing thorough rebuild cost assessments across both residential and commercial buildings. Its team of surveyors is adept at assessing everything from period properties and heritage buildings to retail spaces and office blocks.
The service is highly tailored, ensuring every unique feature of a building — such as its materials, design and special requirements — is accounted for in the final cost estimate.
BCM’s approach is ideal for those who need precision and detail in their valuations.
Their service includes site visits and detailed reports, and they also provide ongoing support as insurance needs evolve over time.
Key features:
- Tailored assessments for heritage and period buildings.
- Detailed site visits and reports.
- Ongoing support for insurance reviews.
7. Exactum
Exactum is one of the UK’s rising names when it comes to precision?led reinstatement cost assessments. Created by a team of RICS?regulated surveyors, Exactum offers a highly professional service for residential, commercial and heritage buildings across the UK.
What makes Exactum stand out is its meticulous approach to every project. Its surveyors balance advanced data?driven methods — relying on BCIS indices and extensive cost databases — with traditional site?based assessments, making it ideal for buildings with special characteristics or unique design elements.
Exactum works closely with both property owners and their insurers, providing fully detailed, authoritative reports that reduce the risk of under? or overinsurance. They’re a trusted choice for owners of historic buildings, multi?site portfolios or bespoke properties that require precise valuations.
Key features:
- Combines BCIS cost data with site?specific assessment.
- Tailored services ideal for heritage, listed or unique buildings.
- Detailed, authoritative reports trusted by owners and brokers alike.
With underinsurance so prevalent across the UK, a robust and accurate rebuild cost assessment is vital for any property owner. The ten providers listed above offer a range of services — from quick online estimates ideal for smaller residential buildings, to highly detailed site?based assessments for complex commercial or heritage properties.
