Many new homebuyers not getting protection advice

September 28, 2026 by Brendan O'Neill

Home owners

A significant percentage of people buying their first home do not remember being told about the importance of income protection by their mortgage advisor.

This is one of the takeaways from research published by insurance provider LV=. It shows that 37% of those buyers had no memory of discussions about insuring themselves against income shocks. Meanwhile, 52% of people buying for the first time said their dual incomes were vital to staying afloat each month – which includes their mortgage payments. More than one quarter said they would struggle if one of those incomes was lost because of ill-health.

A total of 43% of those surveyed stated they had no form of income protection at all. However, the percentages vary considerably between standard new buyers and those who are self-employed. The latter group are far less likely to have a protection policy.

Only one out of every 10 self-employed buyers has one. Nearly one out of every five told the survey they would be required to keep working even if ill, just to survive financially.

LV= conducted this research for Income Protection Action Week. The purpose is to remind financial and mortgage advisors of the key role they can play in encouraging buyers to take out such policies.

Jo Miller from the Income Protection Task Force told Financial Reporter:

“LV’s findings demonstrate why income protection remains such an important part of financial planning and supports the work that we are doing at IPTF through IPAW and other initiatives.”

Passing the CeMAP training course allows mortgage advisors to offer income protection guidance.