UK-based InsurTech WhenFresh, a supplier of data to UK insurers, lenders and other big data users, has unveiled a new cladding data set to enable insurers to better understand property risks.
WhenFresh’s unique cladding dataset is the result of a major project started in 2020 which initially involved a wide range of remote inspection tools and data sources, such as satellite imagery, drone footage, building and planning records, and has subsequently been enhanced on an ongoing basis by physical surveys and other inputs – all meticulously scrutinised by an army of over 600 RICS-qualified surveyors.
Following six months of in-market testing with a group of existing clients, WhenFresh has launched the unique dataset to the wider market, providing property-level cladding data for each of the 485,234 properties within MDUs of 18 metres or more in height throughout the UK.
The surveyor team use their expertise to assign each property within these MDUs to one of three categories: Green, Amber and Red.
This means that mortgage lenders, insurers, local authorities, central government, housing associations, asset managers, and other parties are now able to readily access this unique cladding data alongside any other property data attributes they may need from WhenFresh, either in flat file format or via API in real time.
For example, a lender can now match their whole existing mortgage book to this new cladding dataset via WhenFreh, to carry out analysis at individual property level.
WhenFresh co-founder and CEO Mark Cunningham, said, “We’re delighted to be able to bring this cladding dataset to market alongside our existing property data assets, not least as it provides key risk insights into these 485,234 properties which are jointly worth in excess of £50 bn.
“There are obvious applications for mortgage lenders and insurers of course, but we’re already seeing interest from local authorities, central government, housing associations, asset managers, and other sectors too…
“It is obviously a big deal for insurers too, as they can now better understand property risk across their existing policy portfolios and can access this cladding dataset, along with all the other data we make available via API, to drive more accurately priced, instant quotes for new insurance applications.”
Earlier this year, Tractable, an applied AI company, partnered with global data and analytics provider Verisk to offer AI-powered estimates for property damage.
Keep up with all the latest FinTech news here.
Copyright © 2023 FinTech Global
