In 2001/02 third-party liability insurance accounted for 46% of premiums, followed by health insurance (13%), fire insurance (around 10%) and life insurance (9.9%).
Fraudulent no questions asked fire insurance policies would then be taken out on the overvalued buildings and the property stripped and burnt for the payoff.
As an additional measure, and as a forerunner to fire insurance, rich merchants would prepay wood retailers for the materials needed for building a house.