Ashburnham Insurance Services Ltd

With some restrictions lifted as part of the UK’s approach to the coronavirus outbreak, workers in certain industries are being encouraged to go back to work providing the right safety procedures are in place. From social distancing to proper hygiene standards, the UK government have released an advice manual to guide us through reopening construction sites and getting back to work. We’ve taken a look at the guide for you and put together a summary, below.

UK Government Advice on Returning to Work

The UK government have released guidance on working safely during coronavirus according to different forms of work. This includes construction and outdoor work, factories, plants and warehouses, labs and research facilities, offices and contact centres, people’s homes, restaurants with takeaway or delivery, shops and branches, and vehicles. For construction industries, the most important guidance to take note of is likely to be:

Construction And Other Outdoor Work

The advice for returning to construction and other outdoor work is split into eight different areas – Risk, who should go to work, social distancing, managing customers, visitors and contractors, sanitising the workplace, PPE, managing the workforce and inbound and outbound goods. 

The general advice for both risk and who should go to work is that you will need to determine the level of risk that is appropriate to take for your business. This includes carrying out a full risk assessment and determining which employees are safe to return and which may benefit from remaining at home for longer or until it is safe to come back. This can include those at higher risk of Covid-19 complications, pregnant women, disabled individuals and any other at-risk groups though of course, these decisions should be taken with workplace equality in mind.

Social distancing is advised while coming to and leaving work, moving around the building or worksite, all meetings and in common areas, and care should be taken when accidents or security issues arise. In the case of fires, break-ins or other emergencies where it would be safer not to follow the 2m apart rule, employees shouldn’t have to do so. If you or an employee have to provide direct-contact support to another employee, you must use correct sanitation afterwards.

Other advice includes limiting how many people are on a site at any one time and how many visitors are around, with correct signage or protocol in place to limit the number of people in a building or space at one time. Correct cleaning and sanitisation should also take place regularly, and all employees should be provided with the right PPE, including face coverings and gloves where appropriate. 

Other People’s Homes

If your construction business involves going into people’s homes to conduct work, the rules differ slightly from an outdoor construction site. More care needs to be taken with sanitisation and social distancing where possible, as well as the correct PPE for your employees. Given the smaller spaces that you’re likely to be working in, it’s advised to take steps to ensure minimal risk of spreading, which can include increasing the frequency of cleaning, working back-to-back or side-to-side, and reducing the size of teams.

When moving around the home, you need to ensure that you are regularly cleaning surfaces that you come into contact with using your usual cleaning materials. It’s also important to communicate with the homeowners before, during and after the work is completed. Before you arrive at the property, you should discuss expectations and the measures that you’re putting in place to keep them and your employees safe. This will help them to follow the same rules and set up any additional safety of their own. If you need to view the site prior to work, try and do this via virtual means to limit visits to the property where possible.

Vehicles

Staying safe while operating a vehicle, whether delivering goods or operating a vehicle on-site, will all depend on how many people are needed in order to complete the task. It’s not always possible to keep a distance of 2m while in a vehicle and in cases where it’s not possible to limit the number of people to just one in the vehicle at a time, additional measures should be implemented. 

This can include introducing a fixed pairing system to reduce how many people someone comes into contact with, single-person or contactless refuelling, physical screens where safe to do so, increased ventilation in the vehicle and regular cleaning of vehicles before and after use.

During deliveries or collections of materials, workers should limit the number of people loading or offloading onto a vehicle to one person where possible. Where heavy goods are involved, two or more people may be needed, but care should be taken and proper sanitisation implemented immediately after loading or unloading.

You Should Also Consider:

While the government advice offers insight into how you can make your workplace safer for employees in the coming weeks, it’s important to note that you should be checking your insurance and health and safety policies to cover any potential problems. This includes Public Liability insurance to protect any members of the public or homeowners that you and your employees may come into contact with, and Employer’s Liability insurance to protect your employees against the risks now posed in the workplace. You should check your existing policy to determine whether COVID-19 would be covered, or apply for a new policy if this isn’t the case. 

It’s also worth updating your own health and safety policies on a longer-term basis to increase protection in the workplace beyond this pandemic to reduce the risk of future spread or a second peak of the illness in the UK.

For more information about insuring your business as you go back to work in the coming weeks, feel free to get in touch with a member of our team.

Business insurance exists for a good reason. Whether it’s a public liability claim, an injured employee or the theft of your tools or property, having a good insurance policy that can cover these worries can ensure your business is protected financially. In fact, a study conducted by The Hartford even suggested that 40% of small businesses are could face claims in the next 10 years.

However, not every policy will cover every claim made, so it’s important to understand what the most common claims are, and how to protect your business against them. Here are our top 10.

1) Slips, Trips and Falls

Around 10% of all insurance claims against businesses are related to customer slips, trips and falls. If a customer or a member of the public were to trip, slip or fall as a result of poor housekeeping by your business, they could be entitled to thousands, depending on the severity of the injury or the level of fault your business is at. Having a good Public Liability Insurance policy will ensure that you are protected against these claims, though you should maintain proper maintenance and housekeeping to reduce the risk of a slip, trip or fall.

2) Water Or Freezing Damage

Damage to your businesses property caused by water or freezing temperatures may be more common than you might think, covering around 15% of claims. If your business faces damage to the property or assets as a result of weather concerns, you could make a claim providing you have commercial property insurance.

3) Burglary And Theft

Burglary and theft can occur at your property, while you’re working on a job or even during transport and is said to be one of the most prominent causes of claims, with around 20% of business claims coming from these incidents. Commercial property insurance can cover loss of items within a property and any damage incurred as a result of a break-in, but specific covers such as Plant Cover, Tools Cover and Goods in Transit Cover can provide protection for loss or theft outside of the office or main business property.

4) Customer or Employee Injury

While accidents do happen, having the right cover to ensure that your business is protected not only ensures your safety but that your customers and employees can get the compensation they deserve. In order to provide cover for customer injury, you’ll need Public Liability Insurance for your business and to protect you and your employees, you are legally required to have Employer’s Liability Insurance.

5) Crashes And Collisions

While crashes and collisions only make up for less than 5% of claims, they can be some of the most expensive. Any automotive accident involving a commercial vehicle, regardless of whether it’s a lorry, van or simply a company car, can be costly for your business where there’s damage to your vehicle, damage to another person’s vehicle, damage to property or where an injury occurs. Commercial vehicle insurance can provide financial protection in these cases for your business, your vehicles, and any employees who may be operating the vehicles.

6) Customer Property Damage

If your business operates within a customer’s home, whether that’s decorating, maintenance, building work or something else entirely, accidental property damage can lead to an expensive claim. Property damage, alongside customer injury, make up for just under 5% of total business claims, but again, can be some of the most expensive to settle. Damage to property can range from something as simple as spilt paint to any number of other incidents caused by business-related accidents. Public Liability Insurance will also provide your business with protection in these cases.

7) Struck By An Object

‘Struck by an object’ claims usually refer to workplace incidents involving an employee being hit by a piece of equipment or object. This can include anything from machinery to falling products. Cases can be as simple as a bruise, or as severe as a fatality, but all should be taken seriously. It’s due to this that Employer’s Liability Insurance is an obligatory cover for all businesses, to ensure that your employees are protected against such incidents.

8) Reputational Harm

Reputational harm refers to any incident where your business causes another business to ‘lose face’, or where an incident negatively affects your own reputation. Media companies or any business with a strong community or online presence, or even any company that stores customer data can be subject to these kinds of claims. They make up for less than 5% of total claims but are also some of the most costly, with claims going up as high as £50,000 or more.

9) Fire

While we all do our bit to protect our businesses against fires, but unfortunately, they can still happen. Fire damage claims are common in every industry and usually cover any financial loss that occurred as a result of damage or time out of business, as well as the costs of repairs, rebuilding and replacing damaged equipment and supplies. To claim on damage and rebuilding and repairs, you’ll need commercial property insurance, and to claim for income lost due to time out for repairs, you will need business income insurance.

10) Product Liability

Product liability claims cover any injury or illness that a customer may suffer a result of a faulty product where you are held liable. For this reason, the retail, manufacturing and distribution industries are particularly prone to these kinds of claims. Liability insurance can protect you against any medical costs that the customer may have as a result of the product fault, as well as any compensation.

If you have any questions about what kind of insurance your business needs to protect yourself against claims, feel free to contact our team for more information, today.

There are approximately 1,300 insurance scams uncovered every single day, and these are just the ones we find out about. Some insurance scams seem ingenious, these fraudsters are constantly looking for new scams to exploit.

The Association of British Insurers published an article last year detailing the lengths that some insurance cheats will go to try and con their insurer which we have compiled into a list of the 8 Biggest Insurance Scams.

8 Of The Biggest Insurance Scams Infographic

Praying for a Payout – A preacher fraudulently bought car insurance in another person’s name, then contacted the insurer saying he’d had a crash. It turned out that he also owned the other vehicle in question. He received a 10-month prison sentence.

Crash for Cash – An organised “crash for cash” gang staged car crashes to con almost £1.2 million from insurers. The ringleader and gang members all received harsh prison sentences.

Burst Pipes – A gang claimed almost £1 million in damages for restaurants that they said had been flooded by burst water pipes. Except that they had deliberately smashed the pipes. They were all jailed.

Ghost Broker – A man who posed as an insurance broker to sell fake fleet insurance policies covering 70 vehicles was jailed for two years.

Dishonest Hotelier – One man claimed over £34k in disability benefits, for anxiety and depression, meaning that he could not work. He was, in fact, running a hotel.

It’s No Holiday in Jail – Another man tried making multiple claims to several different insurers for the sum of 20k for a cancelled family holiday, using fraudulent paperwork.

Rocking and Rolling – A retired fridge engineer claimed that he had suffered hearing loss due to his job. He stated in his claim that he had no noisy hobbies. It later transpired that he was in a rock and roll band.

Compensation Expectations – A woman from West Yorkshire staged a fall over some crates in a supermarket in order to claim compensation. She received a suspended jail sentence.

Insurance fraud is a pain for honest customers as fraudulent compensation claims are responsible for inflating the price of premiums. The insurance industry spends around £250 million a year on measures to tackle this type of crime.

To get a quick and easy quote on your insurance contact Ashburnham Insurance today on FREEPHONE 0800 1696137.

The COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak has now infected more than half a million people and that number is still rising. As well as the serious implications for people’s health, the NHS and other healthcare services, COVID-19, and the ensuing government lockdown are having an undeniably significant impact on businesses and the economy globally. As the virus has spread, it has left businesses counting the costs.

The Impact of COVID-19 on UK Business

The COVID-19 crisis presents a huge challenge for businesses and the ongoing effects so far have temporarily shut down a quarter of businesses in the UK. With 38 per cent of the businesses that are still operating saying that their sales have been “substantially” hit by the nationwide lockdown that has been in place for the last few weeks.

We are also at the beginning of a marked rise in unemployment as businesses begin to reduce staff levels to help soften the financial impact created by the lockdown measures. The Office for Budget Responsibility suggests that unemployment could rise by 2.1 million to 3.4 million by the end of June.

Governments Grants for UK Businesses During Lockdown

If you are unable to maintain your current employees because your business has been severely affected by COVID-19, you can furlough employees and apply for a Government grant that covers 80% of their usual monthly wage costs, up to £2,500 a month.

Being furloughed means that you are placed on a temporary leave of absence because your employer cannot afford to pay your wages due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, during this time, you remain employed and retain all of your existing employment rights.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is designed to support employers whose operations have been severely affected by COVID-19, to retain their workforce, helping to protect the UK economy. This is a temporary scheme, but it may be extended if necessary.

Insurers are Working to Support UK Businesses

The spread of COVID-19 is an unprecedented event in modern times, as such, both insurers and insurance brokers understand that this will be an incredibly challenging time for UK businesses. Some UK businesses are questioning whether Business Interruption Insurance could cover them for losses incurred as a result of the Government lockdown. However, business interruption insurance is usually offered as an optional extra to business insurance.

On this subject, the UK Government said “Insurance policies differ significantly, so businesses are encouraged to check the terms and conditions of their specific policy and contact their providers. Most businesses are unlikely to be covered, as standard business interruption insurance policies are dependent on damage to property and will exclude pandemics.”

The FCA said in an open letter addressed to insurance CEOs: “Based on our conversations with the industry to date, our estimate is that most policies have basic cover, do not cover pandemics and therefore would have no relation to pay out in the COVID-19 pandemic”.

Despite this, insurers are working incredibly hard to support UK businesses through any claims, answering questions quickly and ensuring that legitimate claims are paid out swiftly.

It’s Important That Your Business Remains Covered

Even if your business is unable to operate because of COVID-19, do not be tempted to cancel your business insurance policy, it is important that you remain covered for a variety of risks that are still present. Such as theft or damage to stock, fire and flood damage to the business premises and financial cover if you face any legal costs.

If you were to suffer any of these whilst not being covered, you may struggle to recover from the financial impact leaving you unable to reopen once the lockdown is over. There are also some types of business insurance that you are legally obliged to have, such as employers liability insurance.

For further help and advice on Business Insurance contact the experts at Ashburnham Insurance FREE ON 0800 1696137.

For many companies up and down the UK, the past couple of months have been anything but business as usual. The outbreak has put a strain on staff, morale and in some cases, finances and in a time where businesses are seeking any help they can get, they are often opting to cancel their insurance policies as a solution. If your business insurance policy is up for renewal or you’re considering cancelling it for the duration of the UK’s lockdown, we’ve compiled a guide as to why it’s important to keep your insurance going.

Claims Made vs. Claims Occurring

When you take out an insurance policy for your business, you’ll have two options in terms of cover – Claims Made and Claims Occurring. A policy that offers ‘Claims Made’ cover will provide cover against any claims made against your business throughout the period of the policy, providing the incident took place either during the policy period or after a set retroactive date. These policies can provide you with cover against any incidents that have happened prior to your business closing during the COVID-19 lockdown.

‘Claims Occurring’ policies provide cover for any incidents that occurred after the date the policy started and throughout the period. The policy will provide you with cover for life, meaning that any claims made after the date your policy ends are still covered, providing the incident itself happened during the covered period. Most business insurance policies are ‘Claims Occurring’, but it’s best to check your policy to be certain.

Public Liability Insurance

While Public Liability Insurance isn’t a legal requirement in order to keep operating, it is an important part of any business insurance policy. Public Liability Insurance provides financial cover against any claims made against you by the public as a result of bodily harm, injury or damage caused to third-party property. Having an active insurance policy at this time is vital to protecting your business against claims for events that have happened during your policy, or prior to it according to the details of the policy. In most cases, the money saved by cancelling your policy during periods of activity isn’t worth what may be lost if a claim was made.

Employer’s Liability Insurance

Employer’s Liability Insurance is a legal requirement for any business that hires employees. In order to continue operating during the period of lockdown, even on a furlough, home-delivery or temporary closure basis, you will need to maintain your insurance policy to protect your business against claims made by employees as a result of business activity. This can include any incidents that have occurred during the lockdown and any that occurred prior to lockdown but that are still coerced by your policy.

Ensuring your business is protected during such a unique and unprecedented time is important. By making sure that you and your employees are safe financially during this time period, you can protect your company against any unforeseen financial loss as a result of claims made by the public or employees. By cancelling or failing to renew your policy, you could be subject to not only the financial strain of a claim but also higher premiums. Instead, it’s best to maintain your policy or discuss potential adjustments if needed with your provider.

For more information or to discuss the best next steps for your business, feel free to get in touch with the team here at Ashburnham Insurance.

As a landlord, you will probably be well-versed in tenant types. Not only is it one of the biggest factors that contribute to the likelihood of a tenant being able to pay their rent on time, but landlords must also state what tenant type they are letting a property out to when buying insurance policies for residential properties.

What is a Professional Tenant?

Any tenant who is in paid, full-time employment is typically classed as a professional tenant (or a working tenant). Professional tenants are considered to be more low-risk for falling behind with their rent payments because of the regular flow of income from their job. This means that landlords typically enjoy a lower premium as a result of letting to professional tenants because most insurers deem them to be less of a risk.

The Risks of Renting to Professional Tenants

Working tenants are by far the most sought after tenant type for landlords looking to fill their buy-to-let property. However, rising rents and stagnant wages mean that simply having a job, even full-time, is no longer a guarantee that a professional tenant won’t struggle to pay the rent. Just as with every other tenant type, there are still always risks associated with renting to professional tenants.

Professional Tenants Can Lose their Job

Just because a professional is currently in full-time, paid employment, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they will always be. The current economic climate across the UK, due mostly to Brexit uncertainty, has seen many professionals having to face the prospect of losing their job.

Now with the added stress of the recent Coronavirus pandemic threatening to severely affect the global economy, the number of working people losing their jobs doesn’t look set to slow down any time soon.

Accidents Happen to Professionals Too

Putting aside the issue of professional tenants having a regular income, there is never any guarantee that other unfortunate events won’t occur. It could come in the form of accidental damage to the property, including fire and flood.

Not to mention all the other risks that are present regardless of if you are renting to a professional tenant, such as weather damage to the building.

Professional Tenants that Work from Home

Many professional tenants work from home with just a computer, including industries such as web design and development, marketing and consultancy and many other types of clerical type businesses. However, if the business is not computer-based, the risks of damage to your property may increase significantly.

It is completely legal for your tenant to run a business from their home. There are a few rules that they must follow, such as that the property should remain mostly (at least 60%) residential. They will also require the landlord’s permission in writing, however, a landlord cannot unreasonably withhold permission.

There are some instances to which a landlord can refuse permission for their tenant to run a business from their residential property, these include:

• If the tenants business would require the landlord to change their mortgage.
• If the tenants business would significantly increase wear and tear to the property.
• If the tenants business would cause a nuisance to the occupants of neighbouring properties.

Even in the event that a tenant does only intend to do clerical work from home, we would always suggest landlords take the appropriate steps to protect themselves from the risks.

Landlord Insurance for Professional Working Tenants

Landlord insurance is optional, however, it is strongly recommended because a standard home insurance policy will not cover a rental agreement and just because you have a hard-working, responsible, professional tenant does not mean that you are immune from everything else that could potentially go wrong in the future. A strong landlord insurance policy can protect you financially should the unforeseeable happen.

Flexible, comprehensive, and affordable landlord insurance for professional working tenants can be hard to come by, but with Ashburnham Insurance, you can choose the level of cover you require. CALL US FREE ON 0800 1696137 to find out more.

There are many reasons that you will need insurance for your business. Without the right coverage, you could face financial ruin and loss of the business. With the right policy, you’ll find peace of mind knowing that you are covered for any situation.

1) It’s required by law

You are legally required to have certain insurance policies in place when running a business. If you don’t you could be faced with heavy fines, putting your business at risk.

2) It provides financial protection

There are many situations that, without insurance, means that your business could find itself in financial trouble. Business insurance can even help cover the costs of any legal defences.

3) It protects your employees

Your employees are the heart and soul of your business. They are also your most valuable asset. You are legally required to protect any staff that work for your business with employers liability insurance.

4) It protects your property

What would happen to your business in the event of a fire or flood at the property? Buildings and contents insurance will protect your business from these types of unforeseen disasters.

5) Business contracts require it

There are instances that you will require the right insurance for your business, such as when borrowing money, renting a property, hiring contractors and even certain client contracts may require it.

Ashburnham Insurance helps businesses manage their operational risk by providing comprehensive and customisable business insurance quotes online and offering the best value for money policies from trusted UK insurers. CALL US FREE ON 0800 1696137 to find out more.

“No DSS” and “Working professionals only” are phrases that are commonly seen in “to-let” adverts. They are also one of the most obvious discriminatory practices, currently being used in the lettings market, against people in receipt of housing and other types of benefits.

The range of properties on the housing market that tenants who receive benefits can afford to rent is limited due to cuts to benefits, and also because of problems with how the benefits system currently works.

No DSS bans are unlawful and can make it difficult for tenants that are in receipt of benefits to find a home, even in situations that they can afford the rent. DSS tenants say that these type of bans often make them feel as though they are second-class citizens and some can even become homeless as a result of these types of bans.

Is it unlawful to discriminate against DSS tenants?

You cannot refuse to rent a property to a DSS tenant without considering their entire circumstances. The Equality Act 2010 made it unlawful to discriminate against anyone because of a ‘protected characteristic’ when renting out a property.

Protected characteristics include things such as:

• age
• disability
• gender
• marriage and civil partnership
• pregnancy and maternity
• race
• religion or belief
• sex
• sexual orientation

As an example, a disabled person is more likely to be claiming housing benefit and so is more likely to lose out to someone who is not, this is called “indirect discrimination”.

Can you refuse to rent to those who cannot afford it?

By law, you can refuse to rent your property to a tenant if it is clear that they cannot afford the rent payments. However, you must consider each applicant and their circumstances individually, without simply assuming that they cannot afford it.

Housing benefit may not cover the entire rent payment, but a tenant may still be able to pay the rent due to savings or with some help from their family.

What if you do not want tenants receiving DSS?

If you do not wish to rent your property to a person receiving DSS, this is still classed as unlawful discrimination. “No DSS” bans discourage people who receive these type of benefits from being able to register an interest in your property, which means that you will be unable to consider their individual circumstances.

Using this kind of discriminatory language in your rental advertisement puts landlords at risk of legal action.

Consider each person’s individual circumstances

You should always consider each application based on individual circumstances. Do not reject a rental application for your property simply because they receive benefits. By looking at a DSS applicant’s circumstances, you may discover that they can afford to pay the full rent in advance until their benefit payments start.

Some insurers consider housing benefit claimants a higher risk than working professionals, due to their financial vulnerability and dependence on government support. Some landlords even claim that they cannot accept tenants in receipt of DSS because of a condition in their insurance policy. However, it is completely possible for landlords to get suitable buildings and contents insurance if they wish to let their properties to tenants in receipt of benefits.

Ashburnham Insurance is a specialist provider of Landlord Insurance for DSS tenants which protects landlords from potential risks that are usually associated with renting out a property to those claiming benefits. CALL FREE ON 0800 1696137 to find out more.

With Coronavirus on the mind’s of any and every person in the UK, the call for cleaners to deep clean homes and public places is growing. With the growing pressure of cleaning product shortages to boot, professional cleaners are being called upon to keep things virus-free. If you are a cleaner or run a cleaning business, you need to ensure that you are prepared for taking on these jobs not only physically, but in terms of insurance and protecting your staff.

Fighting On The Front Line

As a cleaner, you are likely to be right there on the front line, battling back this virus alongside healthcare workers and other important jobs across the country. What this means, however, is that you and any of your workers are at increased risk of not only contracting the virus but spreading it. For this reason, cleaners are under increased pressure to operate safely and efficiently.

There have been cases of cleaning companies being called upon to disinfect homes or doctor’s surgeries that are known to have hosted a Covid-19 patient, with the cleaners expected to wear full PPE (personal protective equipment) and use anti-cross-contamination measures to ensure that the virus couldn’t spread. Cleaning is often overlooked when it comes to groups on the proverbial front line, which is why taking responsibility for your own safety is key.

Get The Right Cover

Having the right insurance is a must at all times, regardless of whether you’re cleaning a known Covid-19 area, or simply getting on with your normal day-to-day business, Public Liability and Employers Liability insurance can offer financial cover in the case of economic loss, whether that’s property damage, injury to the public or you and your employees and legal fees in case of a claim.

Public Liability Insurance, providing you have the right policy for your business, is designed to protect you against the unexpected costs of incidents or accidents, such as damage to property or injury to the public caused by your business. While some policies may cover illness, others may not, so please speak to a member of our team for more detailed information on Public Liability cover for cleaners.

Employers Liability insurance offers protection for your employees in the case of accidents or health issues. If your employee was to fall ill while working for you, they may be able to claim compensation as a result, which is where Employer’s Liability insurance can protect your business against unexpected costs. In times where illness is more likely due to Coronavirus, this insurance is one that you must have.

Stay Safe

If you are still out there working during this pandemic, it’s most important to stay safe in any way that you can while still helping the general public do the same. It’s important to make sure that you clean and cover all surfaces, paying particular care to hot points for touch. Bannisters, door handles, buttons and even telephones are considered to be hot points for bacteria and viruses, as they are the most frequently touched throughout the day.

Pay careful attention to the chemicals and antibacterial sprays that you use, ensuring they are strong enough to kill off Covid-19, without putting your customers and clients at any risk to their health. Check with allergies and keep the rooms well ventilated where you can.

For your team, using PPE can help protect them and reduce the risk of catching the virus. Gloves, full-length sleeves, masks and the relevant antibacterial hand gels and self-cleaning equipment following a job are advised, though it’s best to keep up to date with the World Health Organisation’s advice each day.

For more information regarding insurance and whether you will be covered against Coronavirus, please get in touch with a member of our expert team FREE ON 0800 1696137.

Across the globe, we find ourselves in an unprecedented situation. Covid-19 has led to the lockdown of an increasing number of countries and right here in the UK, we’re seeing businesses shutting down or taking other measures to account for changing guidance.

Pubs, clubs, bars, shops and more are seeing reduced visitors, stock shortages and are feeling the full force of the economic result of the pandemic. One question on these business’s minds is whether Business Interruption Insurance could cover them for losses incurred as a result of Government guidance. We’re exploring, below.

What Is Business Interruption Insurance?

Business Interruption Insurance, at its core, is a form of insurance cover that offers protection against any economic loss incurred as a result of a business’s inability to put a property to normal use. While the wording and fine print will differ from insurer to insurer, this typically involved physical damage to the property itself, but in some cases, can also include any government action, such as an evacuation order. This may differ from policy to policy, however, it generally requires there to be damage that results in an economic loss to the company in order for a claim to be successful.

How Do I Know if I Have Business Interruption Insurance?

The best way to check if you have Business Interruption Insurance is to speak with your business insurance provider. In most cases, you can purchase this insurance separately and some may give you the option to add it to other standard covers. Most First Party Property Insurance policies will include this, but it’s best to check. If you don’t have this cover, you could still take out a policy. We offer shop and office insurance policies that will include some level of interruption insurance, though feel free to get in touch for more information.

Will It Cover Me If I Need To Close Due To The Covid-19 Outbreak?

If you have Business Interruption Insurance, whether you’re covered for the Covid-19 outbreak will depend on the policy itself. The UK government has stated:

“Businesses that have cover for both pandemics and government-ordered closure should be covered, as the government and insurance industry confirmed on 17 March 2020 that advice to avoid pubs, theatres etc is sufficient to make a claim as long as all other terms and conditions are met.

Insurance policies differ significantly, so businesses are encouraged to check the terms and conditions of their specific policy and contact their providers. Most businesses are unlikely to be covered, as standard business interruption insurance policies are dependent on damage to property and will exclude pandemics.”

While these reassurances have been given, businesses should still be aware that some policies may only approve an insurance claim in the case that your business should need to shut due to a Coronavirus outbreak within your property, that has led to a medical professional suggesting the shutdown of the business for a period of time.

Overall, whether your business will be covered by insurance really comes down to a case-by-case evaluation. Some policies offer full pandemic cover, while others may require your business to have been shut down due to an outbreak within the site.

For more help or advice on business insurance, including shop insurance and office insurance contact Ashburnham Insurance FREE ON 0800 1696137.

When you start a new business, one thing that no one mentions is just how easy it can be to fall out of love with it down the line. The stress and pressure of running your own decorating business can lead to burnout or make it difficult to get the same enjoyment out of it as you once did and finding a solution can seem daunting. Whether you’re self-employed, or you run a decorating company, taking steps to fall back in love with your business could help you to turn a better profit, improve productivity and get the same enjoyment out of your job as when you first started. But what can you do? We’re exploring, below.

Step Back And Get A Fresh Perspective

After spending years in the same job or running the same business, it can be difficult to lose perspective. If the stress of your current workload is getting too much, take a look back at where you first started and how far you’ve come since. Reminding yourself of not only the progress you’ve made but why you fell in love with the business in the first place can set you back on the right path to keep things growing.

Perspective is a valuable thing in business, regardless of the industry; having a wider view can help you overcome an issue or see the cause of a problem. Is there something about the job that’s bothering you the most? By taking on a different perspective to that issue, you can work out solutions that could ultimately help your business run more smoothly and give you the time to focus on what you love about it, rather than what was causing the stress.

Get The Right Cover

Constantly worrying about making mistakes or the legal side of your business can wear you down quickly and lead to burnout. Painters and decorators have a number of things to worry about in their job, from accidents such as falling from ladders or the public slipping on paint or wallpaper paste to any damage caused by spilt paint or dropped tools. With the right insurance, however, you will be covered against claims made by the public and by your employees.

Public Liability Insurance for painters and decorators covers any damage caused during business activity and any injury that might occur to the public in the case of an accident. Insurance can cover the cost of any claims made, to ensure that you and your company aren’t financially affected in these cases.

Employer’s liability insurance is a compulsory cover for any business that hires one or more people. It offers protection against any employee claims in the case of accidents or injury, covering legal costs, compensation and more.

By holding these two types of insurance, you can go to work or send employees to work with peace of mind that you are covered in cases of damage, injury or accidents. Additional covers such as Tools insurance or Contracts Work Cover are also available where needed, but aren’t compulsory.

Try New Things

The painting and decorating industry is constantly changing, with new and exciting materials, techniques and designs rolling in as the year progresses. This spring, in particular, is set to see a rise in bold colours in decorating, meaning painters and decorators could get the chance to be more creative with their work, rather than sticking to the same muted palettes. The demand for making a statement in the home could lead to more innovative designs both at home and in commercial properties. While you are somewhat limited to what the client wants, discussing new ideas could not only introduce them to an innovative change they hadn’t thought of, it could give you the opportunity to try something new yourself.

Even the rustic and minimalistic trends require some creativity. Not everyone is content with plain white walls, and want a more textured or unique look. Learning a new painting technique or skill could put you in the limelight for those seeking something different while giving you that much-needed refuel of passion for your business.

For guidance or advice about our Painters and Decorators Public Liability Insurance or for information on any of our other insurance products, get in touch with a member of our team, today.

As the weeks pass us by, it’s starting to become increasingly obvious that the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is having a significant impact on both the UK economy and housing market. With lockdown policies having a negative effect on current economic activity, landlords might be wondering how the current situation affects any existing tenancy agreements, in regards to aspects of repair and maintenance work being carried out within the property, and just how COVID-19 could affect the rental market in the future.

An Expected Rise of Tenants in Receipt of Benefits

According to official figures, the number of people in the United Kingdom claiming unemployment benefits during April increased by the most in one month since records began almost fifty years ago, reaching almost 2.1 million. The Office for National Statistics also reported approximately 856,500 people signed up for Universal Credit and Job Seeker’s Allowance benefits in April. 

This dramatic increase in unemployment would have been much higher without the government’s intervention and the introduction of the Job Retention Scheme. However, the reality is that hundreds of thousands of people are now unemployed or facing potential unemployment in the near future. Because of this significant sharp rise in unemployment, over the coming months, we are likely to see an increase of tenants in receipt of benefits.

This news should not worry landlords as most insurance companies have agreed to allow you to amend your landlord insurance policy with no change to the policy terms or price if your tenant has started receiving benefits due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is also completely possible for landlords to get suitable buildings and contents insurance if they wish to let their properties to tenants in receipt of benefits.

If you do wish to evict your tenant during the Coronavirus outbreak you must follow proper procedures. Meaning that:

• You cannot lock your tenant out of their home, even temporarily.
• You must give 2 months notice of termination of the tenancy agreement.
• If the tenant refuses to leave you must get a court order.
• If the tenant still refuses to leave after the court order expires you will need to get a bailiff warrant to evict the tenant.

Rental Property Maintenance During the UK Lockdown Period

Whilst we are in this period, landlords are required to carry out essential repairs only. This includes any repairs required to utilities, annual gas safety checks and pest control. Any non-essential work should not be carried out during this time, such as tenancy inspections.

Social distancing guidelines should be followed on all visits by any landlord or representative tradesperson visiting the property and if the tenant is self-isolating, the landlord should assess the situation and follow public health advice such as the use of full PPE.

The Predicted Recovery of the UK Housing Market

 Whilst it may be too early to determine the full impact of COVID-19 on both the economy or the UK property market, the good news for any potential property investors is that the effects are not expected to be long-lasting. In the first month of 2020, the housing market was displaying signs of strong growth, with an increase in sales and prices across the UK. Economists are forecasting a return to this within a few months if the lockdown measures do not persist.

Ashburnham Insurance are specialist providers of insurance policies for landlords We can cover residential properties let to tenants, houses of multiple occupation (HMOs), commercial let properties amongst others. Whether these buildings are a small privately-owned investment or a full-time business, we have the right cover for you.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the UK, consumer habits have undeniably shifted towards online shopping for essential products and home improvement. 

Online shopping giant Amazon is struggling to fulfil delivery times as warehouse workers follow social distancing measures, meaning that smaller eCommerce companies have a chance to take advantage of this by offering fast delivery options. However, the decrease in global manufacturing means that inventory availability of certain products has been affected and this can impact even the smallest of businesses. One key question also remains. Will buyers will ever go back to high street shopping as we know it?

In order to help businesses through this difficult period, the UK Government has made a full range of business support measures available to UK businesses. You can find the full list of financial help available for UK businesses on the GOV website here, but we’ve created this infographic detailing some of the most generally helpful.

• The Job Retention Scheme – Businesses can furlough employees and the government will reimburse 80% of the wage, up to £2,500 per month.
• VAT Deferral – Businesses can defer their value-added tax (VAT) payments, interest-free, for one year.
• Loans & Overdrafts – A loan scheme (CBILS), is helping to support businesses to access lending and overdrafts.
• Small Business Rate Relief – You can get small businesses rate relief if your property’s rateable value is less than £15,000.
• Direct Business Grants – These grants are providing up to £10,000 to around 700,000 business currently eligible for Small Business Rate Relief.

We help businesses manage their operational risk by providing comprehensive and customisable business insurance quotes online and offering the best value for money policies from trusted UK insurers. Contact Ashburnham Insurance today on FREEPHONE 0800 1696137.

Whether you’re new to the property game or you’re an experienced landlord, choosing the right tenants that’ll provide a smooth-sailing experience can seem impossible. Not only is the allure of a quick signing enough to make us forget everything we’re looking for, but even the most pleasant-seeming of tenants can pose issues down the line. Understanding the best types of tenants to consider and the issues that you might encounter can help to manage expectations and help you prepare for most eventualities.

The Common Tenant Types

The sheer number of types of tenants is vast, from single parents to newlyweds, through to students, elderly tenants and more. However, these can often be broken down into a few key tenant types according to employment status, age or financial situation. These are:

• Professionals – Professional tenants refer to anyone in full-time employment with a regular income. They are considered to be one of the lowest risk options for getting regular rent payments but may be likely to move soon in the future for work.
• Students – Students are any person in full or part-time education who may or may not be working a part-time job. Due to what is often a low or irregular income, they are considered a higher risk.
• Elderly – Elderly or retired tenants will differ greatly, with some holding a more substantial retirement fund than others, with some tenants still working even beyond retirement age. Statistically, they are more likely to want a longer-term rental agreement in order to settle down, without a high risk of moving.
• DSS – DSS tenants are any tenant who is receiving benefits in order to pay their rent. Some insurers consider housing benefit claimants a higher risk than working professionals, due to their financial vulnerability and dependence on government support.
• Lodgers – Lodgers in your property refer to any tenant in a property that you are still living in, who might be renting a room. In most cases, this won’t make you a landlord, but you may not be covered by a standard home insurance policy. Make sure to check this with your provider to be sure.
• Family – If you have family staying in a property you own, even under a rental agreement of sorts, this won’t always require a landlord insurance policy but again you might not be covered on standard home insurance. This should be checked with your insurance provider.

Other Things to Consider About Tenants

When it comes to renting a property, you’ll generally know which tenants you are likely to see the most of depending on the area the property is in, your price range and who you’re advertising to. However, when you do get applicants or you’re working out who you feel comfortable renting to, there are a few more things you’ll need to think about.

Character is as important as previous experience

Having a full ‘CV’ of previous tenancies is all well and good but, while it is important to consider, you also need to take the time to work out the applicant’s character. Respectful, down-to-earth tenants who can communicate well will make the relationship a lot smoother along the line regardless of which problems come up. Someone might have the perfect track record in the past but if they can’t communicate or expect too much from you, it could cause tension and clashes in the future.

Loyalty pays

Determining the loyalty from your tenants generally comes down to how long you expect them to stay at your property. Families, in most cases, are looking for long-term or permanent places to live and may not be able to afford a home of their own and so are likely to treat the place with more respect than a shorter-term renter might. They are also more likely to work with you rather than against you if any issues crop up that need to be resolved.

Couples give better security

If you’re looking to rent to professionals, couples can be a better choice than an individual tenant simply because they have better security overall. You’ll get a reference for each tenant, sometimes a guarantor for each tenant and in cases where one tenant may lose their job or fall short on income for a month or so, the other can often pick up the slack in the meantime. This isn’t foolproof, but for a more stress-free renting relationship, can be a good way to go for new landlords in particular.

Consider student letting, but get the right cover

Student letting is a whole other way to be a landlord. If you have a property with several bedrooms, you can usually let out the property on a by-room basis, meaning that groups of students can get together and rent out a property while only paying for their particular room and the communal areas. Students have gained a bad reputation over the years through parties or noise complaints, but in most cases, they are responsible tenants whose parents or family are often more than happy to be a guarantor. You may need to adjust the rent times to match with student loans, but this is also a way to ensure you do get the money asked for.

Tenants that ask questions are more attentive

If your potential tenants are doing as many checks into you as you are into them – within reason, of course – this could be a sign that they are serious about the decision and are in it for the long-haul. Serious tenants want to know what they’re getting into and want to know that it’s safe and for this reason, any tenant that asks questions or wants to know your own history as a landlord is likely just diligent and are likely willing to enter into a reliable tenancy agreement.

Look for someone you’ll get along with

Finally, you ideally want to rent your property to someone that you get along with. If you and your tenant don’t get along in general, it’s likely that you’ll run into problems down the line when you need to communicate. For this reason, try and set up a good relationship with them from the very start and it’ll make for an easier tenancy for the entire duration, and even encourage them to stay for longer.

For more information about landlord insurance and how to find cover for specific types of tenants, get in touch with a member of the team at Ashburnham Insurance, today.

As lockdown eases and businesses and shops are starting to go back to full operation, many businesses are still in the process of working out how to bring their employees back safely. For small businesses, finding the balance between keeping the company afloat and keeping employees and customers safe during the pandemic can be complex, from something as simple as having to install new equipment such as perspex screens to renewing or checking insurance policies and working out the logistics of how many customers or employees could be in the office or store at any one time. 

To help you with the reopening, we’ve put together a simple step-by-step guide to set you on the right track.

Step 1: Assess

The first step to preparing your business for reopening is to assess and review your standard situation to determine how many changes may need to be made to ensure employee and public safety.

The first thing you need to do is find out if returning to work is permitted. Government advice is constantly changing, so it’s important to keep up to date with the current advice and guidance issued to employers and businesses. Most industries will have their own guidelines according to their needs and business operations, meaning that while a construction worker may be able to go back to the building site, a hairdresser still isn’t able to open up shop just yet.

You should also consider if there are alternative solutions to keeping your business afloat. Do you need to be in the office or on the premises in order to function? Could some or all of your staff work from home? If you need to return to the office or your work involves entering other people’s homes or offices, you’ll need to make sure you read into and follow all government guidelines for your sector.

Step 2: Prepare

Once you’ve assessed whether it’s safe or essential to return to work and whether you’re allowed to do so, your next step is to prepare for that return. This will include anything from communicating with staff to determine how they feel about the return, completing in-depth risk assessments, checking that your insurance is still valid and putting together action plans for how you’re going to make things safe. 

The government advice for COVID-19 risk assessments is currently to carry out an assessment in line with HSE guidelines and to consult with your employees and/or trade unions for their thoughts. The results of the risk assessment should also be shared with your employees and, ideally, should be available on your website for customers. 

If you’ve cancelled your insurance in the past few months due to furloughed staff or a because your business hasn’t been operating, then you’ll need to make sure you take out a new policy that covers your employees and customers before you go back to work. All businesses must have Employer’s Liability Insurance as a legal requirement, but it’s also advised that you take out a Public Liability insurance policy to ensure that you and your customers are protected.

You’ll also need to put together a plan on how you will help your employees safely return to work, and communicate this clearly with each of them. The plans need to be carefully made to ensure maximum safety and that all government rules and guidelines are followed. Employees need to understand what is expected of them and of the business when you return, so make sure that all plans you make are clear from the very start.

Step 3: Implement

Once plans have been made, it’s time to start implementing them. Before you even allow employees back into the work premises, you’ll need to make sure there are plenty of handwashing and hygiene facilities including hand sanitiser, and you’ll also need to determine whether wearing masks or face coverings is beneficial or necessary. If you’re speaking to customers directly regularly, visors and masks could be a benefit and where possible, you should provide your employees with these but bear in mind that they need to fit properly to be effective.

You’ll also need to increase the amount of time spent cleaning the premises including all ‘hot spot’ surfaces and public areas. You can set guidelines for your employees for keeping their personal space clean during the day, as well as clear cleaning regimes for toilets and kitchens.

While you may be keeping on top of cleaning, you should also maintain approximately 2 metres of distance between each employee and customers where possible, including putting up signs to remind people to adhere to that guideline. You could arrange a one-way system through the premises, as well as avoiding multi-person use of a single workstation. If you do have clients visit the office regularly, why not make this by appointment only? That way, you can have better control over who is in the office or store at any one time.

Step 4: Monitor

Once all of the measures have been introduced and your employees are back at work, you need to monitor the situation closely. Keep an eye on whether employees are following the rules and make sure that you reiterate the plans if it seems like they haven’t understood what is in place and why. Check with employees regularly to see their thoughts on the measures and whether additional action could be taken to improve safety further now that they’ve had time to adjust to the new ones.

You should also conduct regular risk assessments of your own according to the changing guidelines and advice that is given by the government. As things evolve, you may need to introduce new measures, reduce others and in some cases, this will mean adapting how your business operates. Some businesses will need to conduct more regular risk assessments than others depending on how many people there are, how many customers you are likely to come into contact with and the environment that you are in. If any of your employees show signs of COVID-19, you should send them home for the allocated 14-day quarantine and conduct a full risk assessment as to whether it’s safe for your other employees to remain at work.

For more advice about returning to work and how your insurance policy will protect your business and employees at this time, feel free to get in touch for information or for a quote, today.

In light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, many people are wondering what business interruption insurance is and if it will help cover the closure of their business in certain circumstances.

What Is Business Interruption Insurance Infographic

Business interruption insurance covers the loss of income that a business suffers for certain reasons, such as a disaster like a fire or a flood at the business premises.

This type of insurance may also cover a business that has closed due to government actions. Including the mandated shutdown of all non-essential businesses during COVID-19.

It can sometimes cover other expenses but policies can vary significantly, so always check the wording in your policy and ask if you are unsure.

This type of coverage can be a standalone policy or can be added on to a business’ property insurance policy.

At Ashburnham Insurance, we help businesses manage their operational risk by providing comprehensive and customisable business insurance quotes online and offering the best value for money policies from trusted UK insurers.

The UK Government announced lockdown measures back on the 23rd of March, restricting when people could leave their homes and limiting gatherings. The result is that the Police have announced that the overall crime rate has fallen in Britain by 28% since lockdown began. Falls in crime recorded by police include a 37% drop in burglary, a 27% drop in vehicle crime, serious assault and personal robbery. Shoplifting has fallen by 54%, while all non-essential stores have been closed.

Recent Civil Unrest in the UK Was Predicted

Although crime levels in England and Wales have fallen during the pandemic, back in April the UK Police Chief predicted riots and civil unrest once lockdown was relaxed, warning that our police force should be ready to deal with a “more volatile and agitated society” due to impact of what the public has gone through over the last few months.

As predicted, riots broke out across some major UK cities recently, including London, Newcastle and Bristol, as violent scenes were created by crowds on the streets that claimed to be there to protect historic statues from Black Lives Matter protesters. 

The London riots in 2011, which began following a protest in Tottenham over the shooting of Mark Duggan by police, saw extensive destruction of property including homes, businesses, and cars looted and set on fire. Now, after what can only be described as a turbulent first half of the year after the global Coronavirus pandemic and the protests related to the death of George Floyd, we now face more potential civil unrest caused by a significant rise in unemployment and the looming threat of a no-deal Brexit. 

Will My Insurance Policy Protect My Home & Business?

You may be concerned about loss or damage to your property, either in your home or business should civil unrest cause riots or looting in your neighbourhood, and wondering if your home insurance and business insurance policies will cover you.

According to the ABI (Based on the 2011 London Riots): 

• Most home insurance policies should cover fire, looting and other damage caused by civil unrest (there may be an exception if the home has been unoccupied for a while).
• Many home insurance policies also cover accommodation costs if you cannot stay in your home.
• Most business insurance policies will cover businesses for damage to their premises, including the interruption to their business as a result.
• Some business policies will also cover those businesses which are not damaged, but whose trade is affected by the aftermath.

What About My Car Insurance?

Vehicles being set alight in the street during civil unrest is also a consideration and the different types of car insurance that you may hold will affect if you are covered.

• Unfortunately, anyone with a Third-Party Only car insurance policy will not be covered in this situation due to the nature of the policy only covering damage caused to a third party.
• If you hold a Third Party Fire & Theft policy, you may be able to make a claim for any fire damage, although be aware that many insurance policies also exclude arson. Check with your provider to be sure.
• Most fully comprehensive insurance policies actually exclude “riot damage”, but the exclusion typically only applies outside of Great Britain. This means that you should be covered with this type of policy, but check with your provider to be sure.

If you have been affected by theft or damage caused by civil unrest, riots and looting, we recommend that you contact your insurer immediately to check what you are covered for and arrange help. You can also call Ashburnham Insurance on FREEPHONE 0800 1696137 for more help and advice.

Lockdown has had an impact on every industry, but the shipping industry, in particular, has seen ongoing and prolonged pressure like never before. With increased demand but limited capacity, couriers and shipping companies have been under increasing pressure to keep on top of demand while still keeping their employees safe. Here, we’re digging a little deeper into how COVID-19 has affected couriers and the shipping industry, and how they can keep on top of staying safe in the coming months.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Courier Industry

Whether you work with couriers or own your own courier business, or even if you’ve only ordered something over the past few months, chances are you’ve witnessed disruptions to the typical expected service. From longer shipping times and low or limited stock to contactless deliveries or increased shipping costs, companies have had to make changes to keep up with the pressure of the outbreak and lockdown.

Three of the main impacts that it has had include:

The Rise In Online Sales – The sheer volume of people ordering online over the past few months is higher than it has ever been, with May alone seeing a 32.7% increase YoY, which is the highest increase that the UK has seen since 2008. This is 13.8% higher than April too, showing that online sales certainly aren’t slowing down. What this has meant, however, is that couriers and delivery services have a higher number of parcels and packages to deliver and in some cases, limited resources and staff in which to do so. While 3 in 5 UK shoppers have favoured local shops, some of which operate their own delivery services, couriers have still taken the brunt of the lockdown rush. 

Between February and March, when the lockdown was seen as both a potential and imminent issue, sales of hand sanitiser and soap, disinfectant, bottled water, tissues and, of course, toilet paper, all soared, with hand sanitiser seeing some of the biggest week-on-week increases of over 420%. Such a sudden demand even caused Amazon to limit its service to prioritise household and health-related products.

Reduced capacity – Despite this rise in sales, however, there was a considerable lack of capacity. With limits on travel, reduced staff due to vulnerability or sickness and even limits on the products they can get hold of, couriers have been under immense pressure. Even the likes of UPS, FedEx and DHL have reported route suspensions, as well as suspensions on signature-on-delivery services and next-day or express shipping. 

Slow Mail –  On a similar strain to reduced capacity, the country’s mail service has seen significant delays, particularly with international shipments and letters. While not every country announced significant disruptions, the U.S. Postal Service, China Post, Deutsche Post, Swiss Post and more all announced disruptions as a result.

How to Manage Safety After Lockdown

Lockdown has eased and more businesses have gone back to work. Now, with the shops in the UK open, couriers can expect to see an ease in demand. However, it’s not all over and managing safety in the coming months is vital to limiting the chances of a second wave. From ensuring that you have adequate business protection including insurance, to putting measures in place for couriers out on the road, there are a few things you should do:

Business Protection – Ensuring that your Employer’s Liability insurance is up to date and adequate is the first thing you should do as we head into the easing of lockdown. Your employers and your business need to be protected in the case of accidents of sickness as a result of business operations. In the same way, your customers do too and so it’s advised that you take out or renew your Public Liability insurance policy to ensure you are protected.

Keeping Safe On The Road – From limiting the number of couriers in any one vehicle to conducting regular reviews of how they are operating, will help you stay on top of ensuring employee and customer safety. Gloves and masks should be worn when delivering parcels for both safety, and peace of mind to the recipients. Within the vehicle itself, regular cleaning should take place and where possible, hand sanitiser should be available to be used between deliveries if hand washing isn’t possible.

For more helpful advice from Ashburnham Insurance or for a quote on public liability insurance for couriers – please get in touch with a member of our team today!

When you are thinking of purchasing a property, one of the things that you might consider is the road that it is situated on and whether it has been adopted by the Local Authority. Any property buyer should be made fully aware of all the legal complications that come with purchasing property along or near an unadopted road.

What is an Unadopted Road?

Unadopted roads are roads which may offer the public access but do not actually belong to the public road network. Unadopted roads are not maintained by a highway authority as defined by Highways Act 1980 and so as the Local Highway Authority has not agreed to maintain the road at the public expense, the road remains “unadopted”. There are approximately 40,000 unadopted roads in the UK.

How to Find Out If a Road is Unadopted

During the course of purchasing a property, a local authority search should be obtained as they are an essential part of the buying process. It is the second part of this search, known as the CON29, that will supply any information relating to public highways or planning decisions that could affect the property.

You can also obtain something called a “Highways Search” from the Local Authority, this provides further information on the road according to the local Council’s records, including if it is unadopted.

Who Is Responsible for Maintaining Unadopted Roads?

The condition of an unadopted road will vary depending on how well-maintained it is and the legal duty of this falls on the owner or owners of the highway. Responsibility for the cost of maintaining an unadopted road usually rests with the owners of properties which front onto such roads.

Some of the worst unadopted roads are filled with potholes, are unevenly unsurfaced, offer no drainage and have no street lighting. The Local Authority is under no obligation to pay the cost for the maintenance of an unadopted road. This can leave the owners facing a financial obligation to rectifying any issues. So, if you are thinking of purchasing a property on an unadopted road, you will need to consider any potential future financial contributions.

You can request that the Local Authority “adopt” the road, but their decision will depend on the condition of the road and any cost of bringing the road up to a suitable standard must be met by owners.

This has become an increasing issue for local authorities as they have faced cuts to their budgets and so have to ensure that they are not taking on new liabilities. It is also something which has become increasingly important with property developers failing to build new roads on housing developments to the required standard.

Who Can Use an Unadopted Road?

An unadopted road typically allows the public a right to pass, but it may also be a private street over which only some people, usually the owners, have a private right of access. Waiting to use the road to pass may be permitted, but long-term parking may be considered a “trespass” against the owner, or owners, of the road.

Residents of properties fronting an unadopted road often think, that as they own the road and pay for the maintenance, that they have some right to obstruct access. However, this is an offence, just as it would be on a public highway.

Unadopted Road Insurance

If you are thinking about purchasing a property on an unadopted road you should fully inform yourself of all the potential costs and issues that could arise. Though Unadopted Road Insurance is not a legal requirement, if your unadopted road is open for public access then it should be seriously considered as a way to financially protect yourself should the worst come to the worst. If there are multiple residents on the road, it is common for the residents to share the Unadopted Road Insurance policy.

You can call Ashburnham Insurance FREE ON 0800 1696137 and one of our helpful staff will be able to give you an instant quote for Unadopted Road Insurance over the phone.

Most businesses understand that they need to protect themselves from any potential compensation claims. After all, almost every business will have some degree of contact with members of the public via customers and suppliers, meaning that they are exposed to a degree of risk.

Public liability insurance isn’t a legal requirement but it’s recommended as it provides important cover for many businesses. It covers your business financially if you are sued for injury or damage, at your business premises, at a customer’s home or even if you are conducting business out in the public.

You should consider all of the different risks and scenarios that your business may face when deciding if you need public liability insurance. You might need public liability insurance for any number of reasons.

• A client visits your salon and you burn them with hair straighteners. 
• You work as a builder and accidentally damage a client’s property.
• Your hired as an entertainer and spill a drink over a client’s sound system.

A public liability insurance policy can be taken out by individuals, self­-employed workers and small businesses that wish to reduce the financial risk of paying out for any accidents and damages that they may be liable for.

Individual / Sole Traders

When you are trading by yourself it can be very daunting. The future of your business is completely in your hands but one false move could leave you in financial turmoil. If you were to injure a member of the public, you would need to call upon your public liability insurance policy for individuals to help you out with compensation costs.

Business Partnerships

A business partnership is a formed agreement between two or more individuals to run a business as co-owners. If your business is owned two or more individuals then it is recommended you have public liability insurance for a partnership in place to provide protection for your business against liability claims against you or your business.

Self-Employed

When you are a freelancer and earn your living through your own business, you are considered as self-employed. As you are working under your own guidance, it means if anything goes wrong, it could well fall back on you for rectification or compensation. This is when public liability insurance for self-employed is recommended.

Small Businesses

The definition of a small business does differ from industry to industry and also the turnover of the business in question can decide what category they fall into but, in a majority of cases, a small business is a company consisting of 1 to 50 employees. Public liability insurance for small businesses will offer that vital help and assistance when the unexpected happens, for which a small business could be liable for.

Limited Companies

A Limited Company is a private company whose owners are legally responsible for its debts up to the amount of capital that they invested. A limited company can consist of a single person or multiple individuals who will all need cover for the day-to-day risks they are exposed to. Whether you are part of a Private Limited Company (Ltd) or Public Limited Company (PLC), public liability insurance for limited companies protects you from any unexpected claims that you and the employees could be liable for.

Additionally, if you run a business which takes on work by a local authority, your contract will usually state that you must have a particular level of public liability insurance in place.

Ultimately, it’s up to you as a business owner to decide whether you need public liability insurance for your business and whether you could afford the financial impact of a compensation claim against your business.

If you are concerned about the risks associated with your business, visit our public liability insurance page to find out more or call Ashburnham Insurance on 0800 1696137. We can provide insurance for all sorts of trades.

In recent years, a series of major floods have hit the UK and hundreds of thousands of homes are becoming harder to insure because they’re at high risk of flooding. Areas suffering repeat flooding are finding that many homeowners are being left with unaffordable premiums, with some unable to insure their homes at all, as the risk is too high.

More than 5 million homes across England are at risk of flooding and the average cost of flooding to a home is around £30,000. It doesn’t matter if you live at the top of a hill or live in a flat area that’s never flooded before, flooding can still affect you and put your home, your possessions and your life at risk.

Flooding is dangerous. Just as with fire, the damage happens very quickly and the lasting effects can be devastating. It’s important to understand the flood risks in your area and it’s even more important that you take action to reduce the risks of flood damage to your home.

Is your home at risk of flooding?

There are some recommended steps that can be taken to reduce the impact that any flooding may have on your home. Learning what to do in a flood can significantly reduce the damage to your home and its contents (by around 40%), and also reduce the risk to life.

If you live in England, you can check to see if the property concerned is at risk of flooding on the GOV website using a simple postcode search. If you do live in an area that is at risk of flooding then you can get free flood warnings sent to your mobile phone. You can also find links to flood information for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on the website.

Do you know what to do in a flood?

Knowing what to do in a flood could potentially save you thousands of pounds in damages to your property and even save your life.

If you have determined that you live in an area that is at risk of flooding, then it is essential for you to have a bag packed and ready to go in the event that you have to leave your home. Include things like clothing, spare glasses, medication, important documents such as your home insurance policy and emergency contact numbers.

There are 3 different types of flood warnings as listed below. Remember that all floods are different in severity and you should always follow advice from the emergency services and your local authority if you’re in a flood.

• Flood Alerts – Prepare a bag that includes clothes, medicines and insurance documents, have a plan for moving your pets and family and keep checking for flood warnings.
• Flood Warnings – Turn off gas, water and electricity at the property. Move your family, pets and car to safety. Move valuables upstairs or to a safe place.
• Severe Flood Warnings – Make sure that you and your family are safe. Follow all advice from emergency services and call 999 if in immediate danger.

You can find lots of helpful information on preparing for flooding on the GOV website.

Does your home insurance cover flooding?

Generally, most building insurance policies do cover flooding as standard, which will protect the main structure of your home from damage. However, you will also need to make sure that you have contents insurance that will protect your belongings from flood damage.

If you do suffer a flood, the general advice is not to throw any water-damaged property away and to keep the receipts for any emergency repairs that you need to get done.

As long as the government continues to fund flood defences in areas that are at risk of flooding then insurers are not allowed to refuse cover to properties within those areas.

Your home is probably the biggest investment that you have made in your life, for this reason, it is crucial that you have the right home insurance policy in place. If you would like a quote for home buildings or contents insurance then please contact Ashburnham Insurance FREE ON 0800 1696137 and one of our helpful staff will be able to give you an instant quote over the phone.

When it comes to renting property, the amount of rent paid has to be one of the biggest considerations. Tenants feel that landlords have become greedy with rental price hikes over the years whilst landlords have seen their tax breaks cut. The driving force to this is that the cost of living is increasing which means that landlords costs are also increasing and so are rental prices accordingly.

Charging rent is how a landlord makes their investment worthwhile. But how often should rental prices be increased and how do you work out how much to raise it by?

How is a Rental Price Decided?

It sounds obvious but the best starting point for a landlord when trying to work out an appropriate amount of rent to charge is to look at the current rental market. Have a look at similar properties in the same area but remember that no two properties are exactly the same, even if they are in the same street, one might have an ensuite bathroom, a garage or a larger garden whilst another might have a brand new deluxe kitchen. A landlord does not want to price themselves out of the market.

There are also rental indexes and calculators online to help landlords find a rental price for their property. On these websites, the amount of rent that a landlord should charge is usually worked out on a percentage of the property’s market value.

Reasons a Landlord Might Increase Rent

There are many reasons that a landlord might want to increase the rent, below are a few of them.

• Rent in the local area is rising – It’s important for a landlord to stay within the local market prices, so once rental prices in the area increase, so should yours.
• Property maintenance costs – Landlords should always be investing in maintaining rental properties. If these costs go up, then the rent should too.
• Increased general costs – Landlords costs are increasing and eating into rental yields, this leaves little choice but to increase the rent.

There are also some reasons that a landlord shouldn’t use for increasing rent, higher rental yields being the biggest one of those reasons. Whilst a landlord’s ultimate aim is to make money, it’s never good to be too greedy. Tenants have the right to dispute rent increases so rent should not be increased just to make extra cash.

Raising Rent the Right Way

There are very strict rules for landlords regarding rent increases. It should generally be stated in the tenancy agreement when and how a landlord can review the rent and in all cases, it should be fair and in line with local market rents. A landlord cannot increase the rent without first informing the tenant. Once the tenant has signed the new rental agreement they have agreed to the rental increase.

As a landlord, you could always add a clause to your tenancy agreement stating that the rental price may increase after a fixed period. This way the increase is practically agreed upon before it needs to happen. Remember that the increase can still be disputed if it is deemed unfair.

What Happens if a Tenant Disputes a Rent Increase?

Sometimes even a small rent increase is too much for some to pay. If a tenant is disputing a rent increase then it is a good idea to speak to the tenant and try to explain why exactly you need to increase the rent. If rent in the area is increasing then the tenant will be more likely to be persuaded. Always try to resolve the dispute before it escalates, but if your increase is fair but the tenant refuses to accept the new rent, it might be time to start looking for some new tenants.

Ashburnham Insurance are specialist providers of Landlord Insurance which protects landlords from potential risks that are usually associated with renting out a property, including loss of rent insurance in the event that your tenant fails to make payment and owes in arrears. CALL FREE ON 0800 1696137 to find out more.

Renting accommodation to students is a lucrative option for many landlords. There are over 2 million students studying higher education in the UK and student loans can be used to pay for room and board, including both on and off-campus housing.

Many students in their first year are offered accommodation within the campus halls of residence, usually managed by their university. But by the second year, the chances are that they will need to rent a property in the private sector.

Student accommodation has become an important part of the UK’s property sector. The National Student Accommodation Survey of 2018 received over 2,000 responses from students living in student accommodation, giving us some insight into the realities of student accommodation in the UK.

Key Points from the Student Survey

• 50% of students rent from a private landlord.
• Students will travel an average of 20-30 minutes to university.
• Biggest landlord related issues are damp and no hot water or heating.
• 44% of students struggle to keep up with rent payments.
• 1 in 5 students will struggle to get their deposit back.
• 83% of students would like to see rents capped.
• 1 in 3 students feels that their accommodation is poor value for money.

Many students feel that landlords are unfairly overcharging on the rent whilst not maintaining the property as they should. Damp and lack of heating or hot water are amongst the largest complaints from students about their accommodation.

If you wish to accommodate students as a private landlord, your Local Authority will issue you with a set of guidelines that must be carried out. 

Ashburnham Insurance is a specialist provider of Student Landlord Insurance which protects landlords from potential risks that are usually associated with renting out a property to students. CALL FREE ON 0800 1696137 to find out more.

Difficult customers come in many forms. Whether they are angrily ranting at your staff stressing them out, disputing invoices, or simply not paying the bill at all, difficult customers can come at a huge cost to businesses.

There will always be difficult customers it’s part and parcel of running a business, but to run a successful business means dealing with these difficult customers correctly. They contribute largely to problems such as employee work stress and a poor business reputation. This means that it’s important to identify problem clients early on so that you can work towards turning things around as quickly as possible, reducing the drain on your business and its resources.

Here are some ways you can protect your business from difficult customers.

Remain Calm

Most commonly, a customer will become difficult because they are unhappy with the product or service that you have provided. Some customers might be rude to your staff because of this or argue that should be entitled to a better service but sometimes a customer can be downright rude, aggressive and abusive. 

It doesn’t matter if a customer is screaming at you, or making a scene, you need to remain positive and calm, handling the situation in a professional manner so that the reputation of your business is protected.

Stay in Control

One of the most important things to master when dealing with difficult customers is learning how to stay in control of the situation. To do this, you must ensure that you are always the person to make the first move towards resolving the problem.

>Avoid being pushy and focus on helping the customer by offering the possible best solution for their needs. Asserting your authority of the situation will set the tone for your customers and allow you to stay in control.

Avoid Lengthy Disputes

One thing that never helps resolve a client dispute is time. As soon as an issue arises with a customer it should be your first priority to resolve it. By doing so, you are validating the client’s feelings and establishing good communication. Your customers want to be listened to and feel encouraged that their issue will be resolved.

Don’t get hung up on unimportant details, try to remain focused on the facts of the situation and always avoid saying sorry as you do not want to accept any blame during the initial dispute. It could imply that you know that you’ve done something wrong and create an atmosphere of distrust.

Offer Solutions

An unhappy customer will likely become the bane of your life until you resolve whatever their issue is. Quickly offering solutions allows you to stay in charge of the situation whilst letting the customer know that help is being offered. As long as you stick to the facts, you will gain your customer’s gratitude for handling their issues quickly and responsibly.

Offering solutions isn’t about accepting blame, it’s about finding a quick way to resolve the problem. Always be realistic of the solutions that you are providing, your business will not survive if every difficult customer is immediately offered a full refund.

Protect Your Business

Finally, if an issue reaches the point that it cannot be resolved, the best thing that you can do is to make sure that you the right business insurance coverage. Professional indemnity insurance will help you to cover the financial costs if a claim is made against your business.

This type of insurance will protect your business from the potentially costly risks of client and customer lawsuits, even if you are not liable. Professional indemnity cover also pays out for solicitor costs incurred from defending a claim.

You can call Ashburnham Insurance FREE ON 0800 1696137 and one of our helpful staff will be able to give you an instant quote over the phone.

Empty homes present more of a risk than occupied homes. Without a homeowner or tenant present, an unoccupied property is at risk of theft and vandalism, fire or flood damage and damage caused by squatters.

Some of the risks that are generally covered by an unoccupied home insurance policy include:

• Fire damage – Fire damage to an unoccupied property can be devastating.
• Burst pipes – If there is an uncontrollable leak or a pipe bursts causing flooding.
• Theft and vandalism – If somebody breaks in to steal or damage your property.
• Legal expenses – You may need to pay expenses in the event of evicting squatters.

Some of the risks that are generally not covered by an unoccupied home insurance policy include:

• Unforced entry – Do not leave your windows or doors unlocked as this will void your insurance policy.
• Building work – If you have building work or renovations carried out, any damage to the property may not be covered.

Generally, with unoccupied insurance, you can get various levels of cover that will either cover just the basic cover or you can pay a higher premium to get a more comprehensive policy. The cheapest policy isn’t always the best, look for an unoccupied home insurance policy that covers everything you need.

If you have a property that is unoccupied and you want to get it insured, then you can get an unoccupied home insurance quotation with Ashburnham Insurance. CALL FREE ON 0800 1696137 to find out more.