Ashburnham Insurance Services Ltd

Mobile food businesses have grown in popularity in recent years. No longer are the British public limited to simple burger vans and ice-cream trucks, thanks to the explosion of “street food”, it is now possible to have cuisine from all around the world available in your local town. Street food offers quality, affordable, and most importantly, different fast food.

A mobile food business can be a fun entrepreneurial venture. But it’s not as easy as simply purchasing a food truck and firing up the grill. Are you thinking about taking on Britain’s street food scene? If you plan your mobile food business properly, you could be on your way to street food success.

Why are mobile street food businesses so popular?

Mobile street food businesses have exploded in popularity over the last decade. Some of the biggest reasons that are driving this popularity include:

• Less intimidating than investing in a bricks-and-mortar business.
• Lower start-up costs compared to a bricks-and-mortar business.
• Flexibility when it comes to the business location.
• Flexibility when it comes to the types of cuisine.
• Flexibility when it comes to business operating hours.

Ultimately, starting a mobile street food business offers one of the most realistic chances to start your own business for a reasonable investment.

Figuring out the basics of your street food business

Costs – There are fewer start-up costs when starting a mobile catering business compared to a typical restaurant business. A mobile street food business can startup with minimal financial investment. Starting small, serving street food at local markets and events, then as experience and confidence grows, opportunities will increase and the business can expand.

Equipment & Space – When considering how much space you will need to run your street food business efficiently, you will need to think about room to store, prep, cook and serve your food. Do you need a grill or deep fat fryer? Perhaps you’ll be serving milkshakes or smoothies and don’t need to cook at all, but what about refrigeration? Will you have access to an external power source to power all of your kitchen equipment? Or will you also need a generator? Whatever equipment that you decide to use, it must meet all legal requirements.

Food – The type of food that you choose to serve will probably come from personal experiences, such as a family recipe or a type of food that you’ve always dreamed of cooking. It could come from a type of foreign cuisine that you learned whilst travelling or you might just choose to cook the type of food that makes you happy. There are certain types of mobile food businesses, however, that work well and have proven a hit in just about any circumstances. The one thing that these foods all have in common is that they are portable and easy to consume.

Marketing – Look for places that other street food stalls or vans set-up at lunchtime and identify areas that you can set-up in at least 3 or 4 times a week to generate a solid, basic income. Then use the slower times of the day or season to perfect your marketing strategy. It is important that you stay in contact with your customers. So ensure that you have set-up Facebook, Twitter or Instagram accounts and use these social networks to gather reviews, share your menu, run competitions, and generate hype for your business.

The risks of running a street food business

Any type of catering job is always very physically demanding and extremely hard work. There are also strict legal requirements that must be conformed to when running any type of food business in order to avoid being fined. So make sure that you’re very thorough in researching all of the legalities involving your mobile catering business.

There are numerous risks that you face when working in the food industry. Accidentally storing food at incorrect temperatures can cause severe food poisoning, which you can be held liable for. You may have even assured your customer that their meal does not contain any nuts that could affect their nut allergy but, as it turns out, it does and you had no idea.

Public liability insurance for caterers provides financial protection for your business. If you are a mobile catering business serving food from a van or a small stall in your local market, you can ensure financial protection from such claims with this type of insurance cover. It is optional, rather than a legal requirement, but Ashburnham Insurance recommends that you certainly consider having it for your own protection. Furthermore, if you have valuable equipment, you may wish to consider tools cover to provide compensation in the event of them being stolen. CALL FREE ON 0800 1696137 to find out more.

Imposing blanket bans on tenants in receipt of housing benefit in the property rental market has been judged as unlawful, discriminatory and against equality laws after housing charity Shelter took on a case which went to court. The charity’s “End DSS Discrimination” campaign was specifically set-up to help stop the practice, which excludes thousands of potential tenants from renting homes each year.

There are just under 900,000 people in England currently receiving housing benefits to help pay their rent, yet according to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government around half of the landlords asked would not be willing to let to them, whilst a survey for Shelter, conducted by YouGov in December 2019 and January 2020, found that nearly two-thirds of private landlords prefer not to let their property to people on housing benefits.

Research shows that discrimination against people on housing benefit is both widespread and blatant. In November 2018, both The National Housing Federation and Shelter examined 86,000 online adverts for rental properties and found that 8,710 of them requested “No DSS” applications. Last year Zoopla the property rental website vowed to end housing benefit discrimination, prohibiting landlords from posting “No DSS” ads on their website.

BBC News reports that Shelter had taken on “No DSS” ban cases in the past, but that these cases had always been settled before the courts had heard them in full. However, the recent court ruling, which has been deemed “momentous” and “the nail in the coffin for ‘No DSS’ discrimination”, was based on the case of a single mother of two that ended up homeless due to facing indirect discrimination from a letting agent which refused to rent a property to her despite the fact she had always paid her rent on time, had excellent references from both landlords from the previous nine years, had a professional guarantor and offered to pay up to 6 months rent in advance. The letting agent in the case has not been named.

The judge said that “Rejecting tenancy applications because the applicant is in receipt of housing benefit was unlawfully discriminating on the grounds of sex and disability. And this was, therefore, contrary to the Equality Act 2010”. The ruling of indirect discrimination is brought about due to the fact that female single parents and disabled claimants are much more likely to be in receipt of housing benefit and so are disproportionately affected by “No DSS” bans when renting property.

The message that is being sent to both landlords and letting agents from this ruling is a clear one. They must not discriminate against potential future tenants simply because they receive housing benefits but should consider prospective tenants on a case by case basis, basing their decisions on the prospective tenant’s ability to maintain the tenancy agreement. This will offer more security to people who unfairly struggle to find a place to live just because they receive housing benefits. This ruling finally clarifies that discriminating against people in need of housing benefits is against the law.

At Ashburnham Insurance, we understand that protecting your property is a major priority for landlords. Which is why we provide flexible, comprehensive landlord insurance for landlords renting their property to DSS tenants. Talk to an expert now for more advice on FREEPHONE 0800 1696137.

In order to nurture and grow a business, it takes a lot of time, resources and investment. So it is really important that you keep it protected with the right insurance policy.

Whilst cybercrime and job automation continue to threaten both businesses and employees, COVID-19 has also had a huge impact on the economy this year. Moving into the second half of the year there are also the implications of Brexit and a US presidential election to consider. Here we highlight 6 of the biggest risks to businesses in 2020.

Biggest Risks To Businesses In 2020 Infographic

1) Cyber Crime

In 2020 most businesses store consumer information and other business details online. More and more companies are seeing their databases hacked or compromised, causing long-lasting implications through the loss of data, and exposing consumers to additional dangers.

2) Job Automation

New technologies can create a wave of unemployment and each year the number of jobs lost to automation increases, replacing traditional with digital. It is also expected that this number will rise sharply in the future as machines begin to take over more and more of the workforce.

3) Economic Fragility

The disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is having a significant impact on the global economy. With concerns shifting from supply and manufacturing issues to decreased consumer spending in the services sector.

4) Civil Unrest

Although crime levels have fallen during the pandemic, the chief of police predicted riots and civil unrest once lockdown was relaxed, warning of a “more volatile and agitated society” due to the impact of what the public has been through over the past few months.

5) Climate Disasters

The bush fires in Australia that started back in 2019 burned approximately 18,636,079 hectares of land. Although climate activists are heavily pushing for immediate action, we could experience another climate disaster, anywhere in the world, as soon as this year. Climate change WILL increase insurance premiums.

6) Political Changes

The impact of Brexit coming to the end of its transition period, along with the US presidential election in November means an uncertain future political climate. This can have an impact on businesses as it leads to fluctuations within the economy and affects consumer spending habits.

To receive a free, no-obligation quote on your business insurance contact the experts at Ashburnham Insurance on FREEPHONE 0800 1696137.

As more and more UK businesses seem to be reopening after the COVID-19 lockdown, there’s one topic on everyone’s minds – does my insurance policy cover business interruption? No matter how well covered a business might be, the governments arguable lack of clarity in recent months has led to some business interruption policies not covering the disruption. If you and your business are currently experiencing a lack of clarity, we’ve compiled an update as to what is currently going on, and what you can do to protect your business in the case of a second wave.

Bringing Clarity to an Unclear Situation

If you’ve been paying attention to the ongoing debate about business interruption insurance (BI) you may already know that the FCA has brought a test case on business interruption insurance in an attempt to bring legal clarity to a seemingly unclear situation. This has come about after insurers have found complexities in the wording of not only the policies but in the way that the government has implemented the lockdown, meaning they have subsequently turned down claims as a result. 

The case aims to provide clarity to both insurers and businesses as to whether their policies should cover business interruption as a result of COVID-19 or not. This is due to the fact that many BI policies are designed to cover disruption following damage to property that results in loss of revenue due to a pause in business activity. Some policies or cover extensions may cover non-physical damage such as infectious or contagious diseases, but the COVID-19 situation has left things a little cloudy, particularly where the wording in the policy itself is concerned.

The FCA’s case is set to be taken to the Supreme Court to give a general idea as to how these claims should be made in the future and whether insurers should be paying out on existing policies. You can find the claim form, the particulars of claim and a representative example of policy wordings on the FCA website.

Preparing For The Potential of a Second Lockdown

While insurers may still be unclear about business interruption insurance, businesses can begin taking steps to ensure they are prepared in the case a second lockdown occurs. Until the results of the FCA’s case have been released, it is still unclear whether claims can be made and for that reason, it’s important to take out the time to read through your existing policy documents or be clear with any new policies you take out. We are on hand to help you find a suitable insurance policy and provide advice regarding business interruption insurance where possible.

In the meantime, businesses should be implementing changes to everyday work life in preparation for a potential second wave. Following the government’s guidelines to ensure the safety of your employees so you can stay open while able will help put you in a better position both financially and physically in the coming weeks. Working on your business internally, including reviewing employee contracts, fine-tuning the possibility of operating from home or in a lockdown scenario and introducing regular risk assessments to ensure everything remains safe can help put you in a much better position not only for a potential second wave but in the future in general.

If you’d like to find out more about the business insurance policies available for your business, so that you can get the best cover for peace of mind, feel free to contact our team today and we’d be happy to help.

Everyone loves a clean window and for that reason, window cleaning services are still important in today’s society but despite how far we’ve come, this long-standing profession still comes with its risks and mistakes that should be avoided. From falls and trips to property damage or personal injury, something as seemingly simple as cleaning a window can be a risky business. However, with the right health and safety measures, knowledge and insurance cover, you can better prepare for your next job. Here are some of the most common risks and mistakes to watch out for:

The Risk of Falls

Whether you’re using ladders, suspended platforms, ropes or a different kind of access form, the risk of falls remains one that most window cleaners fear. The slightest imbalance on a ladder or if it were to break, could lead to you tipping or falling, causing life-threatening injuries depending on the distance that you may ultimately fall. As one of the most common and ultimately most dangerous risks, it’s important that all window cleaners and their employees take care and implement measures to reduce these risks, including fall-arrest harnesses, safety lines and securing the ladder more effectively. during operation.

The Risk of Slipping or Tripping

Trips are a common risk in any business and window cleaning is no exception. From tripping over ladders and buckets to slipping on spilt water or chemicals, these risks can result in a number of consequences depending on the severity. They aren’t just limited to the window cleaners themselves – slips and trips are still very much a risk for any members of the public walking by, which is why every window cleaning business should have adequate public liability insurance to ensure that they, and the public, are covered in the case of a slip or a trip over your equipment.

The Risk of Property Damage

Scratches, chemical reactions and even water damage can all occur as a result of window cleaning if an accident were to happen or the wrong tools were to be used. Adequate training can help to reduce the risk of mistakes such as incorrect chemical mixing or use, scratches on the window and other damage options  If a person’s property is damaged as a result of your work, you need to have the right insurance in place to ensure that you, your business and your client’s property is covered in the case of a claim. 

The Risk of Repetitive Strain Injuries

As with any job requiring regular movements, repetitive strain injury (RSI) is a risk worth considering for window cleaners. RSI can manifest in pains in the wrists and elbows, neck pain, back pain, numbness and tingling in the fingertips and even joint or tendon swelling depending on the severity. Shoulder pains are also commonly reported by window cleaners, even earning the title “window cleaners shoulder”. Time pressure, outdoor working, height work, technique, the weight of tools, posture and even excessive reach can also play a part in RSI and so it’s important to make changes where needed to prevent a recurrence.

Using The Wrong Access Type

The style and height of the building can affect which type of access you need in order to safely and securely reach the windows you need to clean. For this reason, using the wrong type can cause more trouble than it solves. Risk assessments should be conducted prior to working on any building, and the right access chosen. Even the right access can have its risks, however. For example:

• Travelling Ladders and Gantries – Risks include falls, broken glass, overloading equipment, rushed job injuries
• Standard Ladders – Risks include falls, slips, trips and strain from overreaching
• Rope Access – Risks include inadequate PPE, falls, injuries from rushing the job
• SAE Equipment – Risks include falls, poor weather, overloading equipment, injuries from rushed jobs or inadequate PPE.

Having The Wrong Insurance

One problem that window cleaners may come across is not having the right insurance to cover the risks and potential problems they may come across. Accidents happen to both employees and to the general public, and having the right window cleaner insurance cover can provide you with the financial protection you need in the case that a claim is made. 

Employer’s Liability Insurance is a legal requirement for any business with employees, and so you should always ensure that the policy is up to date and you have the best one available, while public liability insurance can ensure members of the public and in some cases, their property, is protected too. You could also consider tools cover for financial support in the case of drops, theft and other unintentional breakages.

For more information about the insurance cover, you may need to protect yourself against the consequences, feel free to contact a member of our team here at Ashburnham Insurance today.

If you have a second property available as a holiday home or are looking to let out an annexe or room to guests, having the right level of cover can ensure that you, your family and your property are protected. While we all hope for nice, tidy guests, the unfortunate reality is that from time to time, holiday lets will see all kinds of guests that may cause damage or disruption to the property – this is where holiday home insurance policies come in.

Is Holiday Home Insurance Different from Home Insurance?

Holiday Home Insurance is essentially another form of home insurance, but one that will cover you for any guests staying in your properties for short periods of time. This is different from landlord insurance, as there isn’t a tenancy in technical terms. Flexible holiday home insurance policies, in particular, can cover you, your family, your friends and any other guests that may stay in the home, as well as periods where the property may be empty.

If your holiday home is for your use only and is kept mostly unoccupied throughout the year, unoccupied property insurance policies could be a better fit, however, it’s important to make sure you understand and check the terms and conditions of the policy to ensure that you remain covered regardless.

Do I Need Holiday Home Insurance to Let Out to Guests?

Holiday home insurance is not compulsory in order to let out to guests, however, it’s a no-brainer for protecting your property and assets. Depending on the nature of your letting, you may have different guests in on and off throughout a week or a month and so holiday home insurance can ensure that you are covered for damage, theft and injury to third parties. Standard home insurance won’t cover you for damage or injury from or to third parties, so if you’re planning to rent out rooms or the property, you need to ensure you have the right cover in place for yours, and their peace of mind.

These policies also cover you for theft during periods where people aren’t staying in the home, where a home insurance policy may not. Generally, home insurance won’t count as valid if the property is left unoccupied for long periods of time, as it makes the risk of damage, wear and tear and theft much higher.

Most holiday home insurance policies work in similar ways to home insurance policies, however, in that they split into both buildings, and contents insurance cover, so you need to be sure that you’re opting for the right choice for your holiday home.

Holiday Home Insurance can be confusing. Holiday homes in the UK can vary greatly so you might be wondering exactly what type of insurance cover you need. At Ashburnham Insurance we understand the risks involved with holiday homes. 

Holiday home insurance covers you for any rental activity, as well as provide you with second home insurance in between periods of paying guests or while you are staying there yourself. We can continue this cover for the gaps in between rental periods, such as when the property is empty between occupants or vacant during the winter months.

For more information or to get a quote for holiday home insurance for your second property or holiday let, feel free to get in touch with a member of our team, today.

A lot of us have been working at home relentlessly since March and while some are stuck with sofas or the dining room table, others have set up home offices that are well-equipped to handle a workday. While lockdown is coming to an end, many of us are still at home, with others set to keep doing so permanently. With the benefits of no commute, no office rental costs and more, it seems like a no-brainer, particularly for the smallest office-based businesses. However, as with any office space, a home office could be at risk of a number of things, which is where office insurance comes in. 

What Does an Office Insurance Policy Typically Cover?

Office insurance is a form of insurance that provides cover to all kinds of small offices, from doctors surgeries to offices in a block and more. The cover offers the same kind of support and reassurance as any other building or contents insurance associated with business, including cover for things like computers, networks and other equipment. Office insurance will usually provide cover in the case of fire, floods and other structural damage.

You can additionally make sure that you have cover for all the computers that you may use throughout the course of your work, this is especially important if, for example, you run a system using a network of computers, which without, doing your normal work may become very difficult.

Alongside physical damage, office insurance provides cover for any loss of productivity as a result of damage or failure of equipment or the premises, meaning that if something were to happen that meant you couldn’t complete your work for a period of time, you would be entitled to recover lost funds. This is known as business interruption insurance and would basically cover you if, due to an insured peril, you were unable to work and would therefore usually be losing money this would make it so that you were still able to claim something back so that it didn’t then put your business into financial difficulties.

Can I Get Insurance Cover for My Home Office?

If you are planning to work in your home office for the foreseeable future, you can cover this under an office insurance policy. This means that you’ll often receive the same protection and terms as with any other office space. It will cover any business-specific equipment, any items that are used in your home office, as well as any loss of power or connections for your phone or broadband connection that may result in loss of ability to work or incur excess costs. 

Home office insurance cover also covers loss or damage of records or other documentation, which in some ways, could be at higher risk when within a home environment. The cover may offer the costs of replacing business documents, data and provide support for any liability that may arise. 

Is Home Insurance Not Enough?

Office insurance provides excess cover where home insurance won’t. Not all home insurance policies will offer home office cover, meaning that any trouble you have relating to your business equipment or documents won’t fall under home insurance in most cases. Home insurance policies may cover some of the contents of rooms used as an office, but this won’t usually guarantee protection for some equipment or business-specific documents, or power loss. 

If you are unsure about what is or isn’t covered by your home insurance, or by office insurance for your home office, check your policy documents or get in touch with a member of our team for advice, or to take out an office insurance policy.

As a refrigeration engineer, you are relied upon to make sure refrigeration units are correctly installed and maintained. However, if you are involved in the servicing, repair or installation of these refrigeration units in any type of commercial or domestic property, there are many risks that you may encounter.

What are the Biggest Risks Working as a Refrigeration Engineer?

There have been several incidents within the refrigeration service industry in recent years that occurred whilst refrigeration engineers were carrying out work such as leak detection or strength testing of refrigeration equipment. 

One of the biggest risks associated with leak testing and system strength testing during the servicing or repair of refrigeration systems is the nature of the close proximity to a pressurised system that is needed to locate a leak so that a repair can be made.

According to the HSE, there have been incidents that have resulted in serious injury following the use of incorrect gasses for leak testing or the use of equipment that is unfit for purpose. Another common accident occurs after refrigeration systems are unintentionally critically over-pressurised. This leads to an explosive failure of the refrigeration systems, or one of its components, resulting in serious injury and even loss of life in some cases. The incidents recorded were attributable to either human error, inadequate equipment or the use of an incompatible gas.

Employer’s Liability Insurance is a legal requirement for any refrigeration service industry business with employees. If a worker becomes injured whilst working for you, they may claim compensation from you, so you should always ensure that the policy is up to date and that you have the best one available.

Are There Other Risks Working in the Refrigeration Industry?

As a refrigeration engineer, every job that you go to presents new risks and so you need to ensure that you’re fully protected and have the right insurance policy to cover the risks and potential problems you may come across. 

Accidents can also happen to the general public, and having the right refrigeration engineers insurance cover can provide you with the financial protection that you need in the case that a claim is made against you. You might leave your manifold gauge and hose set on the ground to retrieve a part from your van when a passing member of the public trips over it.

You could also consider tools cover for financial support in the case of drops, theft and other unintentional breakages. This type of cover is an extension to your public liability insurance policy that protects you against the loss or damage of these tools that are being used in connection with your business. These tools could be owned by you, your employees, the business or even hired in on a temporary lease agreement.

Affordable Insurance Policies for Refrigeration Engineers

If something does go wrong, you will want to make sure that you are properly covered with the right refrigeration engineers’ insurance so that you can rest assured knowing that you are protected against any compensation claims or legal fees, can replace any damaged equipment needed to continue working and maintain your business premises.

Ashburnham Insurance provides comprehensive public liability insurance for Refrigeration Engineers including installation contractors, walk-in cooler repairs and maintenance of refrigeration units. Call us now and speak to an expert on FREEPHONE 0800 1696137.

With major brands competing for customers and the explosion of online shopping, starting a successful small business is a challenge. Here are 8 reasons to use small businesses in 2020.

8 Reasons To Use Small Businesses In 2020 Infographic

SMALL BUSINESS IS GREAT FOR THE ECONOMY – For every £1 spent with a small business, between 50p – 70p circulates back into that local economy.

SMALL BUSINESS IS BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT – Produce from a local farm has a much shorter distance to travel from the field to your plate than if you bought it at a supermarket.

SMALL BUSINESSES CREATE LOCAL JOBS – Small businesses employ over 16 million people in the UK and are responsible for 60% of all private-sector employment.

SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY – Small businesses often host and support local causes and charities and the high street is almost always the heart of the community.

SMALL BUSINESSES ARE OFTEN FAMILY BUSINESSES – 85% of all UK businesses are family-owned, while reports say that 57% of the UK’s independent small businesses are family-run.

SMALL BUSINESSES ARE HAPPIER BUSINESSES – Half of those working at a small business said they were happy in their jobs. Small retailers also provide the highest job satisfaction.

SMALL BUSINESSES VALUE CUSTOMER LOYALTY – Small businesses will always go above and beyond to build-up a loyal customer base. They typically know your name as well as what you’re having.

SMALL BUSINESSES CREATE HEALTHY COMPETITION – Small businesses keep big brands on their toes. This type of healthy competition results in better services and savings for customers.

Save time finding the right insurance policy for your small business and compare business insurance quotes online from trusted UK insurers with Ashburnham Insurance.

It’s a new year and you might have plans for a new business after all the internet is now a source of income for a large number of creative enthusiasts. With the invention of DIY websites and social media platforms though there is massive potential to make money selling online. But starting an online business is not a walk in the park.

There are a few things that you should consider if you plan to start an online business, it’s best to know exactly what you need to be aware of and what can go wrong so that you can be fully prepared.

#1 Carry Out Market Research

Proper planning from the very beginning is essential if you want your business to succeed. A solid business plan should include an understanding of the market with a focus on the customer. Research the demographics of your customer base and understand their buying habits. Check out your competitor’s websites and social media and have a look at how they interact with their customers.

#2 Perfect Your Product

When you first start an online business, you’ll probably have more time than money. So use this time to get well-acquainted with your customer base and perfect your product. During this time you will learn a lot about your business’ limits and may feel tested, but it’s very important that you ultimately have the right product and that you are using suppliers that fulfil your requirements for the best price.

#3 Optimise Your Website

If you are selling anything online then you need to ensure that your website is optimised for sales properly. This starts with a good hosting provider so that your website is fast and accessible. You should also consider investing in SEO, which will help with optimising your website for search and raise sales and enquiries.

A strong brand, which should have been identified in the market research phase of your online business journey, should also be prevalent across your online business website.

#4 Marketing, Advertising & Social Media

Once your product and your website are optimised you need to invest in a well-planned advertising strategy. This will develop your business and plays a key role in the overall growth.

All advertising and marketing strategies can be complemented by social media, there are many platforms that you can use to promote your business online and reach out to your target customers. Email lists should also be maintained.

#5 Make Sure You’re Protected

If you think you are too small to become a victim of fraud, think again. Your online business is vulnerable to fraudsters and worse still if you accept a fraudulent payment, or a cybercriminal starts making unauthorised purchases from your online business, then you could find yourself being the party financially responsible. Approximately one-third of businesses suffered a cyber-breach in 2019.

Business insurance is a smart investment for the protection of your online business. Unfortunately, it’s something that many people are quick to neglect. If you run an online business, call Ashburnham Insurance now and we can discuss your online business insurance requirements.

The most passionate enthusiasts of virtual reality and augmented reality will rave about how exciting virtual reality is, and how it will totally transform the way in which we experience things. But we’re still a long way off widespread adoption. Most commonly, virtual reality and augmented reality are being used as a new method of content delivery for games, such as the many that are compatible with headsets like the Oculus Rift for VR (virtual reality) and mobile games such as last year’s AR (augmented reality) fad, Pokémon GO.

But beyond the visual gimmick and its entertainment purposes in gaming and media, there are very real, tangible benefits for the more “boring” industries. There are opportunities for virtual reality to thrive in all sectors. Many businesses also doubted how widespread the internet would become, believing that it would only be relevant for certain types of businesses. And now everything is online. Even our refrigerators and ovens.

According to reports, augmented reality and virtual reality is expected to create new risks which insurance companies are going to have to prepare for in terms of coverage. But the insurance industry itself could be totally revolutionised by virtual reality.

Similar to how the real estate industry is utilising virtual reality for property viewings, virtual interactive tours for damage assessments or risk assessments could be conducted around business premises without a representative physically being there. This could save companies time and travel expenses when conducting risk assessments before giving any kind of quote for insurance.

The telematics company, Scope Technologies, has recently trialled VR technology as a way to reconstruct the moments leading up to accident using the black box data available. Virtual reality can help to better determine who was at fault in a car crash, and whether or not the insured driver could have minimised the damage or prevented the accident from occurring. And, much like how currently black box technology can track drivers’ driving and offer lower premiums to more responsible drivers, drivers could also use virtual reality to take simulated driving tests when applying for auto insurance to reduce the cost of their car insurance.

Virtual reality and augmented reality can also be used for educational purposes to reduce unnecessary risks in the workplace and prepare employees for what to do in the event of a fire or flood. Safety training simulations could supplement or even replace fire drills, or provide simulated scenarios to train manufacturing and factory workers on risk handling.

The applications for virtual reality within the insurance industry are beginning to emerge, and will eventually become more pronounced as companies embrace the new technology.

Having an office dog is becoming increasingly popular with startups and modern companies alike. It can be a great way to re-energise your employees and keep them productive, as dogs seem to have an uplifting effect on the majority of people. But by allowing a dog in the office, are you opening yourself up to unnecessary risks?

Many dog lovers are eager to promote a dog-friendly work culture. But please also consider that some of your employees may not love dogs as much as you do. Before you bring a dog into the office, or newly establish yourself as a dog-friendly company, ensure that anyone who works for you in the office is comfortable with having a dog be a part of their work environment. Some employees may have an allergy, whereas some may simply not like dogs or even have a fear of them. Some of your employees may even have cultural beliefs that prevent them from coming into contact with dogs. It is important that you respect all your employees’ personal circumstances.

Bear in the mind that the office will need to be “dog-proof” too, ensuring that there is nothing that the dog can chew on, and nothing dangerous that the dog could consume. Dog-proofing the office can prove to be very expensive, whether your office is small or big. It would also be responsible to ensure that any dogs in the office are checked for worms and fleas at every six months.

Perhaps most importantly, if you rent your office space, the landlord of your commercial property may not even allow dogs into the office. So this will be something you’ll have to check with the property owner before proceeding.

But first thing’s first, you’ll have to purchase third party insurance to cover the dog. Most business insurance policies won’t mention, let alone cover, dogs on your policy. However, so long as your dog will not be working at your office (as a security dog or a member of your sales team or whatever!), then insuring your dog with a pet insurance company will be simple enough.

What about employees’ dogs?

More and more companies are now holding a regular “Bring Your Dog To Work” day, or allowing pets in the workplace all year round. Employees tend to be more motivated if their best fur-friend is by their side throughout work hours. Not to mention it offers a unique perk for employees where companies compete for the best talent, attracting those who would otherwise work elsewhere due to the higher salary or extra perks.

But what happens if any employee’s dog causes injury to another of your employees or a member of the public? As the business owner who allowed the dog into the office, you could be held liable for the injury. It would be worth stating in your pets in the workplace policy that any pets brought into the office must be insured by the pet owner, and that they are the one who is legally and financially responsible in the event that the dog causes any damage or injury. Not you.

Over 17,000 businesses in the UK employ nail technicians, but many work with the aim of one day becoming self-employed, owning a nail salon of their own or working as a mobile nail technician. Providing nail treatment services is a very flexible profession, with nail technicians working in airports, hotels, spas, beauty salons and more – not just high street nail salons. An estimated 37,000 job opportunities for nail technicians were thought to be created in 2016. It’s a great time to be working in the beauty industry. Many nail technicians are self-employed and often provide their professional services from their own home studio, or travel to their clients’ residence for nail treatments. Others rent a chair or space in an existing salon.

Those who own a nail salon, or provide manicure and pedicure services at your beauty salon or business, may have an insurance package that they simply just renew each month at the recommendation of their business adviser. But many later find themselves to be underinsured. Meanwhile many self-employed and mobile nail technicians are unaware of the risks involved in their business. It’s just nails, right?

Public liability insurance for nail technicians can offer specialised protection for those in the industry. Any professional who visits clients at their homes should really have some kind of financial protection against unforeseeable accidents. Beyond nail and beauty accidents, it could be something as unpredictable as accidentally knocking an expensive ornament from a shelf or spilling your water over your client’s laptop.

There are always risks when you are working with people, and what nail technician or manicurist doesn’t work directly with people? There are glues and chemicals involved, as well as nail scissors and other sharp objects. Despite your efforts, equipment might not be sterilised properly and your client could develop an infection in their nail bed. Even the most steadiest of hands, and the most skilled at nail detail work, can have a little clumsy moment every now and again. It happens to everyone. Especially when you’re not actively treating someone’s nails, and your hands relax a bit. Maybe you knock acetone over onto a client’s expensive coat or handbag, causing some serious damage. Or perhaps while doing a house call, you accidentally spill something on their expensive sofa or rug. You might even accidentally drop a bottle of nail varnish from a height onto their glass coffee table, cracking it. Liability insurance can cover the compensation payment and legal fees.

If you own a salon and employ nail technicians, manicurists or any other kinds of workers, you are legally required to have employers’ liability insurance. Having a shop insurance package also covers the building and contents, as well as liability insurance to cover you if someone were to become injured in your salon. For example, by tripping over a cable or loose carpet. It also covers stock, money and equipment left in the salon overnight. If a fire were to break out overnight, you could suffer a huge, irrecoverable loss if you were to lose everything and be financially unable to replace the damaged equipment. According to the Arson Prevention Bureau, “70% of businesses involved in a major fire either do not reopen or fail within three years.” (See our infographic on business interruption in the UK.) Tools cover can also cover your nail equipment in the event of damage or loss.

Though it may seem unnecessary to purchase business insurance, and can seem like a waste of money if you’re a self-employed mobile manicurist or nail technician, it can potentially save your business should worse come to the worst.

What is Business Interruption?

Business interruption is any unexpected event that financially disrupts your business, preventing you from earning any income for a duration of time. For instance, a fire breaks out and spreads, leaving the property devastated and the business unable to continue operations until the building is restored to previous condition.

Business interruption insurance is often available as an “add-on” for commercial property insurance policies or business insurance packages. Whereas commercial property insurance will cover the physical damage to the property itself, business interruption insurance covers any loss of earnings as a result of the damage. It is designed to financially protect businesses from losing their regular income, so that they remain in the same financial position as their business recovers from the disaster.

According to research by Direct Line, over 550,000 of the UK’s small businesses have been forced to suspend trading over the last two years. The average cost of two weeks of disruption to a small business is £8,755 just to keep it afloat. However, on average, the period of suspended business activity is more than three months. Three times longer than the fifth of small businesses claim that they can survive without trading.

Research has found that 40% of the UK’s commercial properties are under-insured when it comes to business interruption cover. According to the Arson Prevention Bureau,

“70% of businesses involved in a major fire either do not reopen or fail within three years.”

Without adequate protection in place, business owners may find themselves struggling to get themselves back on their feet and recover from a disaster – be it fire, storm or flood. The costs of business interruption can be far greater than they had imagined.

The location of your business can affect everything from your local competition to customer loyalty. When setting up shop for the first time (whether that shop is actually an office, bakery or salon), it’s easy to get lost in the obvious pros and cons of your location choices. But what about your insurance premium?

How does your postcode affect your insurance cover?

Insurers adjust premiums according to the levels of risk associated with your geographical area based on past claims. Postcode areas with a higher risk of burglary, crime, flooding and accidents will have a higher cost of insurance. Depending on where in the United Kingdom your business is located and the type of insurance being purchased, it can be up to five times the cost of if you were located elsewhere.

Particularly if your business is situated in a high crime area, you may be deemed as high-risk to your insurer. Postcode ratings are assessed differently by different insurers, so premiums can differ widely between insurers for the same cover in the same postcode. This is why we always recommend that you shop around for your business insurance cover to see if you can get it cheaper elsewhere.

Environmental risks are one of the highest contributors to the cost of your business insurance. If you’re in an area that’s associated with a high risk of flooding or storm damage, then this will be accounted for in the cost.

You can see, for example, in the map of England Above how “hit or miss” it may be that your business postcode is located in an area with a high risk of flooding:

The map above is taken from www.checkmyfloodrisk.co.uk, where you can enter your postcode or browse to see which areas are considered high risk. It might be that just a five-minute walk down the road will take you from an environmentally high-risk area to a low-risk area.

It also depends on the type of insurance that you are purchasing. Building insurance, auto insurance and insurance for various industries will all have data on postcodes that have historically claimed the most on that type of insurance, and are therefore most likely to claim again. Areas of London and Greater London, for example, account for almost three-quarters of the country’s postcodes that have claimed for burglary insurance in the past. So due to the presently high risk of burglary in those areas, you may have to pay more for your insurance than someone operating their business from a rural area.

However, location is but a single factor that contributes to the price of your insurance. For more information, you can read our post on “How is my Business Insurance premium calculated?”.

From landscaping and garden design to grass cutting and lawn services, gardening can be a rewarding profession but not one that comes without risks.

Employers’ Liability Insurance is a legal requirement for any gardener who employs someone to work for them. This includes all full-time, part-time, temporary, apprentices and, much to the surprise of many, self-employed labour-only subcontractors. If you’re hiring someone to cut grass or fell trees on a landscaping project, and they are working from your instruction using your tools, you will need employers’ liability cover to financially compensate your workers should they suffer an injury or illness caused by working for you. However, if they are a bonafide subcontractor, they should have their own insurance in place, be using their own tools and be working from their own direction or alongside you rather than under you.

Public Liability Insurance for Gardeners could potentially save your business from financial disaster. It is considered an essential form of protection for gardening businesses. With the tools involved in gardening and landscaping, incidents are always a possibility. Liability insurance will give you the comfort of knowing that should something occur, you won’t be left financially vulnerable. It covers you when a client or a member of the public’s personal property becomes damaged during your work, or if a client or a member of the public becomes injured as a result of your work. For instance, you may accidentally damage an expensive garden ornament, furniture or statue whilst working on a client’s garden and they demand compensation for the damage caused. Other accidents may include hitting a supply cable or bursting a pipe while digging around. (Supply cables laid before 1970 were not covered by any depth regulations, so this can be a common occurrence in some areas.) Or perhaps you leave a gardening tool on the ground and someone trips over it or injures themselves on a sharp edge of the tool. According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), approximately 8,700 Britons suffer an injury each year as a direct result of gardening. This includes accidents for which the injured party is not responsible, such as tripping over improperly laid surfacing which they had hired a professional for.

Contract Works Cover is helpful for ensuring that you are protected if something were to go wrong before your contract is completed. If there were a storm or a fire, for example, while no one was working on the grounds, causing damage to the work in progress, the project would be delayed and you would lose out on money from other projects. As no one is at fault, your client isn’t going to be happy about being charged for the extra time, and you wouldn’t want to do all the work again and pay for the damages out of your own pocket.

Tools Cover is something that any professional gardener must consider when shopping for insurance. As a gardener, tools are essential to the operation of their business, the loss or damage of these tools would be detrimental. If your tools were to be stolen or damaged in any way, the costs of replacement could be high and you would lose money for the duration of business inactivity whilst you are waiting for your replacement tools.

Contact us for a quote, and we can tailor an affordable insurance package to suit your specific business based on the services you provide.

Christmas is coming and the tills are ringing with festive spirit! It’s a fantastic time for retailers, but not so much for service-based businesses. How does Christmas affect business in the UK?

Traditionally, the Christmas shopping season kicks off with the John Lewis advert and the infectious earworm of Coca Cola’s “Holidays Are Coming”. As soon as we see or hear one of these two things, we can make a mental note in our internal calendars that we only have two months to prepare for Christmas!

The top days for Winter sales spending in the UK are as follows:

• Black Friday – the last Friday of November
  The recent import from America, that has completely disrupted retail spending, taking in more money than any other sales day of the season.

• Cyber Monday – the Monday after Black Friday
  The jealous little sister of Black Friday, whose only goal is to extend the weekend of sales for just a couple more days…

• Manic Monday – the first Monday of December
  The day which traditionally would rack up sales in manic Christmas shopping, before the shopping season started a little earlier with the introduction of Black Friday.

• Christmas Day – 25th December
  Whilst some are busy gorging themselves on roast turkey and mince pies, others are quick to go online and spend their Christmas money!

• Boxing Day – 26th December
  Traditionally, the top retail day of the year!

• New Year’s Day – 1st January
  Because you’ve got to get in on those January sales. Whilst stocks last!

It’s the busiest season of the year for the vast majority of retailers. And the addition of American holidays has disrupted the calendar for many retailers, as products become out of stock too early, reducing the takings in the weeks that follow. It’s impacted the entire trading calendar and traditional shopping cycle, creating more shopping peaks earlier in the season.

Many non-retail businesses and service-based industries slow to a lull over this festive period, however. Nobody really wants to think about their insurance, or property investments, during the excitement of the holidays. For the many types of businesses that go quiet in the holidays, it’s a good time to take stock of the year’s trading and tie up all the loose ends of that year, including the things that you would usually struggle with finding the time to do. This “quiet time” allows your employees to take a well deserved break, or finish off various tasks in time for the new year, and serves as an opportunity to hold a party or dinner for your employees or arrange other team building activities.

Every business is different, and seasonal trends will vary depending on your industry. Business owners over time develop an understanding of their business’ “rhythm”, and come to recognise all the patterns as if it were printed on the backs of their own hands.

If you’re having a quiet Christmas, why not get started with your business’ new year’s resolutions early! Or reassess your marketing strategy. Otherwise, if there’s not much to be done and it’s costing you to stay open, closing up the office for anywhere from a couple of days to a week (or even having half days, and stating your holiday hours on the website) for the end of December could boost employee morale and save you some money in utility bills. Especially if you always have the heating on in Winter!

However your business spends the winter season, hopefully you’ve planned for both the peaks and troughs and, above all, can enjoy a wonderful Christmas!

Happy Christmas from all at Ashburnham Insurance Services!

It’s not unheard of for property owners to let to a family member, most commonly their son or daughter. However, without a written lease agreement in place, you are technically not letting the property and so you will not be able to get landlord insurance. However, a basic lease agreement template can be obtained easily online or from a shop such as WHSmith for the small price of around £10 to £20, and lease agreements do not require any rental payment to be included in the agreement. By ensuring that even a basic lease agreement is officialised and in place, purchasing the correct insurance for the property will be a lot easier.

Do I Need Landlord Insurance to Let my Property to a Family Member?

If you want to insure the property, then yes. And it is always recommended that landlords insure their property investments. Put simply: if you are letting your property, then it will not be covered by your existing buildings insurance.

You may not consider yourself a landlord when letting to your children or other members of your family, but legally you are. This also means that you have the legal obligations of every other landlord, such as providing gas safety certificates. Even if there is no written agreement in place (and just a verbal agreement), if you are receiving any kind of rent payment then you have an assured shorthold tenancy. This isn’t required to be in writing (though for your protection, it is advised that you do), and as a landlord it doesn’t matter whether you’re letting to a complete stranger or your own son.

If your family member, however, does not contribute any rent money then some home insurers actually do cover members of immediate family living in your house without you yourself occupying it. (This scenario cannot be defined as a “let”, as there is no rent involved, so it would just be residential cover.) But the moment that there is any exchange of money, then it becomes a commercial interest and you become a landlord and will need to treat it as a business, declaring your rental income to HMRC and following the legal procedures.

The Growing Number of Parent Landlords

The latest research conducted by the Post Office Money Mortgages reveal that there are 730,000 “parent landlords” in the United Kingdom, but they project that that figure will reach 1.4 million following the current economic uncertainty in this country.

John Willcock, Post Office Money Mortgages, explains:

As both the cost of renting and buying a property increases, home ownership remains a distant dream for a significant number of today’s younger generation. With many parents wanting to do as much as they can to help their children, this is a challenge that affects the whole family.

Our research shows that an increasing number of parents are considering buy-to-let both as a means of helping their children, and of securing their own financial future. By becoming a ‘parent landlord’ they are able to provide this support – without necessarily having to compromise on their own space at home.

This not only provides their children with the opportunity to save for the future, but can act as an investment can help with their on long-term financial planning.

A quarter of parent landlords state their second home which they are letting to their child is primarily an investment for their own financial future, and it’s purely incidental that they are letting the property to their child. On the other hand, 27% believe that letting to their child is a way to ensure that their child is provided with a safe home, with 21% still wanting to support their child but wanting their child to move out of the family home. 24% of parent landlords wanted to keep their children close by, and the same number of parent landlords admit that they would like to help their children save money.

The Benefits of Letting to Family

The main beneficiary of the arrangement is, of course, the family member. In the Post Office’s research, they found that 19 in 20 charge their children less rent than market rates, and almost a third allow their children to simply pay “what they can afford” with 1 in 10 even covering their child’s household bills.

Letting to family, or becoming a parent landlord, can give you some ease of mind in trusting and knowing your tenant on a closer, more personal level. You can help to support your family and be closer to them.

The Problem with Letting to Family

It may seem like a casual arrangement. Your son has returned from working hard at university, and you want to support him by providing cheap accommodation allowing him to get his footing firmly on the job ladder and save up some money of his own. But if the property is on a buy to let mortgage, you should be aware of the fact that many lenders require you to charge a minimum amount of rent (e.g. 125%) based on your monthly mortgage costs.

There is also the worry that when renting to family members or your own children, you will be taken advantage of. Within the Post Office Money Mortgages’ study, 1 in 3 parent landlords show concerns that, due to lack of a formal landlord-tenant relationship, there will be disputes over rent and a quarter of parent landlords worry over the condition of the property if the child doesn’t take care of it.

Having mum or dad (or sister or brother!) as a landlord can mean the difference between ensuring you prioritise your rent payment over this month’s unexpectedly high bill, or even leaving the rent payments for a couple of months because you’re saving up for a holiday. You need to make sure that your tenant doesn’t take advantage of the situation, and make sure that the agreement is formalised as it would be with any other tenant. 42% of children expect to pay less in rent, whilst 38% expect you to assist them with any problems with the property. There is nothing wrong with this so long as it is mutually agreed beforehand in writing.

A lot of disputes that arise from letting to family members are caused by others eventually moving in with them. Whether it’s their boyfriend, girlfriend or best friend, you might not have planned for someone else to be moving in when you made the decision to let the property to your family member. Many of the arguments when family members become landlord and tenant stem from personal expectations and miscommunication. This is why you should always get everything in writing and signed. Otherwise your generous offer of letting to your daughter at a discounted rate may end up with her moving her boyfriend in, them breaking up and the ex remaining in the property.

Have a question about your landlord insurance? Call us for free on 0800 1696137 or send us a message!

There seems to be some confusion when it comes to Property Owners’ Liability (or POL insurance for short). It is sometimes referred to using a variety of different terms, both by customers and insurers, including:

• liability,
• public liability,
• landlords’ liability,
• landlords’ public liability,
• or landlords’ indemnity cover.

But when customers call us asking for any of the above, they usually mean Property Owners’ Liability insurance. Which is how it will commonly be printed on the policy itself. But it’s important to know that they all refer to the exact same type of protection.

What does Property Owners’ Liability insurance cover?

Landlords’ building insurance will normally include Property Owners’ Liability as standard, covering any illness, injury or damage caused by the property that the owner of said property may be deemed liable for. Example scenarios include a tile falling off of the roof and injuring someone standing beneath or damaging a parked car outside, or someone (such as the tenant) tripping down a poorly maintained set of stairs and injuring themselves. The owner of the premises would be liable for the accident. Collapsed walls, gas explosions, faulty structures… If your tenant, one of your tenant’s visitors or any member of the public on your property suffers an injury or damage caused on or in connection with your property, then Property Owners’ Liability will protect you financially should the third party claim compensation.

If you are the owner of a residential private property, then you should already be covered under your home insurance policy. If you operate a business, then this protection should already be included in your public liability cover. This policy, property owners’ liability, is more commonly purchased by landlords.

So what’s the difference between Property Owners’ Liability and Tenant’s Liability cover?

As you may guess, tenant’s liability cover is for any accidental damage that a tenant may be liable for whilst living at the property. This can include things such as spilling a glass of wine on the carpet or accidentally causing damage to the interior property of the landlord like the furniture or fittings. Sometimes the tenant’s liability cover is a requirement for the tenancy agreement, and perhaps this is why some landlords get confused into believing that it is them who is responsible for it. A tenant’s contents insurance policy will normally have tenant’s liability cover within, and is sometimes also referred to as occupier’s liability or tenancy liability cover.

The numerous variations in phrasing for the same types of insurance is usually where the confusion stems from when customers call for a quote. If you are a landlord, you do not need to purchase occupier’s liability cover, as you are not the occupier. You do not occupy the building; your tenant does. So tenant’s liability insurance (or occupier’s liability insurance or tenancy liability insurance) is their responsibility. What you may be looking for is the Property Owners’ Liability, as you own the property.

So next time someone tells you that you need “landlords public liability cover”, what you need to be looking for in your policy are the words: “property owners’ liability”.

Looking for Property Owners’ Liability insurance? Have an enquiry about your landlord insurance?

Call us for FREE on 0800 1696137 to get a quote!

Alternatively, you can fill in this form and get covered instantly online!

The saying goes:

Never work with animals or children.

But we're convinced that the "or children" part of the quote was added in as an after-thought!

1) In Preston, Lancashire, a hungry snail munched through £78 worth of carpet in the home of a 73-year-old man.

2) In Bath, Somerset, a 71-year-old woman received a payout after a badger ate a hole in the wall of her shed to escape after being accidentally locked inside.

3) In Cornwall, a cow was found enjoying a dip in a swimming pool. The cost of having it "specially removed" was covered by the insurer.

4) In 2013, a pigeon fell down the chimney and, in a panic, caused more than £8000 in damages to the carpet, curtains, furniture and ornaments.

5) Twelve wild ponies in Dartmoor National Park caused £1,200 worth of damage by licking paint off of a car.

6) A dairy farmer in Devon lost his iPhone during the birth of a calf, whilst using it as a torch in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, it was unusable once it emerged several hours later...

7) In 2015, a herd of cows invaded a football pitch and a tennis court causing enormous damage to the areas.

8) A woman heard strange noises coming from the bonnet of her car when attempting to start it up. Upon opening up the bonnet, a cat escaped and ran away. But not before causing £4,000 worth of damage to the car.

9) In 2014, two magpies smashed through the glass window of a conservatory during an angry bird brawl, causing over £400 in damages.

10) A trapped squirrel in Exeter broke the garage window of an 86-year-old woman to escape.

Roofers face many of the same occupational risks as other construction workers. Working at heights using tools and heavy materials requires a great deal of confidence, skill, and confidence in your skill! But even with years of roofing experience in the construction industry, or as a general handyman, sometimes accidents happen that you feel are beyond your control and yet you are still held liable for the incident.

You can’t control the weather, and when you agree to a job, you’re unlikely to be able to accurately predict with a certainty how the weather will be that day. Especially in the UK, when you never know if it’s suddenly just going to start raining! Bad weather increases the risks of slips and falls. But working under the Summer sun can also present the risk of heat stroke or heat exhaustion if not properly protected. If you employ roofers for a job, you will need to ensure that you have sufficient employers’ liability insurance (a legal requirement for any employer). This type of insurance will cover you for any instance where a worker becomes injured or develops an illness due to the work undertaken whilst working for you and decides to claim for compensation from you.

Some other unfortunately notorious risks of roofing include prolonged exposure to asbestos and inhalation of its fibres. Asbestos was widely used for construction materials in the 20th century, and studies as recent as 2011 have shown that over 50% of houses in the UK still include asbestos-containing materials. It is the biggest occupational disease risk to construction workers, and can eventually cause mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer years or sometimes even decades down the line. Employers’ liability insurance can cover you in future should a former employee regrettably develop a disease from having worked for you.

Injuries aren’t always avoidable either. Roofers may endure accidental injury from tools used, for example, a roofer misjudges whilst installing shingles resulting in an injury from hammer. Or even lifting or carrying heavy objects ignoring or without having had proper training. There are also hot roofers who handle materials that could cause heat damage a customer's property. Not to mention the obvious risk of slips or falls from the roof. Falls from a height account for 35% of major injuries in the construction industry and, sadly, roofers comprise 25% of employees killed by falls from a height across all sectors.

Public liability insurance for roofers, though not a legal necessity, also provides vital protection for your business - whether you’re a self-employed contractor or represent a large roofing company. Due to the heavy-duty tools involved in roofing, a simple accident may cause an expensive amount of damage which you may be held liable for. This can include fire damage from use of a blow torch or, more commonly, tools or materials dropping from the roof height and damaging the property beneath, such as a parked car, garden tiles, garden ornaments or a window. Falling objects may also seriously injure a person below, and they may claim compensation from you.

Of course, you should always make sure that yourself or any employee working at heights has undergone the appropriate training for the tasks required of their job role, and all equipment is assessed regularly for quality, to minimise and prevent as many accidents as possible. But sometimes, even with fully trained roofers wearing all the appropriate protective workwear and operating tools safely, accidents will still happen. People get hurt, things get broken. But don’t let these accidents financially ruin your business.

For more information or to receive a quote, please visit our page on Insurance for Roofers.

You're ready to start your business! Your business plan is solid. You've worked everything out in terms of financing and operations. All you need to do is form your company! But do you know how to choose a legal structure for your new business?

The legal structure of your business will determine which paperwork you need to get your business started, the business taxes you'll have to pay and your financial responsibilities of the business. Once you've started your business, you may find that a different structure would suit you better and it is possible to change the legal structure. But the decision you make in choosing a company structure will affect the growth of your business.

How to Choose a Legal Structure for your New Business

Sole Trader

If you're self-employed (you work for yourself), then you are a sole trader. You run your business as an individual and are entitled to all profits after tax. You are personally responsible for any business losses. You can employ staff, but you are singularly responsible for the business. (If you don't have any staff at all, this structure will probably serve you best.)

Most new businesses are sole traders - it's easy, inexpensive and very little paperwork in comparison to other structures. The downside is that you can become personally in debt when your business is in debt. If the business fails, debt can be met from your personal wealth. You are wholly liable, and you put your own personal and family finance at risk.

Limited Company

A limited company is one you register with Companies House as the director of the organisation, and the organisation's financial responsibilities are of the company, separate to your own personal finances. This means that you (and any other company directors) are not personally responsible for any business debts. Private limited companies (Ltd) are the most common. Public limited companies (Plc) tend to be larger companies that are listed on the stock exchange.

Partnerships

With ordinary business partnerships, the responsibility of the business is personally shared between you and your business partner/s, with each partner paying tax on their share of the profits. It's worth noting that your business partner can be a limited company, as a "legal person" as opposed to an actual person. Ordinary partnerships could be seen as an extension of the sole trader structure, with the benefit of sharing the responsibility with a partner or partners.

Limited partnerships are slightly different. Profits are shared between partners, with each partner paying tax on their share. Debt is split among partners, with general partners personally liable for all the partnerships' debts and "limited" partners liable for up to the amount that they initially invested. With limited liability partnerships (LLP), partners are not personally liable for the business' debts, and liability is limited to the amount which they initially invested.

This is a common question asked by many landlords, who aren’t sure which type of notice they need to serve to their tenants to get them to leave. There's a wide range of situations in which you would want your tenant to vacate the property. Sometimes you simply want the property back - to sell, to move into yourself or to perhaps rent to a family member instead. Sometimes you get a nightmare tenant and just want them out, as quickly and smoothly as possible! So you can go back in search for that perfect tenant who pays their full rent on time and looks after the property. Though they’re both quite similar in outcome (hopefully you end up with an empty property!), it is important for landlords to know the difference so that they can avoid any unnecessary expenses or delays that may be caused by the serving the incorrect one.

The main difference between a Section 8 and a Section 21 notice is why you want your tenants to vacate. Both the Section 21 and Section 8 are notices of seeking possession, in which you give your tenants a minimum of 2 months to leave your property (although a Section 8 may give between 2 weeks’ and 2 months’ notice depending on what terms of the tenancy agreement have been broken).

When To Use A Section 8 Notice

• Your tenant is in breach of their tenancy agreement, and you have legitimate grounds for possession as per the agreed contract. Most commonly, the Section 8 notice is given to tenants who are in arrears with their rent.
• This can be served at any point during the tenancy.
• There is outstanding debt owed by your tenant that you want to recover.
• You can still serve a Section 8 if the tenant’s deposit is not protected in a scheme.

When To Use A Section 21 Notice

• Your tenant has a written assured shorthold tenancy or statutory periodic tenancy agreement.
• Your tenant’s deposit (if the tenancy started after April 2007) is in a deposit protection scheme.
• You want to regain possession of the property for your own reasons, not necessarily because the tenant has done anything wrong.
• This can be served immediately after the fixed term of the tenancy or during the periodic tenancy after the fixed term.

Sounds simple, right? If the tenant is in breach of their tenancy agreement, serve them a Section 8. If you just want them to vacate the property and reclaim ownership, serve them a Section 21. However, sometimes it’s better to serve your tenant a Section 21. Even if they have been in breach of their contract. For example, if your tenant has rolled into a periodic tenancy or is close to the end of their fixed term. This will eliminate any of the legal headaches that a Section 8 can sometimes cause, such as costly tenant disputes in court, which may result in the tenant being allowed to remain in the property while the dispute is ongoing. You will also need to provide evidence of the tenant having broken the terms of your agreement. A Section 21, however, can make the whole process much smoother as there is less of a risk of long eviction processes.

If in doubt, you should always seek legal advice. But it is also possible to serve both and the notices will not conflict, as they both serve different purposes and separate from each other. But, should you cancel the Section 8, you may still be asked to pay the legal costs incurred.

The technological landscape is shifting. No industry is immune to the so-called “disruptive innovation” transforming how we conduct businesses in this generation of constantly evolving technologies.

So how does this affect us now?

The new digital ecosystem allows people to easily get a good deal on their insurance whilst on the go. Access to the internet from wherever you are means that you can shop for insurance and browse deals online without ever having to step inside a broker’s. Apps are available to make insurance shopping even easier, with new fintech startups aiming to make managing your finances just as simple and convenient as updating your Facebook status.

With many of these new apps, auto insurance can be purchased for hourly or daily cover, as and when you need it. If you need to insure yourself on a friend or family member’s car from anywhere between an hour to just a couple of days for a road trip, you can do so from a smartphone app wherever you are, and save you from purchasing an annual premium when you only plan to drive the car for a short period.

But fintech in the insurance industry goes beyond just mobile apps. Usage-based insurance, for example, allows for granular based premiums based on accurate data of individuals’ behaviour. As an emerging market, this has so far only reached popularity in auto insurance where insurers are able to price their insurance using the client’s actual driving data via a “black box” device installed in their car (hence why it’s popularly referred to as “black box insurance”. Telematics and usage based insurance opens up opportunities for two new pricing models: Pay As You Drive (PAYD) and Pay How You Drive (PHYD). Customers can be charged insurance more accurately based on their actual aggregated driving data rather than statistical profiles of their general demographic, taking into account things like the times of day that they drive, routes they take and driving behaviour including acceleration and deceleration.

Eventually when driverless lorries and cars become common on UK roads, we may even see these self-driving vehicles being quoted with cheaper prices if they are proven to be safer on the roads than vehicles driven by humans.

The Future of Insurance

As IoT (Internet of Things) becomes more commonly used in both households and business premises, accurate data can be mined from each household (or each business) to better calculate individual risks, or even prevent claims (such as fire or flood) from occurring. Various home monitoring devices and other behaviour-based products could detect things like property security issues, with customers who lock all their doors and actively take security precautions benefiting from cheaper prices due to the reduced risks of burglary.

According to Accenture Research, 82% of insurers are already investing in embedded artificial intelligence solutions. By being forward-thinking and investing in the future of the industry, traditional insurers stand a stronger chance of surviving the inevitable changes still to come.

Big data is getting even bigger. And insurers can reap the benefits of collecting (or having access to) this large amount of data available to analyse the information for improved predictive modeling and identify actionable opportunities to maximise their business. And as new technologies become available within the Internet of Things, the aforementioned usage-based insurance will be applicable to more than just auto insurance. Predictive modeling can be used to cross-sell insurance products to consumers and optimise pricing based on better risk quality assessment.

In addition to allowing for more granular, accurate product pricing, the Internet of Things also creates new opportunities for better fraud detection and smoother, more efficient claims processing. This enables insurers to reduce premium prices for the consumer, due to the lower operational costs. According to the Association of British Insurers, the typical honest UK policyholder is thought to be paying an additional £50 on top of their annual insurance bill to cover the costs of insurance fraud. Better detection would dramatically lower the costs of the honest customer.

Every landlord, at one point or another, worries whether their tenant is going to be able to keep paying their rent. Your tenants’ financial concerns become your financial concerns. Many tenants just don’t realise that landlords have regular expenses too that rely on their rent money - mortgage, bills, council tax… Late rent can sometimes disrupt the landlord’s own payments. This can leave many landlords feeling vulnerable. All landlords need to know the plan of action, should a tenant stop paying rent.

1) Keep a record of all rent payments

As a landlord, you should always keep a record of all rent payments you receive for each tenant and each property. This will enable you to see what date payment is expected, and which dates your tenant pays the rent. Tenants may sometimes pay a couple days in advance or a couple days late. Though ideally, you want to make it clear that the rent should be received on the exact date that it is required each month, with more casual tenancies you may find that this isn’t always the case and, depending on the relationship you have with your tenant, you may just accept it in good faith.

If the matter gets taken to court and you are applying for repossession of the property, a copy of all payment records is required.

2) Contact your tenant to inform them that the rent is due

If it has been several days since the rent was due, you need to contact the tenant informing them that the rent is unpaid. It may just be a slip up, where your tenant doesn’t realise for whatever reason that the rent has yet to be paid. Perhaps the payment bounced, or they simply forgot, and are able to pay it immediately in full. You may even give them a casual call to begin with just after a couple of days of the rent being late, just to ensure that there wasn’t a simple mistake. Ask them if they’re having trouble paying it and when you can expect it. Ideally, you want to nip this in the bud early. And if the tenant is struggling financially, contacting them in this way will help to remind them that rent payment should be a priority when paying bills. Otherwise, the tenant may pay someone else who is demanding money owed, just because they’re the first (or most frequent) to contact them.

Though calling your tenant frequently to follow up on the situation is recommended, written contact is always a good idea as it is evidence of your communications. (Just make sure to keep a copy.) Within the letter, state which date the payment is due and the date in which you are writing, summarise any telephone conversations and request that the outstanding amount is paid immediately or by your specific request date. It may also be worth noting that failing to pay their rent may result in you taking further legal action against them.

3) Contact the guarantor

If your tenant still hasn’t paid the rent after you have sent them a formal demand and they have a guarantor listed, then you will next need to contact the guarantor and inform them of the situation. If a guarantor was listed in the tenancy agreement, then it their legal responsibility to guarantee the rent when your tenant is unable to. Send a copy of this letter to your tenant.

If the tenant doesn’t have a guarantor, then send them a second letter once the rent is outstanding by at least 14 days. State that you will seek repossession of the property if the tenant doesn’t contact you or pay you immediately.

4) Final warnings and Section 8 Notice

If it has been at least 21 days since the rent is due, send a final warning to your tenant and the tenant’s guarantor if they have one. Inform them both that the rent is still unpaid, and you will now begin to take legal action to reclaim the property unless payment is received in full immediately.

Once a full month has passed and the tenant has fallen two months into arrears, you have the right to formally serve a section 8 notice under the Housing Act 1988, demanding payment within the next 14 days or the tenant will be taken to court. You can also seek the outstanding rent payment from the benefit office if your tenant is in receipt of benefits.

5) Legal action

If the two months of rent has still not been paid, you should now seek legal advice for taking your tenant to court for the rent amount owed, and regaining possession of the property through the court. The court will give your tenant a date to remove themselves from the property, or else the bailiffs will remove them.

If you have Rent Guarantee Insurance, you can contact your insurance company to make a claim. Rent Guarantee Insurance can cover the legal expenses if your tenant is struggling financially.