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Archive for the ‘Specialist Insurance’ Category

Flood Damage Insurance

30 Sep

Usually, flood damage is covered under your buildings insurance policy, but if your house is built on a flood plain or in a high-risk area, you may need a little extra protection.  For your own peace of mind, you may want to consider an additional policy, one that is designed specifically for flood damage.

A ‘Flood Map’ has been drawn up by the Environment Agency showing areas that are particularly vulnerable to flood damage and insurers use this national assessment as a guide when calculating your house insurance premium.  The ‘Flood Map’ does not have a list of addresses or individual properties that may be prone to flooding, just the areas of land that may be more at risk.  It might be puzzling, therefore, when your insurer charges a higher premium for flood damage even though you live at the top of a block of flats.  You must remember that your utility services may be affected, the main access to the block of flats could be damaged or you may not have any access, so your property is still regarded as being at high risk of flood damage.

There are three categories of flood damage risk, low, moderate and significant.  If the Environment Agency has classed your area as a low or moderate risk any company that is a member of the Association of British Insurers (ABI) will offer flood protection as a normal part of your buildings policy.  If your area is regarded as being at significant risk, the cost of the policy will depend on a number of issues, including what flood barriers or other preventative measures have been put in place.

 
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Posted in Buildings Insurance, Contents Insurance, House Insurance, Specialist Insurance

 

Student Insurance

24 Sep

When going off to University or away from home for the first time, buying insurance does not even cross most young people’s minds.  But they do own things that thieves want, such as laptops and other electronic items.  Savvy thieves are also aware students may not be the most knowledgeable people about security, making them and their student houses a prime target for burglars.

Contents insurance for students is relatively inexpensive: they are not insuring the structure of the house as they are renting, only insuring what they bring with them.  Often, as with student accommodation, kitchen appliances are the property of the landlord, as is the furniture, so cover is normally for about £4,000 worth of items, the average value of what a student owns whilst studying.  This figure may rise if the student has specialist equipment associated with their courses, like a camera or expensive art supplies.
 
Computers and specialist equipment could play a fundamental part in passing your courses, and if they are stolen, broken or lost, and you do not have contents insurance, you may not be able to replace them. Some luxury home insurance policies will cover such things on your parents’ insurance. 

It is essential to consider buying contents insurance if you are a student.  Living away from home is all about gaining some independence, learning to cook for yourself and do your own washing, and this part of growing up also entails looking after your property when you leave home.  Whether you are covered by your parents’ insurance, or you need to get your own policy, contents insurance is vital for a student.

 
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Posted in Contents Insurance, Specialist Insurance

 

Some Problems with Cheap House Insurance

13 Aug

Cheap house insurance often seems like a good idea at the time, and more often than not it is, but there are some cheap house insurance policies that you need to watch out for. 

Not many people are aware that a cheap house insurance policy may not cover their belongings in the event of accidental damage and that this feature will need to be added on as an extra.  The fine print in all policies needs to be carefully read to ensure that you are fully aware of what is actually included on the policy. 

A cheap house insurance policy may also not cover you for other kinds of damage.  For example, you may live in a high flood risk area and even if you have never been flooded before and did not know that there was a risk; in the event of a flood, you may not be able to obtain any assistance from your insurer. 

A cheap policy may also only cover your belongings up to a certain value, so in the event of a robbery, even if what is stolen exceeds that amount, you may not be able to obtain the full amount claimed for. 

There are plenty of cheap insurers on the market, but it is necessary to ask them a lot of questions, to make sure that the policy is exactly what you need.  There is no point paying for cover if you are not sure whether you can make an effective claim in the event of an emergency. 

 
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Posted in Contents Insurance, House Insurance, Specialist Insurance

 

House Insurance for Holiday Homes

10 Aug

Whilst many homeowners will ensure that they have adequate and appropriate insurance for their home, for those with a holiday home additional cover is important. Such properties are often left vacant for long periods of time, and with a theft or building damage going unnoticed for longer, it is vital that holiday home insurance is taken out.

Though the most valuable of assets may be kept within the main residence, it is very important for those with holiday apartments to ensure that additional cover is bought. Home insurance quotes are readily available for such products, offering peace of mind for owners when any property is left vacant. With such properties being left empty for considerable periods of times, financial costs can often be higher than those of the main home due to the extended lapse between an event and discovery. Property damage such as a burst pipe or broken window could be left undiscovered for weeks, possibly months, incurring significant further damage in the long run. Meanwhile, if a thief takes the opportunity to break in, valuables can be stolen consistently over a lengthy period, increasing the house insurance claim sum.

It is therefore imperative that anyone with a holiday home, whether in Britain or abroad, seek appropriate insurance to allow peace of mind when a property is left vacant. And whilst you may have someone stopping by and checking on a property, buildings and contents insurance for a second home is as vital, if not more so, than home insurance.

 
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Posted in Buildings Insurance, House Insurance, Specialist Insurance

 

Problems faced with house insurance

06 Aug

There may be a number of problems that you may encounter when applying for house insurance. The majority of house insurance policies cover theft and damage caused by severe weather conditions, fire, crashes or explosions. However, there may be certain things that you will not be covered for and there are a number of reasons why some homeowners are refused buildings insurance.

One of the main reasons why you may be refused house insurance is if you leave your home unoccupied for long periods of time. This length of time may vary depending on which insurance company you have opted for, but it is usually no less than thirty days.

Although the majority of house insurance companies cover damage caused by floods or other severe weather conditions, you may be refused house insurance if you live in an area that is susceptible to these conditions, as damage is likely to occur more often. Those that experience this problem may wish to contact organisations that deal with flood or fire problems in order to ensure that their home and contents will be protected should one of these problems occur. Alternatively, you could opt for specialist home and contents insurance.

You could also be refused house insurance if you or someone living in your household has a criminal record. Home insurance companies can also refuse insurance if you are currently living with someone who is not a family member or a partner.

In order to avoid problems with house insurance, it is advisable to read through policies carefully to check what you and will not be entitled to. There may be some companies that offer coverage for things that other companies refuse to, so be sure to shop around and compare companies so that you can find a policy that will ensure that your home and contents will be protected.

 
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Posted in Buildings Insurance, Contents Insurance, House Insurance, Specialist Insurance

 

Getting house insurance for a high risk property

26 Jul

If you have a property that is classed as “high risk”, then you may experience difficulty claiming house insurance, as many standard house insurance policies do not provide cover for high risk properties. High risk properties are homes that are in areas that are prone to particular weather conditions, such as storms, which can result in floods. Your property may also be classed as high risk if you live in an area where homes are often broken into.

If you live in an area where your home is likely to be damaged by storms or vandalised then it may be worth looking around to see if you can find an insurance company that offers special cover for high risk homes. Even though the majority of house insurance policies do not cover high risk homes, there are some specialist insurance companies that will provide home and contents insurance for those who live in areas prone to severe weather conditions or crime.

If you do opt for a specialist insurance company then be sure to read through their policies carefully. Comparing companies and obtaining quotes will give you a good idea of what you will be covered for based on the information you provide, and will allow you to find the best deals.

As well as claiming house insurance for a property in an area that is prone to severe weather conditions or crime, you can also claim specialist house insurance for a property that is prone to fire damage, such as a thatched cottage. However, there may be certain procedures that you need to follow in order to increase the safety of your home, so it is a good idea to read through specialist home insurance policies carefully.

 
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Posted in Buildings Insurance, House Insurance, Specialist Insurance

 

Specialist Home Insurance

15 Jul

Specialist insurance is available for those who may not be covered under standard house insurance policies. If you live in a flat or apartment then you may find that a standard insurance policy does not cover you properly and for this reason you will need a specialist insurance policy. Specialist insurance policies are also useful for those who own more than one flat, particularly if any of the flats are unoccupied.

Specialist home insurance will also provide cover for properties that are susceptible to fire or storm damage, such as thatched cottages or properties with partly thatched roofs. However, you may be refused specialist house insurance on this type of property if you fail to follow certain safety procedures. Exposing the property to naked flames or using items that are likely to cause fire damage to the property will prevent you from being able to claim specialist house insurance.

If you own a listed property or your property is old, then you will be able to claim specialist home insurance. It is important to check what you will be covered for when claiming specialist insurance for a listed property, as policies may vary depending on the insurance company. Some policies may not cover damage caused by severe weather conditions for listed properties or if the property has been left unoccupied for a particular number of days.

Specialist insurance can also be provided for students. This includes specialist contents insurance for students that are living in rented accommodation such as a student house or for students that are living in halls of residence.

 
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Posted in House Insurance, Specialist Insurance