In recent times, a number of events have occurred which have impacted the insurance industry and the UK as a whole, including COVID, the sad events at Grenfell and changes to laws relating to landlords and tenants. It has highlighted the need to improve the information an insurer knows about you, so there are no surprises should you need to make a claim. As a result, many UK insurers have collectively decided to request additional information for Property Owners policies This isn’t just affecting us, but also the majority of brokers who sell Property Owner insurance in the UK.
The most important thing is making sure all your information is accurate, so there are no problems when it comes to a claim. By knowing more about you, it means we can get the right insurance for you, so you're covered correctly. This also means we can search out the best options for you on cost and cover.
By finding out this information, some insurers, including your existing provider, may not be able to offer you cover moving forwards, but as a broker, we will have different providers available to make sure we do all we can to make sure you’re partnered with the right insurer who knows about you and your property/ies.
If you do not provide this information, it could lead to us being delayed in offering you a renewal invitation, or potentially not being able to provide you with a renewal quotation.
Cladding is a type of "skin" or extra layer on the outside of a building which may be for cosmetic reasons, or for additional insulation or protection for sound proofing, or protection from wind and rain. It can be part of the structure, or as an extension to it. Typically, you will know from surveys and information at time of purchase if the building has cladding. The reason for asking this question is linked to the sad case of Grenfell and how the impact was worsened by the materials used. We will need to know what material your cladding is if you have it.
Insurers have decided they would like to know this information as it gives an indication to how income is earnt. Typically, rent will be from the tenant directly. However, if you advise something else, it may highlight a different type of tenancy and we just need to double check who exactly is in the property as a tenant.
Although some online providers may ask you a limited number of questions, they will typically use assumptions made about you and your property/ies and although answers to these questions may not be explicitly requested, the answers will ultimately be in your paperwork should you go on cover. As a broker, we want to know all we can about you and your property, so we make sure there are no surprises should a claim occur.
This is not a problem! If you aren’t sure of the accuracy of some or all the information, please give us a call on the telephone number on the correspondence you received from us, and we will discuss it with you, to make sure we have accurate information. We can’t tell you the answers, but we will be able to help you find out where you may be able to get the information.