Office insurance FAQ

Contact us as soon as possible to advise of a new or potential claim as many policies have time limits for reporting claims. Do not leave it until long after the event when all the damage/missing items are repaired/replaced. Please check your policy documentation or ring us if in doubt.

All malicious damage or thefts must be reported to the police and a crime reference number obtained.

You have a duty to mitigate and prevent further losses from occurring:

• Keep a record of all damage- a digital camera is very useful for recording a disaster and providing proof
• Do not dispose of anything unless you have no option for reasons of health and safety- take a photograph of any items that you have to dispose of
• Make sure that your premises are safe and secure
• Obtain the details of anyone who might be responsible for the damage
• Obtain name and contact details of any potential witnesses

You must inform us/your insurers as soon as possible.

You have a duty to mitigate and prevent further losses from occurring:

• Make sure that your premises are secure
• It is OK to have emergency boarding-up done in the event of a break in or vandalism. Whilst you do not have to wait until you have informed your insurers, you should call them as soon as practical

Ensure that you keep all costs to a minimum. Act as if you were uninsured and that you are spending your own money and:

• Retain all receipts
• A photographic record is useful
• All malicious damage or thefts must be reported to the police immediately and a crime reference number obtained

You must notify your insurers as soon as possible. Consider the merits of hiring dehumidifiers but do not carry out repairs without consulting your insurers. Insurers may bring in specialists to clean up and remove water and assist with the drying out of your property and also to recover documentation. The sooner this can be done the better.

To provide theft cover your insurance company will require a minimum level of security on your premises, this will include for example:

• Five lever mortise deadlocks complying with British Standard 3621 on all final exit doors
• Key operated window locks to be fitted on all ground floor and accessible opening windows
• Please refer to your policy wording for full details as the requirements can vary according to the type of door and windows you have. This will not apply to any door or window officially designated a fire exit by the Fire Authority.

This provides protection for your legal liability for accidental death or bodily injury caused to third parties (the general public), or damage to their property. This must arise out of your business activities for which you or your employees are negligent. Importantly it will include members of the public visiting your place of business.

It does NOT cover the costs of rectifying faulty workmanship.

No, you can only claim for business interruption if you are unable to trade due to an event for which you are claiming elsewhere under your policy.

We recommend that you:

• Report all accidents to your insurers
• Meet your legal obligation to record accidents in your Accident Book
• Do not accept responsibility or agree to pay compensation even if you think it is obvious that it is your fault
• Allow your insurers to investigate and advise you of the best course of action to be taken

If you accept liability before referral to your insurers then you could prejudice your and your insurers ability to deal with any claim made against you.

No, your policy does not provide cover for professional negligence. A professional indemnity insurance policy would be required.

You should notify your insurers of any damage to your property even if you think someone else may be responsible. Do not assume that just because the damage was caused by someone else that they are legally liable. The law allows for genuine and fortuitous events and also bear in mind that they might not be insured or in a financial position to pay for your damage.

It is easier perhaps to say that it doesn't literally mean that anything and everything is insured, as there are a number of exclusions. "All Risks" has emerged as a term to embrace a wide range of different standard "perils" that insurance policies have traditionally provided cover against. These include perils such as fire, lightning, earthquake, impact, aircraft, explosion, malicious damage, escape of water, storm damage, flood etc but additionally will include accidental loss or damage.

NOTE: The term does still have exclusions which typically are damage as a result of:

• Wear and tear and depreciation
• Gradual deterioration
• Rust, corrosion or discolouration
• A change in temperature
• Insects, vermin, pets
• Woodworm
• Electrical and mechanical breakdown

This list is not exhaustive as wordings vary from insurer to insurer, and it is essential to check the policy wording applicable to your policy.

Insurers also define 'All Risks' differently. It is not uncommon for theft, subsidence, heave, landslip and sprinkler leakage to be treated as specific perils in their own right and thus NOT include them under the heading of "All Risks".