A Cumbrian insurance broker is urging businesses to ensure they are fully covered to avoid the risks posed by under-insurance.
RAW Insurance says companies risk incurring huge costs if their assets are not valued correctly and they need to make a claim.
Under-insurance is when a business’ assets are valued and insured for less than the current rebuilding or reinstatement costs, and can lead to a reduced insurance pay out in the event of a property claim.
Ryan Roberts, who is a director at RAW Insurance, said: “Under-insurance isn’t a new phenomenon but we are seeing insurers focus on it more than ever in the event of a property claim.
“It’s essential that businesses take a serious look at the sums insured on their policies, to ensure that their assets are correctly valued and insured to the true value at risk.
“Under-insurance can have a big impact on a business in the event of a claim.
“For a business that insures its buildings for a sum of £500,000, which turns out to have a true rebuild value of £1,000,000, then in the event of a property claim they would be deemed 50 per cent under-insured.
“In this case, a fire at the premises with a repair cost of £100,000 would be settled by insurers at £50,000, leaving the policyholder seriously out of pocket.”
Take steps to reduce the risk
Ryan, who works with businesses throughout the UK, advised firms to take steps to reduce the risk of being under-insured.
He said: “Even the best run businesses can experience unexpected challenges so it’s best to take measures to ensure you are protected.
“We recommend businesses conduct regular, accurate valuations of buildings and contents using a professional valuer.
“When advising insurers of the sums insured for buildings, remember that it’s the cost of rebuilding the property that insurers need, not the market value or what you paid for it. The building sum insured should cover the cost of demolition and site clearance, as well as planning, architect and other professional fees.
“For contents, insurers will usually want to know the cost of replacing items as new in the event of a claim.
“Also consider how inflation could affect the sum insured. While most policies are index-linked, factors such as an increase in the cost of building materials could directly impact on rebuilding costs.
“Speak to your broker regularly about any changes in your business that may need updating on your policy. Have you bought new machinery, stock or contents that could leave your current sums insured undervalued?
“If the value of your assets has increased, then that will need to be reflected in your policy.”
RAW Insurance is based in Carlisle and has recently expanded into Kendal and south Cumbria.
