Insurer Wording Updates and Responses to COVID-19

3 April 2020

Please find below policy wording updates and responses from various insurers WRS Insurance Brokers places business with.

Updates include (but not limited to) extended covers and adjusted unoccupancy conditions for property.

Please click the section when you locate the insurer named on your policy to view the full information..

ANSVAR

With national lockdown restrictions being relaxed, the enhancements we voluntarily applied to our policies back in April and due to expire at the end of August, have now been reviewed and amended.

We were glad to have been able to respond swiftly when needed, to help brokers and customers navigate a period of uncertainty. With the expiry date for those extensions approaching, we want to clarify how our cover will respond moving forward, and have therefore updated the temporary cover enhancements we previously applied as follows:

Commercial policies

1) Properties which are temporarily closed due to COVID-19

The dispensations previously applied to properties temporarily closed will cease on 31st August 2020, at which point all original policy terms will come into immediate effect.

2) Suspension of compliance with risk improvements, periodic conditions and maintenance conditions

We suspended the deadlines to comply with risk improvements, as well as other policy terms requiring regular maintenance and inspection, where these could not be complied with due to the COVID-19 outbreak. This suspension will cease on 31st August 2020 and all such terms will re-apply from 1st September 2020.

In respect of risk improvement deadlines, please refer to the information in our COVID hub (outstanding risk improvements tab) for full details of how these have been recalculated, including an additional 30 day period to cater for subsequent disruption caused by lockdown.

3) Automatic cover beyond renewal date

We allowed for the situation where difficulties in contacting clients during full lockdown may have caused delays to agreeing renewal terms, by introducing an automatic extension in cover for 30 days beyond renewal. This enhancement will end on 31st August 2020. No extensions will apply to renewals effective on or after 1st September 2020.

ANSVAR

Cover during difficult times (Updated)

In light of the changing situation and the most recent government advice about the outbreak of COVID-19, we have reviewed our position to ensure we can continue to help and support you at this difficult time and to provide you with some additional advice and support.

Unoccupied properties

As more and more employees are working from home, and no longer at the insured buildings, you may be concerned that the policy will regard your buildings as unoccupied, untenanted, empty or disused and your cover then restricted.

For an initial period up to and including the 31st August 2020 (extended from 30th June), we will withhold the:

restrictive policy cover for unoccupancy, and
policy General Condition that requires you to inform us of the buildings being, or expected to be, unoccupied

should your employees be forced to work from home as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

However, if your building is no longer occupied this represents a greater risk of significant damage which could delay your organisation getting back up and running, once the current COVID-19 outbreak has passed.

With this in mind we would advise, where you are able to do so safely and within the current government guidelines, you try to ensure that:

the buildings are inspected internally and externally by an authorised person once a week to check the security and general condition of the premises;
all waste, refuse and other disused combustible materials is cleared from the buildings and any grounds adjacent to it;
all external doors are securely locked and all opening windows closed and locked (where fitted with locking devices);
all tanks and pipes are drained down where and when you are able to do this, and all taps, stopcocks and mains supply valves turned off. If this is not possible, because you need to maintain a central heating system, a minimum temperature of 7°C should be maintained.
a) gas supplies should be switched off unless to maintain a central heating system
b) electricity supplies should be switched off unless to maintain a central heating system or existing intruder alarm systems, fire protection systems, CCTV, security lighting or sprinkler systems.
all existing physical devices for securing, or preventing access to the buildings must be kept in full and effective operation at all times and to have all keys removed from the locks and kept in a secure place away from the premises;

We recognise that you may not be able to complete all of the items listed above, either partially or in their entirety but we would encourage you to consider anything you can do, to reduce the risk of damage or loss, particularly through escaping water from heating systems and security of the premises generally. Your cooperation during this difficult time is very much appreciated.

All other policy terms, conditions and exceptions are unchanged.

We will review these changes towards the end of June.

We hope that this provides the reassurance you need. If this is not enough to meet the current crisis, or if you are unsure in any way, then speak to your Business Development Manager or one of our underwriters to discuss further.

Helpful information

Arson Prevention Forum – www.stoparsonuk.org

The selection and use of electronic security systems in empty buildings – www.riscauthority.co.uk

Risk Control. Arson Prevention. The Protection of Premises from Deliberate Fire Raising – www.riscauthority.co.uk

HM Government COVID-19 Advice – www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Risk advice line

(provided by Ecclesiastical professionals or external specialists)

Phone: 0345 600 7531

Email: risk.advice@ecclesiastical.com

Risk specialists are on hand to advise you on a range of topics, including:

property protection, security, business continuity planning
health and safety, food safety, environmental management
construction safety, fire safety, occupational health, water safety or asbestos.

Available Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm (excluding public and bank holidays).

Policy update : Changes to our temporary cover enhancements

With the easing of national lockdown restrictions, and life starting to return to something like normal, it’s time for us to take a fresh look at the temporary cover enhancements that we were pleased to put in place in April 2020 and that are due to expire at the end of August.

We were glad to have been able to respond swiftly when needed, to help brokers and customers navigate a period of uncertainty. With the expiry date for those extensions approaching, we want now to provide clarity on how our cover will respond moving forward.

With lockdown measures lifting, it is important that customers once again take all the necessary steps to secure their property. At the same time, we recognise that many people are still working from home, while employers put in place new operational models.

We have therefore updated the temporary cover enhancements we previously applied as follows.

Commercial policies

1) Employees working from home
The automatic temporary cover enhancement applied (at no additional charge) in respect of Employees working from home, including contents taken to an employee’s home, is being extended until 31/12/20. Prior to the expiry of this deadline we will review this further to consider if further extensions may be required.

2) Properties which are temporarily closed due to COVID-19
The dispensations previously applied to properties temporarily closed will cease on 31/8/20, at which point all original policy terms will come into immediate effect.

3) Suspension of compliance with risk improvements, periodic conditions and maintenance conditions
We suspended the deadlines to comply with risk improvements, as well as other policy terms requiring regular maintenance and inspection, where these could not be complied with due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

This suspension will cease on 31/8/20 and all such terms will re-apply from 1/9/20. In respect of risk improvement deadlines, please refer to the changes for full details of how these have been recalculated, including an additional 30 day period to cater for subsequent disruption caused by lockdown.

4) Automatic cover beyond renewal date
We allowed for the situation where difficulties in contacting clients during full lockdown may have caused delays to agreeing renewal terms by introducing an automatic extension in cover for 30 days beyond renewal. This enhancement will end on 31/8/20. No extensions will apply to renewals effective on or after 1/9/20.

Please click here for full details of this change

Art & Private Client policies

The automatic cover enhancements made to Art & Private Client policies will cease on 31/08/20, as previously communicated.

Ecclesiastical

Updates to your Temporary Cover Enhancements (April 2020) – for properties temporarily closed due to COVID-19

02 April 2020

Ecclesiastical

Insurance

In light of current uncertainty caused by the outbreak of COVID-19 we understand that there will inevitably be an impact on your insurance needs.

COVID-19 Temporary Cover Enhancements to your policy

Please see below the automatic enhancements we are applying with immediate effect to all policies during this period to try to provide additional peace of mind.

There will be no additional premiums for these enhancements
These enhancements will automatically apply until 30/6/20.
We will review the position again prior to 1/6/20 and will extend for a further period if we deem appropriate
These enhancements will be applied via this Letter of Intent and will apply as if endorsed onto each policy

Employees working from home

As standard most of our policies extend contents cover to include cover whilst away from the premises and / or specifically at the homes of employees.

Where your policy does not already include this cover, the following cover is added:

Contents at Employees homes

Where your policy does not already provide such cover, your policy is extended to provide cover for contents temporarily removed to the homes of employees due to the COVID-19 outbreak up to a limit of

£2500 any one item
A maximum of £5000 any one employees home.

For Education insurance policies this extension will additionally extend cover to pupils & students homes

Liability – health and safety

Resources for employers are signposted by the Health and Safety Executive on their latest information and advice page. As organisations look to different working models for continuity, they also have useful guidance on homeworking and working alone.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the policy, both Employers’ and Public Liability policies provide an indemnity to the policyholder if they are held legally liable for accidental bodily injury or illness arising in connection with their business.

Premises that are temporarily closed solely due to the COVID-19 outbreak

(This does not apply to premises that

were unoccupied before the outbreak or
that close down permanently

which will be deemed Unoccupied as defined in the policy and be subject to the normal unoccupied premises terms and conditions as set out in your policy)

Buildings that are temporarily closed / no longer in regular use are exposed to different and usually greater risk than occupied premises and premises that are open for regular trading.

Our standard policies define “unoccupied” premises and apply standard restrictions in cover and conditions precedent to cover that need to be complied with. Normally a higher premium is charged on unoccupied premises.

To ensure customers are not unduly penalised for temporary closures solely due to the Covid 19 outbreak the following applies to affected premises:

Unoccupied premises cover restrictions will not apply to Temporarily Closed premises
Temporarily Closed premises will benefit from
- no reduction in the level of policy cover
- no increase in excesses
- no increases in premium
Provided the Insured complies with the following which details appropriate risk management practices (and is less stringent than the unoccupied premises condition)

Temporarily Closed Premises Condition

Temporarily Closed means premises temporarily closed solely due to the COVID-19 outbreak (and such premises will not be regarded as unoccupied as defined in the Policy).

In respect of Temporarily Closed premises the following risk management measures should be implemented as far as is possible:

(1) where there will be no need to re-enter the premises during the period of temporary closure you must turn off electricity gas and water supplies at the mains (and where reasonable to do so drain down water systems) other than those services required to maintain

critical business infrastructure required to allow the continuance of the organisations operations and support temporary home working arrangements
intruder alarms
fire alarms
sprinkler installations
other fire suppression security or other risk protection systems or devices

(2) you must maintain in full and efficient working order and keep operational all

alarms
sprinkler installations
fire suppression systems
locks and all other protective and security devices including gates and other perimeter security protection at the premises

(3) where water systems have not been drained down and / or where there is a sprinkler installation you must maintain the central heating system to prevent freezing and

i. the sprinkler system should be inspected to ensure it is operating correctly whenever such buildings are inspected

ii. the temperature throughout the building must be maintained at not less than 7 degrees Centigrade (45 degrees Fahrenheit)

iii. where annual servicing and maintenance is due the sprinkler system must be serviced and maintained as soon as circumstance permit by an appropriately qualified engineer

(4) you must

i. remove all internal waste and

ii. position all external bins as at least 5 metres from the buildings (or otherwise as far as possible where this is not possible) and secure the bins in position where this is possible

(5) Provided any travel required to carry out an inspection is in line with the latest government advice you must undertake an internal and external inspection of such buildings at least every 7 days and

i. rectify as soon as is reasonably possible any defects in the fabric of the building or any protective or security devices or installations

ii. maintain a record of inspections including the remedy of any defects

iii. remove accumulations of post from the letterbox during each inspection and take any other action to ensure the premises cannot be easily identified as unused or closed down

Where government travel advice does not allow the necessary travel to complete an inspection the need for an inspection is deferred until travel restrictions are lifted to a level that allows inspections to re-commence

(6) you must put in place contingency plans in case the primary person(s) carrying out weekly inspections or responding to alarm activations need to self isolate or are ill so that weekly inspections and alarm activation responses can be maintained by another appointed person

(7) you must tell us as soon as you become aware of any illegal entry to the premises whether or not any damage has occurred

(8) you must review and update your risk assessment (including the fire risk assessment) of such buildings to reflect the temporary change in risk

Unless otherwise agreed or varied by us in writing.

Outstanding Risk Improvements, periodic conditions & maintenance conditions

Any policy term that requires regular maintenance, inspection or where we have specified completion of a risk improvement by a specified deadline that cannot be fully complied with or fully completed solely due to the COVID-19 outbreak causing travel restrictions or the lack of availability of contractors

will be held in automatic abeyance until

the expiry of the current outbreak or
the availability of contractors or
the date the temporary cover enhancement expire

whichever is the sooner provided all reasonable steps have been attempted to comply with the policy terms or complete risk improvements in part or in whole given the circumstances at the time.

All other policy terms, conditions and exception are unchanged.

We hope that this provides the reassurance you need. If this action is insufficient to meet your insurance needs or if you are unsure about any other insurance issues, please speak to your broker or insurance adviser (Direct customers should use their usual contact points)