Question:

If I run my child minding service from home, does it have any impact on my ordinary Home Insurance?

Answer:

Virtually without exception all household insurance policies have condition which says that no business should be run from your home, apart perhaps from a small home office.

Should you have the misfortune to suffer a mishap, for example a fire or water damage, and even if it has nothing to do with your running the child minding service, your insurer may well turn down your claim for non-disclosure or what they refer to as a material fact.

Question:

How can I get my household insurer to cover me then?

Answer:

In many instances your insurer will agree once they have been informed to "note your policy" that you are running a child minding service.

This however is not be the same thing as agreeing to cover you for any damage which occurs to your own property or possessions arising out of the running of the business.

If for example your television is damaged , or your carpet ruined by paint spilled on it by one of the children you are minding, they may well decline to repair or make good your loss.

Because of our long association with the insurers with whom we arrange are childcare covers we can arrange a Household Insurance policy to complement your Public Liability cover without any of these hidden loop-holes.

Question:

Are there any additional restrictions in my Holiday Home Insurance?

Answer:

All insurance policies are subject to Terms and Conditions, and your holiday home cover is no different!

In addition to the usual requirements relating to reasonable care and security which are in every household policy, your holiday-home insurers make a number of other stipulations as follows:

"Valuable Items" which the policy defines as jewellery and precious metals, Cameras and Video Equipment, Antiques, Pictures and Works of Art are not covered, when no-one is in residence. there is no cover for pedal cycles.

During the winter months from 31st October to the 31st March all gas and water supplies have to be turned off at the mains and the water system drained down when no-one is in residence, unless your central heating system which must be thermostatically controlled and on a time-switch is left on.

Question:

What do the insurers mean by "not in residence". Are they saying these restrictions apply even if we go out for a few hours?

Answer:

No - if you or family members or friends are temporarily in residence in your holiday home and are out for a few hours or for the day, these exclusions (apart from the bicycles) do not apply. If you have gone home after a weekend break you are not in residence and they will then apply.