Insights

War Risk Insurance: What It Covers and Why It Matters
War Risk Insurance: What It Covers and Why It Matters 1000 561 James Hallam

If you ship goods internationally, then you should consider war risk cover as part of your marine insurance package. In this post, we outline what marine war insurance is, what it covers—including derelict mines and weapons of war—and why it matters.

What Is Marine War Risk Insurance?

Marine war risk insurance provides protection against risks arising from war, conflict, terrorism, and piracy. It is a vital extension to standard marine insurance, especially for operators navigating high-risk or politically unstable regions.

This type of insurance can apply to all types of marine operations—from single-vessel owners to large international fleets—and covers a wide range of vessels, including:

  • cargo ships
  • tankers
  • fishing boats
  • passenger ferries
  • private yachts

Note: The Joint War Committee (JWC), a body of Lloyd’s and IUA underwriters, designates official war risk zones (JWC Listed Areas), which are critical in determining coverage and premium implications.

What Does Marine War Risk Insurance Cover?

A typical marine war risk policy may include:

Hull Cover
Protection against physical loss or damage to the vessel caused by:

  • Acts of war (declared or undeclared)
  • Strikes, riots, and civil commotions
  • Capture, seizure, arrest, or detainment
  • Weapons of war, including missiles, bombs, derelict mines and torpedoes
  • Piracy (if specifically endorsed)

Cargo Cover
Coverage for loss or damage to goods due to war-related perils. This is typically governed by the Institute War Clauses (Cargo).

Increased Value (IV) / Hull Interest
Additional cover that supplements the insured value of the vessel, ensuring full indemnity in the event of a total loss.

Breach of Warranty Cover
Protection in case a vessel enters a war zone in breach of trading warranties, subject to prior notice and additional premium.

Important: Terrorism and Kidnap & Ransom (K&R) are often excluded from standard war policies and may require separate, specialist policies.

How Does Marine War Risk Insurance Work?

Policies can be structured as:

  • Annual Cover – Ideal for fleets or regular operations through high-risk areas.
  • Voyage-Based Cover – Suitable for one-off transits through designated war zones.

Coverage is typically contains Exclusion Zones – Areas where cover is not automatically granted. These are listed within the current JWC Listed Areas .

Cover for these Specific regions can be “Bought Back” where necessary for individual excluded areas and additional war risk premiums apply.

Note: Crew-related risks are usually handled under separate Personal Accident or K&R policies.

Do I Need Marine War Risk Insurance?

If your operations are limited to low-risk, standard trading routes, war risk cover may not be essential. However, if you operate in or near high-risk waters, it becomes critical.

High Risk Areas for Shipping:

  • Benin
  • Cabo Delgado
  • Eritrea, but only South of 15° N
  • Gulf of Guinea
  • Libya
  • Nigeria
  • Somalia
  • Sudan
  • Togo
  • Sea of Azov and Black Sea waters plus inland waters
  • Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden and Southern Red Sea
  • Pakistan
  • Iran
  • Iraq, including all Iraqi offshore oil terminals
  • Israel
  • Lebanon
  • Israel
  • Lebanon
  • Iran
  • Iraq, including all Iraqi offshore oil terminals
  • Israel
  • Lebanon
  • Oman (Musandam Governorate)
  • Persian or Arabian Gulf and adjacent waters
  • Saudi Arabia (Gulf coast)
  • Saudi Arabia (Red Sea coast) excluding transits
  • Syria
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Yemen
  • Russia
  • Venezuela, including all offshore installations in the Venezuelan EEZ

 These regions are prone to piracy, terrorism, and geopolitical tensions, increasing the likelihood of vessel attacks or detainment.

Why You Should Consider Marine War Risk Insurance

Standard marine policies typically exclude war-related perils. Without dedicated war risk insurance, you may be exposed to catastrophic losses—including total loss of vessel, cargo, and operational disruption.

War risk insurance provides:

  • Financial protection against high-impact, low-frequency events
  • Compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements
  • Peace of mind when navigating volatile regions

Specialist Marine War Risk Insurance from Everard Insurance Brokers

Everard Insurance Brokers, the specialist marine trading division of Lloyd’s brokers James Hallam Limited, can help you secure tailored war risk insurance solutions.

Whether you’re planning a one-off voyage through a conflict zone or managing a fleet with regular exposure to high-risk areas, we can ensure you have the right protection in place.

Contact us to learn more about our dedicated marine insurance services.

Essential Marina Flooding Preparation and Protection
Essential Marina Flooding Preparation and Protection 1000 628 James Hallam

We recently published a guide to marina and boat yard safety essentials. In this post we will focus on flood prevention for marinas. We will cover some tips on how to prepare for floods, along with some advice on how you can best protect your property in the event of a flood.

Understanding The Flood Risks For Your Marina

Any business that operates on or near water should put measures in place to withstand and recover from all kinds of floods.

Common Sources of Floods

First, you need to understand the possible sources of floods:

  • Adverse Weather – Storms at sea can lead to tidal surges that could overwhelm your facilities. Heavy rain on land could block drainage systems and cause rivers to burst their banks.
  • Water Run-Off – Soil will naturally absorb a certain amount of water. But if soil gets saturated after a period of heavy rain, or as a result of melting ice or snow, then it can lead to standing water and flash floods. This is a greater risk in urban areas, where excessive concrete means there is little soil to absorb the water.
  • Escape of Water – A flood at a marine may not necessarily start with rising water levels. A burst pipe in your facilities, for example, could also lead to costly damages.
  • System Failures – Systems put into place to manage water levels, such as dams, drainage systems, and levees, may fail if they are not maintained correctly.

Preparing For Floods At Your Marina

There are resources that can give you advance warning of weather conditions that could result in flooding:

  • Flood Hub – The Flood Hub uses maps from the Environmental Agency to provide five-day flood risk forecasts, along with longer-term risk forecasts.
  • UK Government Flood Warnings – You can sign up for flood alerts by call, text, or email.

Flood Defences For Your Marina

Invest in infrastructure, such as:

  • Breakwaters
  • Flood walls
  • Catch basins
  • Planting trees to act as effective natural breakwaters. As we pointed out above, soil is much more effective at withstanding heavy rains than concrete.

If you do not have the space or the budget to invest in your marina’s flood defence infrastructure, then you could invest in deployable flood defences. These may include:

Make sure anyone who stores their boats at your marina is aware of the risks of rising flood levels. Enforce rules for how people should store their boats when not in use, and how they should secure them to prevent them from drifting away and causing damage in the event of a storm.

Create a Flood Plan and Introduce Staff Training

Your flood plan should outline:

  • Steps everyone onsite should take in the event of a flood
  • Procedures for getting themselves to safety
  • Steps your staff should take to mitigate the potential damage
  • How to protect your most valuable equipment

Remember that the road access to your marina or boatyard may be cut-off or compromised by rising water levels. So as part of your initial risk assessment, identify potential alternative routes to safety.

To make sure your staff are trained on what to do in a flood, you should:

  • Take the time to share your flood plan with all marina staff
  • Add your flood plan to your employee induction process
  • Ensure staff have periodic refresher training

If you are relying on deployable flood defences as part of your flood plan, you should also brief staff on how to rapidly and effectively deploy this equipment when necessary.

Are You Covered For Flood Damage?

Finally, it is important to ensure that your marine insurance policy gives you full cover for flood damage, and other related expenses.

For total peace of mind, your policy should include:

  • Escape of water cover. You may already have cover for flooding caused by heavy rains and tidal surges. But as we pointed out above, some floods are caused by burst pipes and other system failures. Read your policy wording to ensure that you are fully covered for any type of flood, no matter how it started.
  • Business interruption cover. You may be covered for damages to your marine premises and its contents. But make sure you get dedicated business interruption insurance, which can cover your marine or boatyard overheads for as long as it takes for you to recover from the flooding damage.

Maritime Insurance for Marines and Boatyards

Everard Insurance Brokers are the specialist marine trading division of accredited Lloyd’s brokers James Hallam Limited.

We can help you ensure you have the insurance you need to cover your marine and boatyard for all flood risk. We can also provide essential risk management advice to help you ensure you are prepared for floods and other potential setbacks.

Find out more about our dedicated marine insurance services.

Crane Inspection Checklist – Safety and Operational Checks
Crane Inspection Checklist – Safety and Operational Checks 1000 658 James Hallam

Daily safety and operational checks are an essential part of meeting your HSE requirements for managing and operating cranes in offshore environments. In this post we will list some of the daily and periodic checks you should make to help you stay safe and compliant.

Crane Safety Law: What You Need to Know

Two major UK laws apply to the safe operation of cranes in the marine trade:

In addition, the supply and installation of both fixed and mobile cranes and lifting equipment is subject to Offshore Installations (Safety Case) Regulations 2005.

Responsibilities: HSE clarifies that the legal responsibilities for safe lifting operations are often shared between the crane hirer and the crane user. So in a shipyard, for example, both the manager and the crane operator may be responsible for performing all necessary safety and operation checks.

Exceptions: The exception is in situations where managers hire the lifting equipment under a “contract lift”. In this case, the crane hire company may assume certain responsibilities for safely ensuring safe lifting operations.

When Should You Perform Crane Safety Checks?

LOLER guidance specifies that you should perform thorough examinations and inspections at a number of points:

  • Before the equipment is put into service for the first time.
  • After assembly or installation, before the first use.

If the crane is exposed to conditions that might result in deterioration, then it should be thoroughly examined:

  • At least once every 12 months.
  • Immediately following scenarios that may jeopardise the safety or integrity of the equipment.

You can read the full LOLER guidance for ongoing safety inspections.

In addition to these routine checks, daily safety and operational checks can help you mitigate and manage most of the risks associated with using offshore cranes.

Crane Inspection Checklist: Daily Safety and Operational Checks

  • Visual Check – Look for signs of damage or wear on the crane’s exterior, paying particular attention to the wiring, the cables, the hydraulic systems, and the boom and jib.
  • Area Checks – Make sure that nobody is working on the crane, or on its runway travel area. Also check the areas where you will be picking up and setting down loads for obstructions and other potential hazards.
  • Fluid Levels – Check the levels of the crane’s engine oil, hydraulic fluids, and coolant. Look for any signs of leaks, and ensure that all moving parts are properly lubricated.
  • Controls and Safety Devices – Make sure all of the crane’s control mechanisms move smoothly, and that everything responds as you need it to. Check the brake pads for signs of wear and tear. Also check the crane’s safety devices, including the anti-block systems, the load movement indicators, and the emergency stop systems.
  • During Operation – Make sure your load does not exceed your crane’s lifting capacity, and look for any signs of swaying or shifting that might suggest instability. Also keep an eye on your ropes, wires, and hooks for signs of fraying or other damage.
  • Post Operation – Perform another visual check for signs of wear and tear, again paying particular attention to the wiring, the cables, the hydraulic systems, and the boom and jib. Also take steps to secure the crane, through engaging the parking brake, powering down the control systems, and securely storing any loose tools or equipment.

Please note: the checklist is not exhaustive. Head here for detailed HSE guidance on the safe use of offshore lifting equipment.

Crane Safety Documents and Records

Design a crane safety checklist document for your boatyard or shipyard. This way, you can ensure:

  • Every necessary safety check is completed every day
  • You have a physical record of the steps you took to manage risks for compliance

Make a note of any possible defects or other risks you identify over the course of your safety checks, and take steps to mitigate these risks as soon as possible. Ideally, you should not use the crane again until you have adequately addressed any issues you find.

We Can Help You Ensure You Are Fully Covered For All Marine Safety Risks

Under UK law, you are required to carry out certain routine safety checks on all offshore lifting equipment. If you forego these checks, and something goes wrong, then you could be liable for all resulting damage and loss.

Everard Insurance Brokers are the specialist marine trading division of James Hallam Limited who are accredited Lloyd’s brokers. We can help you meet your risk management obligations while also helping you find comprehensive marine insurance that will cover you for all possible risks.

Find out more about our specialist marine insurance services.

 

Guide to Recruiting Temporary Staff in Marine Trades
Guide to Recruiting Temporary Staff in Marine Trades 1000 750 James Hallam

Temporary staff drive both the recreational and the commercial marine trades. If you are looking to hire some temporary staff for your marine operations, in this post we will share some best practice tips for finding the high quality help you need.

We will also discuss the sort of qualities you should look out for in your temporary staff, along with some of the steps you should take to keep things as safe, compliant, and efficient as possible.

Why Do Marine Trades Rely on Temporary Staff?

In the recreational marine trade, temporary staff can help fill shortages in the workload during high seasons, removing the need to employ full-time staff all year round.

In the commercial marine trade, the nature of certain contracts and charters make temporary staff a necessity. A flexible workforce with specialised expertise that is capable of rapid deployment can help a commercial marine business meet short-term staffing needs while avoiding long-term pay commitments.

Effective Strategies For Recruiting Temporary Staff in Marine Trade

Recruit all-year round
Do not leave recruitment to the last minute, and do not just wait until the start of the high season, when the job market is at its most competitive. If you only recruit when you are desperate for help, then you are less likely to make good appointments, and more likely to make bad hires through rushed decisions.

Instead, aim for a year-round recruitment effort, so that you will always have a pool of talented candidates to choose from.

Look for specialist marine recruiters
Avoid the general job sites, as they may not understand the necessary qualifications or regulations necessary for marine trade recruitment. Instead, look for a recruiter that specialises in the marine trade. They may even pre-vet their candidates, so you can be sure that anyone you appoint will be fully qualified for the role.

Offer an attractive package
Do not just assume that temporary staff will want to work for you. The marine trade job market is highly competitive, so you need to give candidates and recruiters a reason to work with you. Offering good renumeration with attractive benefits is one thing. But it is just as important to treat your temporary staff just as well as you would your permanent staff. If word gets out that you are not a good employer, then you will always struggle to recruit.

Staying Safe and Compliant With Temporary Staff

  • Skills and Qualifications – Do not just recruit a workforce of generalists. Go for specialists instead, and list the specific skills and qualifications required for every role you are looking to fill.
  • Right to Work – Make sure that every member of staff you recruit has the right to work in whichever countries you operate in. Specialist marine recruitment agencies should carry out pre-screening checks to help with this.
  • Training and Onboarding – Your temporary staff may be skilled and qualified to carry out their appointed roles, but you should still give them essential training on health and safety at sea, along with the various emergency procedures you operate on your vessel.
  • Insurance – Do not assume that your current marine insurance will cover all of your temporary staff for all risk, and do not assume that any third party agency insurance will cover them either. Contact your insurer for more information, and invest in extra cover if necessary.

We Can Help You Ensure You Are Fully Covered To Recruit Temporary Marine Staff

Everard Insurance Brokers are the specialist marine trading division of James Hallam Limited who are accredited Lloyd’s brokers. We have a deep understanding of every aspect of the maritime industry, and the various insurance implications. We can help you ensure you have comprehensive marine insurance in place to cover all the risks associated with recruiting temporary staff.

Find out more about our specialist marine insurance services.

Freeholder Responsibilities to Leaseholders
Freeholder Responsibilities to Leaseholders 1000 667 James Hallam

If you are a freeholder, then you have certain legal responsibilities to your leaseholders. In this post we will outline your responsibilities as a freeholder, so you can ensure you stay compliant.

What Are My Responsibilities as a Freeholder?

Freeholders own a plot of land, along with any structures located on this land. You may choose to rent this property to leaseholders, and if you do so, you will take on certain legal responsibilities. These include:

  • Repairs and maintenance of structures
  • Keeping communal areas clean
  • Keeping records
  • Arranging insurance

In this post, we’ll expore each of these in more detail.

For more information about your legal obligations as a freeholder, see the Landlord and Tenants Act 1985 and the Landlord and Tenants Act 1987.

Repairs and Maintenance of Structures

The freeholder is generally responsible for maintaining the buildings on their land, while arranging for any necessary structural repairs. This will include the building’s roof and guttering, along with any communal areas such as hallways or staircases.

Freeholders may also be responsible for arranging interior and exterior painting and decorating. And whenever any works are carried out, the freeholder will be responsible for liaising with contractors.

Do Freeholders Have to Pay for Repairs?
Note that the freeholder is only responsible for arranging repairs. You do not necessarily have to pay for them. Some freeholders choose to pass on the cost of repairs to their leaseholders.

Keeping Communal Areas Clean

Your property may have numerous communal areas, including:

  • stairways
  • hallways
  • lifts
  • doors
  • shared kitchens
  • shared bathrooms
  • shared living rooms

In any case, the freeholder is responsible for maintaining these communal areas, which includes keeping them clean in line with relevant health and safety regulations. Most freeholders will apply a service charge in order to fund this ongoing maintenance.

The freeholder will also be chiefly responsible for maintaining any outdoor areas, such as gardens and car parks.

Keeping Records

Freeholders are responsible for setting, collecting, and allocating ground rent and, as we mentioned above, service charges.

Leaseholders have a legal right to enquire about these charges, and they can challenge certain charges if they feel they are unfair.

With this in mind, freeholders should keep detailed records of how they calculate their charges, and how they spend them. They should outline these calculations in the leasing agreement, so that the leaseholder can approve of them. And they should deliver routine management reports to keep their leaseholders updated.

Arranging Insurance

Finally, as the owner of the structures on their property, the freeholder is responsible for arranging for building insurance.

Once again, the responsibility only extends to arranging for this cover. Many freeholders pass on the costs of the cover to their leaseholders.

Though as we mentioned above, freeholders must be transparent about their insurance arrangements. Leaseholders have a legal right to enquire about the cover they are paying for, and they can challenge the freeholder if they feel they are being charged too much.

Specialist Insurance Services For Freeholders From James Hallam

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance professionals who care about protecting your assets.

If you are a freeholder, we can help you get the specialist cover you need at a competitive price, whether you are leasing to private tenants or businesses.

Find out how we can help you today.

What Level of Professional Indemnity Insurance Do I Need?
What Level of Professional Indemnity Insurance Do I Need? 800 533 James Hallam

When you take out a professional indemnity insurance policy, you will be asked to choose your level of cover. And you might wonder: How much professional indemnity insurance do I need?

In this post we will outline the key considerations that will help you determine what level of professional indemnity insurance is right for you.

What Does Professional Indemnity Insurance Cover?

If you provide specialist services, then professional indemnity insurance will cover you and your clients for any financial losses that may occur as a result of your work.

Most professional indemnity insurance policies will cover claims involving:

  • Negligence and dishonesty
  • Breach of duty of care
  • Breach of intellectual property rights
  • Data loss
  • Breach of confidence
  • Defamation and libel

How to Calculate What Level of Professional Indemnity Insurance You Need

There are a number of key considerations that will help you determine how much professional indemnity insurance you should get, including:

  • The services you provide
  • The sector you work in
  • How much your contracts are worth
  • Legal requirements
  • Type of Professional Indemnity Policy

Below we will outline each of these considerations and how they can affect what level of professional indemnity insurance you need.

What Services Do You Provide?

The services you provide, and the possible risks associated with them, are known as your liability.

Think about what could go wrong, and about how much it would take to fix any issues. But bear in mind that professional indemnity insurance needs to cover legal fees alongside the costs of correcting any issues.

Also consider your turnover. If you work for a large number of smaller clients, then you may be more likely to face a claim than a professional who only manages a handful of clients. But if you do work with a small number of high-value clients, then the potential cost of any claim could be higher.

What Sector Do You Work In?

Some sectors are more tightly regulated than others, which often means that any potential mistakes can be a lot more costly. If you are working in the financial or IT sector, for example, you will likely need more professional indemnity insurance than someone working in graphic design.

Also think about the type of clients you work with. Small businesses may hesitate to make a claim should something go wrong. But large multinational companies will have dedicated legal departments and teams of corporate lawyers. If they feel they have a cause to make a claim against you, then they absolutely will. And their legal fees will not be cheap.

How Much Are Your Contracts Worth?

Consider the average value of your contracts, projects, and fees. Also think about your clients’ expectations. As a result of using your services, are they expecting to cut costs, or boost their revenue?

When it comes to professional indemnity insurance claims, the cost of the claim will rarely be the same as the amount your client paid you. As we outlined above, you may also be liable to pay legal fees. But beyond this, your client may claim for their total loss. In some industries, this can result in a six figure claim.

Do You Have a Legal Requirement to Have Professional Indemnity Insurance?

In some industries, there may be a legal or regulatory requirement to get a certain level of professional indemnity insurance. Accountants, for example, need professional indemnity insurance as a condition of their ACCA membership.

Also, certain clients may implement a contractual requirement to get a certain level of professional indemnity insurance.

What Type of Professional Indemnity Insurance Policy Is It?

Professional indemnity insurance policies can either provide cover “in the aggregate” or for “any one claim”:

  • In the aggregate: This means that the policy’s cover limit will apply to all claims made against you in the policy period.
  • Any one claim: This means that you will have the same policy cover limit for an unlimited number of claims in the policy period.

For example, say you take out £300,000 professional indemnity insurance cover. A client makes a claim against you, resulting in £200,000 of costs. Your policy will cover you for these costs, no matter what type of policy you have.

But what happens if you face more than one claim in the same policy period? If you have an aggregate policy, then you may not have enough to cover you for any subsequent claims. But if you have an any one claim policy, you will have £300,000 worth of cover for every possible claim you face in the policy period.

So, check whether the policy will be in the aggregate, or for any one claim. If it is in the aggregate, and you work in a high-risk industry with high-value contracts, then you may need more professional indemnity insurance cover than you think.

What Level of Professional Indemnity Insurance Do I Need?

In short, you should get as much professional indemnity insurance as you can afford. This is particularly important if you work in a regulated sector, with high value contracts, or with large multinational companies.

Remember that your professional indemnity insurance must cover your client’s legal fees as well as their losses. And remember that you may have to pay for a client’s total loss, and not just the amount they paid you.

Get Advice on Your Insurance Requirements from our Friendly Team

If you are still unsure as to what level of professional indemnity insurance you need, we are here to help. We can advise you on your cover requirements, and we can help you get the cover you need at a competitive price.

Find out how we can help you today.

Beach Hut Winter Maintenance Checklist
Beach Hut Winter Maintenance Checklist 1000 667 James Hallam

We recently published a guide to beach hut summer maintenance, which discussed how you can get your beach hut ready for the high season. In this post we will explore beach hut winter maintenance, with a checklist of tasks that will help you safely “close down” your hut for the winter months.

Why You Need to Winterise Your Hut

Taking care of any repairs or renovations now will make it less likely that you will have to make some more serious repairs in future. In winter, you could face:

  • High winds, heavy rains, low temperatures – unless you take the time to prepare, winter weather could cause some serious damage to your hut.
  • Risk of crime and theft – Remove any high value items that thieves may target while the area is less busy is an important part of winterising your hut.
  • Becoming a target of vandalism – Vandals may be more likely to target huts that look run-down and weatherbeaten.

Beach Hut Winter Maintenance Checklist

  1. Cleaning and Decluttering

You have heard of a spring clean? Well, now it is time for an autumn clean:

  • Remove all valuables, belongings, and perishables from your hut.
  • Give every surface a thorough clean. This will help prevent the build-up of mould and mildew over the winter, while also making next year’s spring clean a little easier.
  • Remember to secure any outdoor valuables too, such as furniture or BBQs.
  1. Repairing and Renovating

Prioritise small repairs now as it will help you avoid big repairs later:

  • Thoroughly inspect your hut for any potential issues
  • Look for leaks
  • Find and fix any loose fittings
  • Identify any signs of wear, tear, and rot
  • Oil hinges and other metal elements to help prevent rust
  1. Weatherproofing

Batten down the hatches! Look for ways to protect your hut from the harsh winter weather. This might involve:

  • Insulating the walls and ceiling, sealing any gaps in the windows and doors
  • Buying some shutters to protect any glass from sand and other debris.
  • Apply a fresh coat of weatherproof paint to the hut’s exterior, to protect it from the corrosive effects of sea salt.
  1. Security

Finally, think about ways you can keep your hut safe from criminals over the winter.

  • As we mentioned above, keeping your hut in pristine condition in itself could help deter vandals
  • Get extra locks for the exterior to make life harder for thieves
  • Remove any valuables to ensure that they will not find anything worth stealing even if they do break in
  1. Check Your Insurance

Your insurer may specify how you should care for your beach hut as a requirement of their specialist beach hut insurance policies. This might include taking certain measures to keep your hut safe from the elements, and from criminals, while it is unoccupied over the winter. It’s always recommended to:

  • Check your policy wording to make sure you are doing everything your insurer expects of you. If you do not, you may not be able to make a claim for damages should anything happen to your hut.
  • You could also use the end of the season as an opportunity to review your beach hut insurance. Are you getting all the cover you need, at a best price?

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance professionals who are committed to protecting your beach hut at a competitive price.

We provide a specialist beach hut insurance scheme and are experts in this market. We will endeavour to get full cover for your beach hut, no matter its size or location, and no matter how you use it, using our specialist beach hut scheme.

Learn more about our specialist beach hut insurance and get a free quote today.

Leaving a House Unoccupied in Winter: Dos and Don’ts
Leaving a House Unoccupied in Winter: Dos and Don’ts 1000 667 James Hallam

Whether you are leaving your home unoccupied for a few days, a few weeks, or a few months, it is essential that you take steps to secure your property. This is particularly important over the winter months, when the low temperatures can make small problems escalate into major disasters.

In this post we will outline some of the things you should do when leaving your home unoccupied in winter, along with some things you should not do.

What To Do When Leaving Your House Unoccupied in Winter

DO Strengthen Your Security

Invest in home security solutions that will deter any potential thieves while making life difficult for them should they break in:

  • Get a safe or a strongbox for any valuables you will be keeping in your house while you are not around.
  • Get automatic floodlights for your exterior, along with visible CCTV cameras.
  • Also get a smart doorbell with an inbuilt camera. Some models can send automated alerts to your phone if they detect any suspicious activity.

DO Check Your Home Insurance

Take care to read your home insurance policy wording. Your cover may only apply if your home is occupied. So if you are leaving your home unoccupied for more than a month, or so, you could invalidate your home insurance policy.

If your home will be unoccupied for an extended period:

  • Check on the property as often as you can, and try to spend at least one night a month there. This will mean that your home was technically “occupied” that month, which could help you avoid invalidating your insurance.
  • If you are not around to check on or occupy the property yourself, ask a friend or a family member to do it for you. You could also hire a professional house sitter (though you may have to tell your insurer about this).
  • If you know your home will be unoccupied for a long-term period, but nobody will be around to check on or inhabit the property, then you will need some dedicated unoccupied home insurance.

What Not To Do When Leaving Your House Unoccupied in Winter

DO NOT Advertise That Your Home Will Be Empty

Thieves may specifically target your home if they know it will be unoccupied. So try not to make it obvious that you will not be around:

  • If you are going on holiday, avoid talking about it on social media. If you do so, do not mention the specific dates when you will be away.
  • Arrange for your post to get redirected while you are away, to prevent undirected mail from accumulating.
  • Ask your neighbours to keep an eye on your property while you are away. You could also ask them to put your bins out and take them in again, to make it look like you are still around.

DO NOT Turn The Utilities Off

You might think that you can entirely eliminate the risk of leaks, escape of water, and electrical fires if you disconnect all of the utilities while you are away. However, during the winter months, this is a bad idea.

If you do not heat your home over the winter, your pipes could freeze. When pipes freeze, they expand and crack. This could cause severe damage to your plumbing and your boiler, and could also make leaks and floods more likely.

Instead:

  • Set your thermostat to at least 12.5°C for as long as you are away, to prevent your pipes from freezing.
  • If you have a timer, set your heating to come on at around 14°C during the coldest parts of the day – the early mornings and late nights.
  • Keep your electricity running so that you will be able to power all of your essential home security systems.

You may resent running up utility bills while you are away. But the cost of your bills will be a lot less than the potential costs of fixing leaky pipes and damaged boilers.

Get Comprehensive Home Insurance From James Hallam

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance professionals who specialise in protecting your assets. Talk to us, and we can give you expert risk management advice on keeping your home safe while it is unoccupied over the winter. We can also help you get the specialist, comprehensive home insurance you need for as long as you need it.

Find out how we can help you today.

Overtourism Destinations and How Travel Agents Can Help Combat It
Overtourism Destinations and How Travel Agents Can Help Combat It 1000 563 James Hallam

Growing numbers of travel agents and tour operators are working to address overtourism, either through promoting alternative destinations, or through focusing on more sustainable travel packages.

In this post we will outline what overtourism is, and explore some of the areas currently affected by the issue. We will also discuss some ways travel agents and tour operators might help combat overtourism.

What is Overtourism?

In short, overtourism means that so many tourists are visiting an area that it is starting to cause problems. These problems might involve:

  • Overcrowding
  • Pollution, due to excess traffic or increased waste
  • Loss of “local colour” or “character”
  • Reduced living standards for locals, as tourist needs take priority over local concerns

In some cases, overtourism may even cost lives. In September 2025, a funicular railway crash resulted in 16 deaths and 21 injuries. The president of a local residents’ association blamed the crash on excessive tourism. They claimed that overuse by tourists placed too much of a strain on the vehicle, resulting in excess wear and tear that ultimately led to disaster.

Top Destinations Suffering From Overtourism

  1. Venice, Italy – Where daily visitors often outnumber permanent residents, and where rising property prices have made housing unaffordable for most.
  2. Barcelona, Spain – Many local businesses have become souvenir shops, and rising costs have meant that some locals can no longer afford to live in their family homes. Some locals even took to protesting against tourists with “tourist go home” signs.
  3. Kyoto, Japan – Historic geisha areas now display signs explicitly requesting that tourists respect local customs and private property. In high season, public transport can get so crowded that some locals struggle to get around.
  4. Machu Picchu, Peru – These 15th century Incan ruins are so popular that the area is facing problems with litter, eroding pathways, and even damage and erosion to the stones themselves.
  5. Dubrovnik, Croatia – Dubrovnik is a popular stop for cruise ships. Over 500 visit the city each year, resulting in huge crowds and increased pollution. Yet because these passengers only spend a few hours in the city, they typically do not spend much money. This means that Dubrovnik may experience all of the downsides of mass tourism, while enjoying very few of the benefits.

How Can Travel Agents and Tour Operators Combat Overtourism?

Do your research about overtourism in your destinations. Before you arrange any trip to any destination, take some time to research:

If so, take it as a sign that you may need to rethink your approach.

Find and promote alternative destinations. Source lesser-known locations and you can help to relieve some of the pressure on popular, overcrowded destinations while still providing rich and rewarding travel experiences for your customers. This might involve finding “dupe” destinations – essentially, places that offer:

  • broadly similar experiences to more popular spots
  • less crowds
  • lower costs
  • less negative impact on locals

Go off the beaten track. If you are going to sell trips and packages to popular destinations, you could still help combat overtourism through sourcing alternative itineraries. Look for:

  • alternative routes and experiences
  • tours with quieter or off-peak hours if you want to include popular and iconic hotspots
  • the opportunity to encourage people to travel outside of the high season

For more ideas on how you can offer high quality tours and packages while minimising the harmful impact of travel, read our guide to sustainable travel.

Specialist Support For Travel Agents and Tour Operators

Your customers should have total peace of mind when booking trips or packages from you. If something goes wrong with one of your trips, we can help you ensure that you and your customers are covered for any resulting claims.

At James Hallam, we specialise in bespoke insurance services for travel agents and tour operators. Our tailored services can help you get the cover you need at a truly competitive price.

Find out more about our specialist insurance services for travel agents and tour operators.

Old antique books

Rare Books & Collectables: A Market for 2025 and Beyond
Rare Books & Collectables: A Market for 2025 and Beyond 1000 664 James Hallam

In a world ruled by screens, something surprising is happening: rare books are booming. As e-readers and digital platforms dominate, collectors are turning toward tangible, timeless works of literature and history. This revival isn’t just nostalgia, it is a recognition of the enduring power of physical books as both cultural artefacts and investment assets.

The digital paradox

The more we live in a digital age, the more we crave permanence. Digital files are fleeting, subject to updates, deletions, or obsolescence. A first edition of The Great Gatsby, by contrast, is both enduring and irreplaceable. The feel of the paper, the scent of old leather, the sight of a dust jacket that has survived a century. These are experiences technology cannot replicate.

Collectors know this, and the numbers prove it. The global rare book market is now estimated at $2 billion, and is projected to increase to $2.8 billion by 2033.

What is driving the market

Certain categories are leading the charge:

  • Modern First Editions: J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (1997), originally sold for £10.99, now commands upwards of £45,000. Recently an incredibly rare first edition of Tolkien’s The Hobbit sold at auction for £43,000.
  • Classic Literature: Early editions of Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Joyce, and Woolf are among the most reliable ‘blue-chip’ investments in the sector.
  • Manuscripts and Letters: Collectors are increasingly drawn to unique, personal artefacts – Austen’s correspondence, Wilde’s prison letters, Churchill’s wartime notes.
  • Emerging Collectables: Works by contemporary authors like Margaret Atwood, Salman Rushdie, and even collectible graphic novels such as Maus and Sandman are creating new categories of demand.

Beyond financial appreciation, rare books offer display value and cultural status. A carefully curated shelf can be as much a statement piece as fine art.

The responsibilities of collecting

As with silver, collecting rare books requires care and expertise. Authentication is critical -first editions can hinge on tiny details like misprints or publisher identifiers. Condition is equally important. A dust jacket can account for as much as 80% of a 20th-century book’s value, making preservation vital.

Books must be stored in controlled environments with stable temperature and humidity. Protection against light, pests, and pollutants is essential, as is professional conservation when restoration is needed.

Serious collectors must think about risk management. Specialised insurance policies, professional appraisals, and secure storage facilities are integral to protecting collections that can easily be worth tens of thousands.

Looking to the future

The rare book market is set to evolve in fascinating ways:

  • Demographics: Millennials and Gen Z collectors are increasingly drawn to physical authenticity. They are also broadening the scope of what is valued, placing greater emphasis on diverse voices, women authors, and global literature.
  • Technology: Far from replacing rare books, digital tools are enhancing the market. Online auction platforms, bibliographic databases, and even AI-powered analysis are making it easier to verify, trade, and value collections.
  • Institutions and Investors: Universities, museums, and private foundations are aggressively pursuing acquisitions, while wealthy individuals are increasingly treating books as part of a diversified investment portfolio.

Why collectors keep coming back

Rare books are more than financial assets. They are physical connections to history, creativity, and human thought. Whether it is a medieval manuscript, a Shakespeare folio, or a first edition of To Kill a Mockingbird, these objects embody our cultural heritage.

For investors, they also represent diversification. An asset class largely uncorrelated with traditional markets. But for collectors, the real return is something deeper: the joy of holding history in your hands.

At James Hallam, we understand that rare books are more than possessions. They are legacies. Our specialised insurance solutions protect these treasures ensuring that whether you own a single beloved volume or a comprehensive collection, your books will endure for generations to come.

Get in touch for help and advice

If you have any concerns or queries on your insurance cover please don’t hesitate to speak to us.
You can call any of the team on 0203 002 9859 or email pcl@jameshallam.co.uk

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