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What Licence Do You Need For a Quad Bike?

What Licence Do You Need For a Quad Bike? 500 334 James Hallam

If you own an ATV or quad bike, or you are looking to purchase one, then it is important to understand the licensing requirements.

In this post we will discuss what licence you need for a quad bike, along with a few other important rules.

What Licence Do You Need for a Quad Bike?

The licence you need to ride a quad bike or ATV will depend on whether you are using it on roads, or off road. You need a full car licence to ride a quad bike on UK roads but if you only intend to ride your quid bike off-road, then you do not need a driving licence. In all cases, you must be aged 16 or over to ride a quad bike.

What Do You Need to Use A Quad Bike on UK Roads?

You need a full car licence to ride a quad bike on UK roads. If your licence was issued before January 1997, then it needs to be a category B1 licence.

You also need a minimum of third party insurance to use a quad bike on the road, and you will need a valid MOT certificate if the quad bike is more than three years old. On top of this, you will need to tax the vehicle, and if you are driving in Northern Ireland, you must wear a crash helmet.

Bear in mind that many quad bikes and ATVs do not meet road safety standards. So, before you take your quad bike on the road, you will need to check with the manufacturer that the vehicle has been approved for road use. You may also have to apply for type approval.

Finally, you will have to register the quad bike or ATV with the DVLA, and fit number plates to the front and the rear of the vehicle.

Do You Need Tax and Insurance To Use Your Quad Bike Off-Road?

If you only intend to ride your quad bike off-road, then you do not need a driving licence. There is also no requirement to tax or register an off-road quad bike. However, you may choose to add your quad bike to the off-road register. This lets you record some of your vehicle’s key details, which can help the police recover the quad bike if it is ever stolen.

Agricultural Quad Bikes and ATVs

You do not need a licence to ride a quad bike on agricultural land. However, if you are using your quad bike for agriculture, horticulture, or forestry work, you must register it as a light agricultural vehicle.

You do not usually have to pay tax on an agricultural quad bike.

There may be times when you have to temporarily ride your quad bike on a public road, such as when you are travelling from one field to another. In this case, you must register the vehicle with the DVLA, and you must attach number plates to the front and rear. The quad bike will also need working lights, if you ever ride it after dark.

You do not need an MOT certificate to ride an agricultural quad bike on public roads. But you will need a minimum of third party insurance cover.

Dedicated Quad Bike Insurance 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. Read our full guide to quad bike insurance here.

We provide specialist ATV insurance for clients who use their ATVs in connection with agricultural work or shoots. You can also get additional benefits if you are a BASC member.

Learn more about our dedicated ATV and quad bike insurance services.

 

Can You Live and Sleep in a Beach Hut?

Can You Live and Sleep in a Beach Hut? 500 334 James Hallam

Can you sleep in a beach hut? More than that, can you live in a beach hut?

Local councils set the rules for what is and is not allowed in the beach huts in their area, and there are often strict regulations regarding overnight stays.

This means it is very unlikely that the council will allow you to use your beach hut as a permanent residence.

Can You Sleep in a Beach Hut?

If you buy a beach hut, you will have to contact your council to license it for overnight stays. They may require you to install certain features to ensure your beach hut is suitable for overnight stays. These might include plumbing, electricity, and certain security and weatherproofing features. It is for this reason that most councils do not permit overnight stays in beach huts.

The sort of beach huts that can accommodate overnight stays tend to be larger than average – more like small chalets than traditional “bathing huts”.

Find your local council here. Your local Beach Hut Association will also be able to advise.

What If I Want to Rent Out My Beach Hut?

If you want to rent out your beach hut for overnight stays, once again, you need to speak to your local council, and your local Beach Hut Association. There will be regulations for how long you can let your beach hut. For example, the licence may only allow overnight stays in specified months of the year – usually between March and October.

Or your council may have a “daytime only” policy. This may specify the hours when your guests will be allowed to use your beach hut. Many councils allow guests to arrive from 6.00 am, while requiring them to leave by 10.00 pm.

Can You Live in a Beach Hut?

If you can sleep in a beach hut, then surely you can also live in it, for extended periods? Once more, the rules will vary by location. Talk to your local council, and your local Beach Hut Association about the rules in your location. Unfortunately, it is very unlikely that your council will permit you to use your beach hut as a permanent residence all year round, as most restrict stays to a seasonal period.

The question is, even if the council does allow you to live in your beach hut, would you want to?

Most beach huts are tiny, measuring around 6 ft². So, even if you install plumbing and electricity, and somehow find room for a kitchen and a bathroom, your beach hut will likely feel too cramped and uncomfortable to call a home.

Some people have tried to live in their beach huts. One family did so, and described the experience as “just horrendous”.

Why Are There Such Tight Restrictions for Beach Huts?

It is usually because of the risks involved. Beach huts are exposed to the elements all year round. High winds and stormy seas can cause significant damage. There have even been instances of entire rows of beach huts getting swept out to sea during a storm.

Add to this the risk of crime, and it is perhaps understandable why many councils are reluctant to allow people to stay overnight in beach huts.

Is Your Beach Hut Safe?

If you own a beach hut, you will have to take steps to secure your property against the elements, and against vandalism and break-ins.

Security and weatherproofing systems are important. But it is also important that you get adequate insurance for your beach hut. Read our full guide to beach hut insurance.

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance professionals who specialise in getting you the cover you need at a competitive price.

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

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

 

How Much is Contractor’s Insurance?

How Much is Contractor’s Insurance? 500 282 James Hallam

Contractor’s insurance will cover you for the many risks associated with your work, including personal accidents and injuries, and the loss or damage of your tools or equipment.

But how much is contractor’s insurance? The amount you pay for cover will depend on a number of factors, which we will outline below.

What is Contractor’s Insurance?

Contractor’s insurance can include contract works insurance, and contractors’ all risk insurance

A contractor’s insurance policy can include cover for:

  • Personal injury
  • Professional liability
  • Public liability
  • Employer’s liability
  • Tools, plant, and equipment
  • Damage to a structure while it is being constructed and renovated

Read our full guide to contractor’s insurance, and what it might cover.

What Affects the Cost of Contractors Insurance?

The amount you pay for your policy will depend on a number of factors:

  • The type of work you carry out. Some types of contractor work are riskier than others. Painting and decorating can be less risky than construction or welding, for instance. Plus, certain types of work will require specialist tools or equipment, which can drive up the cost of cover.
  • Your clients and customers. The bigger your client base, the bigger the risk that something might go wrong. The type of client you work with might increase the potential cost of claims, too. A hotel chain might make a larger claim than a private homeowner, for example.
  • Your personal circumstances. Your age, your medical history, and the area where you work – all of this, and more, can affect the price of your policy. Also, if you have a history of claims, insurers may consider you to be higher risk, which may affect the cost of your premiums.
  • The level of cover you choose. There are many different insurance products available for contractors. You could save money on the cost of insurance through choosing a lower level of cover, but it is never a good idea to leave gaps in your cover. You could also choose to pay a higher excess, which can bring down the cost of cover. However, this could leave you financially vulnerable if you ever need to make a claim on your policy.

How Much is Contractor’s Insurance?

As we have seen, there are so many factors affecting the price of contractor’s insurance that it is hard to come up with a ballpark figure for the cost of cover. In 2025, the average annual cost for contractor’s insurance can range from around £100 a year, for domestic flooring contractors, to around £500 a year, for plumbers, heating, or ventilation contractors.

Though of course, depending on your personal circumstances and the nature of your business, you could end up paying a lot more or less, for your cover.

Do I Need Contractor’s Insurance?

Contractor’s insurance can help your business stay afloat should anything ever go wrong. With the right cover in place, you can quickly get repairs or replacements for any lost or damaged equipment. You can also get a lump sum payment to cover your overheads if you are ever temporarily unable to trade.

Without contractor’s insurance, the slightest setback could sink your business. Also, some forms of cover are required by law. If you employ any staff, for example, you could face hefty fines if you do not get an employer’s liability insurance policy.

Finally, certain clients and customers may refuse to work with you unless you have a certain level of cover in place.

It is for these reasons, and more, that no contractor should be without dedicated contractor’s insurance.

We Can Help You Get The Cover You Need at a Competitive Price

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

We will take the time to understand your business and your customers to ensure you get comprehensive insurance, with no gaps in your cover, at a competitive price.

Find out how we can help you.

What Insurance Do I Need to Open a Coffee Shop?

What Insurance Do I Need to Open a Coffee Shop? 500 334 James Hallam

If you have just opened a coffee shop, or you are thinking of doing so, you might be wondering about your insurance requirements.

At James Hallam, we have been supporting coffee shops across the UK since 1982. We can help you get the insurance you need whether you run a single coffee shop, a chain of coffee shops, or a coffee van. Learn more about how we can support you.

In this post we will outline some of the insurance products you might need to protect your coffee shop against all possible risks.

Employer’s Liability Insurance

If you employ any staff, even if they are members of your own family, this is one form of cover that you are required to have by law. Employer’s liability insurance covers you for claims made by your employees for any injuries or illnesses they sustain while on the job.

Public Liability Insurance

While employer’s liability insurance will cover you for claims made by your employees, public liability insurance will cover you for claims made by members of the public.

If somebody slips or trips while on your premises, whether they are a customer, a tradesman, a delivery driver, or any other member of the public, they may make a claim against you. In this case, public liability insurance can cover any legal fees or compensation payments that may arise as a result of the claim.

This form of insurance can also cover damage to property – such as if you accidentally spill a cup of coffee over a customer’s laptop.

Product Liability Insurance

Any business that serves food or drink to members of the public should consider product liability insurance. If a customer falls ill having consumed food or drink you sold on your premises, or if they suffered an allergic reaction, they may make a claim against you. In which case, product liability insurance can cover any legal fees or compensation that may be due.

Business Interruption Insurance

This can give you a lump sum payment should any event ever prevent you from opening or running your coffee shop. Business interruption insurance can cover you for fires, floods, break-ins, and more.

Contents Insurance

This is cover for the equipment you use to make and serve your coffee, along with the fixtures and fittings in your coffee shop, including your chairs and tables. If anything is ever lost, destroyed, or damaged by a flood, fire, or a theft, contents insurance can cover the costs of repairs or replacements.

Coffee Van Insurance

If you run a mobile coffee van, or pop-up coffee shops at events, you can tailor your insurance to cover the specific risks you face. This can include cover for your vehicle, as well as specialist public liability insurance to cover the risks you may not face when running a static coffee shop (for example, accidentally hitting someone when you open the hatch).

Get Bespoke Cover For Your Coffee Shop From James Hallam

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

Whether you run a single coffee shop, a chain of coffee shops, or a mobile coffee van, we can help you get the insurance you need at the most competitive price.

Learn more about how we can support you here.

 

How To Protect Your Pub From Theft

How To Protect Your Pub From Theft 500 333 James Hallam

If you run a pub, then you will almost certainly have experienced some form of theft at one time or other.

In a December 2024 report, The Office for National Statistics claimed that there had been a 54% increase in robberies from business properties compared to previous years.

In this post we will discuss the common types of theft that occur in pubs, and outline some ways you can protect your pub from theft.

The Most Common Types of Theft in Pubs

How To Protect Your Pub From Theft

Below we will explore how you can address each type of pub theft, in turn.

How To Prevent Petty Theft of Pub Property

  • Run a pint glass and tableware amnesty. Allow customers to return any items they may have stolen in exchange for a discount on drinks or food.
  • Add a small charge to every item on your menu to offset the costs of replacing stolen items. This could be as little as 10p.
  • Introduce a one-glass-per-customer system, where you wash and refill the same glass instead of handing out a new one. You could even ask customers to pay a deposit on their glass, which could deter theft while offsetting any potential losses.

How to Prevent Theft From Pub Staff and Customers

  • Put up notices warning customers about the risks of theft, advising them to never leave any valuables unattended.
  • Install CCTV to help deter theft, and to make conviction more likely if theft does occur.
  • Consider hiring dedicated security staff, to help protect staff and customers from violent criminals.

How to Prevent Theft By Pub Staff

  • Perform background checks on all new applicants. Highlight the importance of honesty and integrity during staff induction, and run regular training sessions to reiterate these values. Also make it clear that you have a zero tolerance approach to theft – one strike, and they are out.
  • Perform regular stock and receipt checks. This will help you ensure that everything adds up, and that there are no discrepancies.
  • Make sure every till is covered by CCTV. This could help deter all kinds of theft, while giving you a means of investigating should you suspect that theft has taken place.

How to Prevent Breaking and Entering in Your Pub

  • Invest in extensive security systems, including extra locks, alarms, CCTV, motion activated floodlights, and so on.
  • Lock all cash and other valuables in a safe overnight.
  • Join a neighbourhood watch scheme. Encourage local residents to look out for your pub while you look out for neighbouring properties.

Get The Right Insurance For Your Pub

Dedicated insurance for your pub will not prevent theft, but it can help you bounce back from any financial loss you may experience as a result of theft.

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance professionals who care about protecting your pub. We can help you get the insurance you need at the most competitive price.

Learn more about how we can support you here.

 

What Happens If I Don’t Have Manufacturing Insurance?

What Happens If I Don’t Have Manufacturing Insurance? 500 334 James Hallam

Manufacturing insurance can give you all the cover you need for your manufacturing business on a single policy. This means you will only have one premium to pay, and you will have a single point of contact should you ever need to make a claim.

Though insurance is essential for all manufacturing businesses, you do not have a legal obligation to get a dedicated manufacturing insurance policy. So, in this post, we will outline what might happen if you do not have manufacturing insurance.

What is Manufacturing Insurance?

Manufacturing insurance is tailored cover for your manufacturing business. A single manufacturing insurance policy can cover every aspect of your manufacturing business, including your buildings, your equipment, your stock, your products, and your employees.

Core areas of cover in a manufacturing insurance policy include:

  • Buildings insurance
  • Vehicles insurance
  • Product liability insurance
  • Public liability insurance
  • Employer’s liability insurance
  • Goods-in-transit cover
  • Business interruption insurance
  • Stock cover (including cover for both raw materials and finished products you keep in storage)

Is There a Legal Requirement to Get Manufacturer’s Insurance?

If you employ any staff, then you have a legal requirement to have employer’s liability insurance. This provides cover for any legal fees or compensation should your employees make a claim for accidents or injuries they sustain while on the job.

Suppliers and contractors might require you to have certain cover in place before they agree to work with you. For example, if a company appoints you to manufacture their products, they may require you to have product and public liability insurance as part of their contract.

Beyond this, there is no legal requirement to get any form of manufacturing insurance. However, there are very good reasons why no manufacturing business should go without this specialist form of cover.

What Happens If I Do Not Have Manufacturing Insurance?

A manufacturing business is a complicated operation with many moving parts. If there is a problem with any aspect of the operation, it can cause a chain reaction that could bring your entire business to a halt.

With manufacturing insurance, you will have cover for every part of your business. So, if anything goes wrong with any aspect of your business, you can quickly get the means and the support to fix any issues before they get any worse. This means your business can continue to operate with minimal disruption.

On the other hand, if you do not have manufacturing insurance, even a small issue could cause a domino effect that could ultimately bring down your whole business.

Example: What Happens If I Do Not Have Product Liability Insurance?

Product liability insurance is a particularly important form of cover for manufacturing businesses.

If any of your products are ever found to be faulty or hazardous, you may need to issue a product recall. This alone will carry significant costs. But beyond the costs of the product recall, you may also face legal action and compensation payments should any customers or stockists make a claim against you.

Without manufacturing insurance, you would be liable for covering all of these costs yourself. Product recalls are themselves highly costly. Add to this the potential costs of legal fees and compensation, and it is easy to see how even a minor issue with a single product could potentially sink your business.

For an example of how much a product recall can cost a manufacturing business, take a look at the 10 biggest product recalls of all time. Most of the companies involved are major multinationals. But also consider the small, privately held food manufacturing company that faced costs of around $1bn due to a salmonella outbreak.

Get The Manufacturing Insurance You Need, Today

No matter how long it takes you to get a policy, you should never start manufacturing any products or materials until you have all the cover you need. Read our guide to how long it can take to get manufacturing insurance.

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance brokers. We are committed to protecting your manufacturing business. We can tailor niche insurance packages for manufacturing businesses to ensure you are covered for all risks.

Find out how we can help you get a bespoke and cost-effective manufacturing insurance policy today.   

Common Fire Hazards in Businesses & Workplaces

Common Fire Hazards in Businesses & Workplaces 500 334 James Hallam

It is important to understand the common fire hazards in the workplace. If you understand where and how fires are most likely to break out, you can design and implement fire safety policies and procedures to effectively manage, mitigate, or eliminate the risks.

Some of the most common fire hazards in the workplace include:

  • Electrical and battery fires
  • Flammable substances
  • Smoking
  • Build up of combustible materials
  • Cooking
  • Ineffective fire safety equipment

We will explore each of these, the common causes of these issues and how they can quite quickly lead to a fire in the workplace.

Electrical and Battery Fires

Electrical items have always carried a fire risk. But the risk may be greater than ever due to the widespread use of lithium-ion batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries are used to power a wide range of devices, including laptops, smartphones, electric scooters, e-bikes, and other kinds of electrical vehicles. They are compact, they have a high energy density, and they are rechargeable. Yet they may also carry a significant fire risk.

If lithium-ion batteries are faulty or damaged, it can lead to a chemical reaction known as thermal runaway: The battery overheats rapidly, and can ignite spontaneously, burning at temperatures of around 1,000°C. Burning lithium batteries also emit toxic, flammable gases, meaning that fires can quickly spread, and even result in explosions.

Flammable Substances

It is common to store large amounts of flammable substances in many workplaces. These include flammable liquids and vapours, including many common cleaning products, and combustible materials such as paper and cardboard.

A single spark can cause these substances to ignite. And as flammable substances are often stored in bulk, even a small fire can quickly spread.

Smoking

Smoking in the workplace is perhaps not as common as it used to be, and most smokers now smoke outside in designated areas. But people can be careless. If a cigarette, or a lit match, is not properly extinguished and disposed of, it can start a fire. If this fire breaks out near any flammable materials, then it will spread rapidly.

Build-up of Combustible Materials

Most workplaces produce a lot of waste, a lot of which is combustible. If you do not take proper precautions to store and dispose of this waste, then you are creating a significant fire hazard.

The build up of dust is another major cause of fires in workplaces. If you do not have adequate ventilation in place, dust deposits, along with atmospheric dust, can cause fires, and even explosions.

Cooking

There are many fire hazards in kitchens, from faulty ovens, toasters, and other appliances to the abundance of flammable oils and other liquids.

In offices and other workplaces, it is common for workers to put something in a toaster or microwave, and leave it unattended while it cooks. Such behaviour can make fires more likely, as it creates a risk that the food will ignite, or the appliance will overheat.

Ineffective Fire Safety Equipment

Finally, if the fire safety equipment in your workplace is not working like it should, then even a small fire can quickly spread into something much more serious.

Examples include:

  • Untested fire alarms – are the batteries still good?
  • Fire doors left open – which means that if a fire does break out, it will have a chance to spread.
  • Blocked fire doors – which can endanger lives in the event of a fire.
  • Inappropriate fire extinguishers for the type of fire hazard.

How To Prevent The Risk of Fire in the Workplace

Please note that this guidance is not exhaustive, and is merely intended to provide some best-practice examples for how you can control the fire hazards in your workplace:

  • Train all of your staff in fire safety. Make sure everyone understands the specific risks in your workplace, and how to manage them. Also ensure that everyone knows exactly what actions to take in the event of a fire, in order to keep themselves and their colleagues safe. Make this training part of all staff inductions, and ensure that everyone gets periodic refresher training.
  • Take care with electricals. Never overload any plug sockets, and if possible, unplug any machinery or equipment when not in use.
  • Take particular care with lithium-ion and other batteries. Do not use them if they appear in any way damaged or degraded. Do not overcharge them. And never dispose of any batteries in the main waste stream. Use a dedicated recycling service instead.
  • Take care in how you store waste and other combustible materials. When it comes to flammable substances, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on storage and management exactly. Clean up any spillages immediately.
  • Regularly test all of your fire safety equipment, and replace anything that needs replacing as soon as you spot an issue.

Are You Covered For Workplace Fires?

James Hallam is an independent, family-run Lloyd’s broker. Since 1982, we have helped hundreds of businesses across UK understand and manage their fire risks, while getting comprehensive cover for all risks at a competitive price.

Learn more about our specialist business insurance services.

 

What is Included in Beauty Therapist Insurance?

What is Included in Beauty Therapist Insurance? 500 334 James Hallam

If you offer any kind of beauty therapist services, then you need specialist beauty therapist insurance to cover you, and your customers, for all of the risks associated with your services.

In this post we will outline what is included in beauty therapist insurance, and why you need it.

What is Beauty Therapist Insurance?

Beauty therapist insurance is specialist cover for beauticians of all kinds, including:

  • Beauty therapists
  • Hair and beauty consultants
  • Hairdressers
  • Nail technicians
  • Make-up artists
  • Massage therapists
  • Manicurists
  • Pedicurists
  • Salon owners
  • Mobile hairdressers or beauticians

What Types of Treatments Can Beauty Therapy Insurance Cover?

Beauty therapist insurance can cover a range of treatments, including:

  • hairdressing
  • barbering
  • facials
  • makeup
  • spray-on tans
  • massages
  • body wrapping
  • eyelash and eyebrow treatments
  • ear piercing and more

It can also cover more specialist treatments, including:

  • microblading
  • dermaplaning
  • microdermabrasion
  • hydrotherapy and more

What is Included in Beauty Therapist Insurance?

You can tailor your beauty therapist insurance policy to meet your exact requirements. But most policies will include the following cover:

Treatment Risk Insurance
There are risks involved in many of the treatments you might provide as a beauty therapist. A customer could have an allergic reaction to a product you use, for example. Or you might accidentally injure a customer while applying a treatment. If a customer makes a claim against you, treatment risk insurance can cover any legal fees or compensation that might be due.

Professional Indemnity Insurance
If a customer is unhappy with your work, or if they believe you have mis-sold or misrepresented your services, they may make a claim against you. In this case, professional indemnity insurance can cover any compensation or legal fees that may arise.

Contents Cover
This is cover for the equipment you use to apply your treatments, along with any products you might use. It can also cover your administration and IT equipment, including salon furniture, cash registers, smartphones, tablets, and laptops.

Buildings Cover
If you own or manage a beauty salon or a hairdressers, buildings insurance is cover for your premises against fire, flood, theft, and other events.

Public Liability Cover
If you own or manage a beauty salon or a hairdressers, public liability insurance can cover your customers, along with any other members of the public, for any accidents or injuries they sustain while on your business premises.

If you are a mobile hairdresser or beautician, public liability insurance can cover any accidents that may take place while you are visiting a client’s home – such as spilling a bottle of nail varnish, or accidentally scorching a surface with some hair straighteners.

Employer’s Liability Insurance
If you employ any staff, then you have a legal requirement to get employer’s liability insurance. This will cover you staff for any accidents, illnesses, or injuries they may sustain while on the job.

Do I Need Beauty Therapist Insurance?

Yes. You have a legal requirement to get some forms of cover, such as employer’s liability insurance. Certain professional bodies may also require you to get cover as part of their membership. Plus, if you rent a chair at a salon, or if you run a salon yourself, you may have a contractual obligation to get certain forms of cover.

But even if there were no legal or regulatory requirement to get beauty therapist insurance, we would still strongly advise you to get all the cover you need. If something ever goes wrong with your treatment, your customers could make a claim against you. This could result in excessive legal fees, and even more excessive compensation payments. Without cover, you would be liable to pay these fees yourself.

Also, without cover, even the smallest mishap could sink your business completely. If any of your equipment were lost or damaged, for example, would you be able to afford replacements? With beauty therapist insurance, you would be able to recover from most setbacks with the minimum of disruption to your business.

Specialist Beauty Therapist Insurance From James Hallam

James Hallam is an independent, family-run Lloyd’s broker. Since 1982, we have helped hundreds of beauty therapists across the UK get the insurance they need at the best price. Whether you are running a single hair or beauty salon, or a chain of salons, or a mobile beautician service, we can help you get specialist cover at a competitive price.

Learn more about our specialist beauty therapist insurance services.

How to Reduce Hotel Business Insurance Costs

How to Reduce Hotel Business Insurance Costs 500 333 James Hallam

If you own or manage a hotel, then you are no doubt familiar with just how much it can cost to get adequate hotel insurance.

In this post we will outline some of the factors that can affect the cost of hotel insurance, and explore some ways you can bring down the price of your policy.

What Can Affect The Cost of Hotel Insurance?

  • Your hotel’s size. A bigger hotel means more rooms, which means more guests, which means more risks. So, the bigger your hotel, the more you might expect to pay for hotel business insurance.
  • Your employees. The size of your workforce can also affect the price of your policy. Once again, the more employees you have, the more you should expect to pay. But you should also consider that different employees will face different risks, which can itself influence the cost of cover. Your kitchen staff, for example, will potentially face more risks than your front desk or back office staff.
  • Your hotel’s location. If you are located in an inner city area, your hotel may face a higher risk of theft. If you are located on the seafront, your hotel will be more vulnerable to floods, and to damages from adverse weather conditions. Insurers will take all of this into consideration when calculating the cost of your cover.
  • Your amenities. You may have to pay more for cover if you offer certain amenities that bring added risks, such as swimming pools, spas, and sport facilities.

Get a Risk Assessment For Your Hotel

Insurance is all about risk. When calculating your premiums, insurers will consider the specific risks that your hotel, your guests, and your employees may face.

If you take action to manage, reduce, or eliminate these risks, it can help to bring down the cost of your cover.

So, to begin with, conduct a thorough risk assessment for your hotel. Identify all of the things that could possibly go wrong, taking into account your building, your fixtures and fittings, your amenities and facilities, your staff, and your guests.

Assess how likely it is that each risk you have identified will lead to harm, and also how severe the harm might be for every possible risk. This should give you an idea of the sort of measures you can introduce to address these risks.

Take Action to Minimise Risk in Your Hotel

Here are some of the actions that could help bring down the price of your hotel business insurance premiums.

Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and the impact these measures might have on your premiums might vary depending on your specific circumstances:

  • Get extra security, including alarms, CCTV, dedicated security staff, and motion activated lights.
  • Invest in training and development for your staff. This could incorporate workplace health and safety, first aid, fire safety, and even cybersecurity awareness. Make this training a part of every member of staff’s induction, and make sure everyone gets a refresher at least once a year.
  • Consider your fire risks, and your fire response policy and procedures. Invest in new fire safety equipment, and be sure to replace any items that may be approaching their use-by dates. Also think about how you can aid escape and minimise damage in the event of a fire, with sprinkler and smoke control systems.
  • Consider your flood risks. Read our guide to how you can safeguard your business against floods.

Get The Right Kind of Insurance For Your Hotel

What sort of insurance does it take to cover a hotel?

Among other things, you will need to consider cover for your:

  • Buildings
  • Fixtures, fittings, furniture, and equipment
  • Employees
  • Guests
  • Vehicles
  • Stock

Combine Separate Policies into One Combined Hotel Insurance Policy

Do you have a separate policy for every aspect of your hotel business? If so, you may be paying more than necessary. It is often possible to make significant savings if you combine your policies into a single dedicated hotel insurance policy.

There are added benefits to getting a single policy. It means you will only ever pay one premium, and should you ever have to make a claim, you will have a single point of contact and a single process to manage.

You might be able to make additional savings on your policy if you:

  • Pay for your cover annually, rather than monthly
  • Pay a higher excess (though this could cause you some issues in the event of a claim)

Work With an Insurance Broker

If you are looking to renew your hotel insurance policy, you will likely compare quotes from multiple insurers to ensure you get the best price for your cover.

This is good practice. But if you want to save money on the cost of cover for your hotel, it is much better to work with a dedicated insurance broker.

A broker will take the time to get to know your hotel, your staff, and the sort of guests you cater for. When they fully understand your insurance requirements, they will work to tailor an insurance package that meets all of your needs at the best possible price.

Working with a broker can be more cost-effective in more ways than one. If you only pay for the cover you need, then you will not pay excessively for any cover you do not need. Plus, there will be no risk of any gaps in your cover, or of any unnecessary duplicated cover across multiple policies.

An insurance broker may also be able to assist you in your hotel risk assessment, advising on the sort of measures that could help bring down the price of your policy.

We Can Help You Get the Tailored Hotel Insurance You Need

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance brokers. We are committed to protecting your hotel, your staff, and your guests from every risk you might possibly face. No matter if you are running a large or a small hotel, we can tailor a niche insurance package to ensure you are covered for all risks at the best possible price.

Find out how we can help you get a bespoke and cost-effective hotel insurance policy today.

 

 

What is Classed as an Unoccupied Property?

What is Classed as an Unoccupied Property? 500 334 James Hallam

Some empty or uninhabited homes are classed as “vacant” properties, and some as “unoccupied” properties.

It is important to understand the difference between these terms, as there are legal and insurance implications for each.

In this post we will explain what is classed as an unoccupied property, and discuss why this matters.

Unoccupied vs. Vacant Properties

You might think that an “unoccupied” property is simply one that does not contain any occupants. However, it is a little bit more complicated than this. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the property, it may be classed as either “unoccupied” or “vacant”.

What is an Unoccupied Property?

An “unoccupied property” is a property that was previously inhabited but which, for one reason or another, does not currently have any inhabitants.

When is a Home Classed as Unoccupied?

Here are some situations that might result in a home being classed as an unoccupied property:

  • A homeowner passes away, leaving their home empty. Their home will be classed as “unoccupied” until someone lives in it again – whether this is a beneficiary in a will, or a future occupant should the beneficiaries decide to sell the property.
  • A homeowner leaves their home for an extended period, such as for a long holiday or a business trip, or for the duration of a renovation project.
  • A second home that is only used at certain times of year might be classed as unoccupied when not in use.

A property will have to be left empty for a set period of time before it is legally classed as “unoccupied”. Different insurers will specify different time periods relating to when they consider a property to be unoccupied. Usually this is 30, 45 or 60 days or more. Check with your insurer to find out what they have specified in their policy.

What is a Vacant Property?

A vacant property is a property that is totally empty, with no current occupants.

When is a Home or Properly Classed a Vacant?

Examples of vacant properties include:

  • New builds and empty homes that have not yet found a buyer.
  • Unused storage, studio, or warehouse spaces.
  • Cleared commercial properties that are currently on the market, or which are soon to be on the market.
  • Abandoned or condemned properties that are due for demolition.

Unoccupied or Vacant Property Insurance Implications

Home insurance policies usually only cover occupied properties. As we mentioned above, your insurer might consider your home to be “unoccupied” if you leave it empty for more than 30 days at a time.

What happens if you leave your property empty for so long that it meets your insurer’s criteria for being “unoccupied”? Essentially, it means that your insurance may no longer be valid. If anything happens to your property while it is “unoccupied” – such as a fire, flood, or a burglary – then you may not be able to make a claim on your policy.

When Might You Be Affected by Unoccupied Property Insurance Issues?

Here are some situations where this might cause you serious problems:

  • If you have inherited a home. You will not be able to occupy, sell, or rent the property until the probate process is complete – that is, until the will has been fully settled. The probate process can take months, and delays are common. If the property is “unoccupied” throughout the process, then a standard home insurance policy may not provide the cover you need.
  • If you have a second home. If you leave your second home or your holiday home unoccupied for months at a time, then it is important to ensure that your insurance covers you for any periods when you are not using the home.
  • If you are planning an extended trip. If a planned holiday or business trip will take you away from your home for longer than the time specified in your policy, and if your home will be empty or no member of your family will be there while you are away, then you may inadvertently void your home insurance cover.

How To Keep An Unoccupied Property Safe

  • Take extra steps to secure the property. Invest in extra security, and consider shutting off the property’s utilities to reduce the risk of fires and floods. However, if the home will be unoccupied through the winter months, setting the heating to come on at certain points during the day can prevent pipes from freezing, which can make leaks less likely.
  • Check on the property from time to time. If you can periodically check on the property, you can address any potential issues, such as leaks, before they become truly problematic. Even better, if you can spend the night at the house from time to time, or even appoint someone to look after the property for you, you can ensure that the home never meets your insurer’s criteria for being unoccupied.
  • Get specialist insurance for unoccupied properties. Dedicated probate insurance can give you full cover throughout the entire probate period. Similarly, specialist second home insurance can provide cover even if your second home is unoccupied for extended periods throughout the year.

Get Dedicated Unoccupied Home Insurance From James Hallam

Whether you are dealing with the probate process for an inherited home, or you need some specialist insurance for a second home, we can help you get the cover you need at a competitive price.

Learn more about our expert private insurance services here.