A pledge made over a year ago by insurers to support customers adapting to working from home will continue permanently.
As restrictions begin to lift across the UK, and many businesses look to adopt flexible working on a longer-term basis, members of the Association of British Insurers (ABI) have reviewed the temporary pledges introduced during the first lockdown to support customers.
The pledges included support for office-based workers who had to move to working from home and drivers needing to use their own vehicle to commute to work as a result of the pandemic. The pledges were extended during subsequent lockdowns and remain in place until 30th April 2021.
Laura Hughes, ABI Manager, General Insurance said: “Insurers have supported customers throughout the challenges of the past year, including paying up to £3bn in the UK for Covid-related insurance claims and donating over £100m to charities through the Covid-19 Support Fund. As many businesses and workers adapt to more permanent and flexible ways of working, continuing the pledge to support office-based workers will be of great help to many of the UK’s 17 million home insurance customers.”
The following guidance will now replace the pledges on a permanent basis across the following areas:
Home insurance
If you are an office-based worker and will continue to work from home, it will remain the case that you don’t need to contact your insurer unless any of the following applies:
- You have visitors to your home on business matters, for example, if you have a face to face client meeting.
- Your business makes or sells goods from your home or you store any of these items at your home, particularly if the goods valuable or include hazardous or flammable material (such as gas cylinders or fireworks)
- You’re offering any other services from your home. For example, this would apply to jobs such as providing beauty treatments, hairdressing, child minding, dog grooming or being an exercise instructor.
- You’ve adapted your property (i.e. using an outbuilding as your home office or have undertaken any major renovation works) or acquired new business equipment that belongs to you.Cover for any business equipment (i.e. laptop) will usually be the employer’s responsibility but check with your employer if unsure.
Anyone who has established, or is planning to establish, a business from home during the pandemic, or has moved the running of their business to their home premises, should discuss the cover required with their insurer or broker.
It is important to make sure that your policy documentation is accurate, and your policy cover remains right for you. If you are not sure, you should contact your insurer or broker to check.
Motor insurance
As restrictions change and travel to workplaces becomes more routine, it will again become necessary for drivers to check their insurance cover is appropriate for their needs.
You will need to speak with your insurer or broker if there are ongoing changes to your working and driving activities since taking out the policy. This includes using your own vehicle to commute to work or driving to different locations for work purposes. As was common practice before the pandemic, this will apply to all roles.
Insurers appreciate this may continue to be a difficult time for some customers and will be ready to discuss insurance cover, including options for those who may be experiencing financial hardship.
If you’re using your own vehicle for voluntary purposes, such as to transport medicines or groceries to support others who are impacted by Covid-19, this will continue to be covered at no extra cost by the vast majority of ABI members. However, some insurers may wish to be informed of this use so volunteer drivers should check their individual policy.
Pet insurance
As veterinary services are operating as normal, the pledge to support pet insurance customers is no longer required and will finish on 30th April 2021.
Full details of the changes to the customer pledges can be found on the ABI’s website: https://www.abi.org.uk/products-and-issues/topics-and-issues/coronavirus-hub/
Notes for Editors
Enquiries to:
Sarah Aspinall 020 7216 7412 Mobile: 0772 5245297
Malcolm Tarling 020 7216 7410 Mobile: 07776 147667
Laura Dawson 020 7216 7338 Mobile: 0772 5245838
Emily Cole 020 7216 7337 Mobile: 0786 0189072
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