A short guide to holiday home insurance

Article by Jason Hulott









Second home insurance should be more or less similar to first home insurance, you’d think. Like many things in life, the answer’s both yes and no. Holiday home insurance bears many similarities to the insurance you have probably already arranged for your principal residence – but there are significant differences, too.

The similarities

Just like standard home insurance, holiday home insurance is designed to provide financial protection for your investment in the property in the event of a whole range of risks that could result in loss or damage to the fabric of the building itself or to its contents. If accidents or natural disaster should strike, the insurance is there to indemnify you against the loss or damage. So there are typically two main components:

? Buildings insurance: as the name suggests, this is the element of insurance for the structure and fabric of the building in the event of its damage from storms, flooding, fire, falling debris, vandalism and the like. The actual sum insured might appear to be a relatively high figure since it needs to cover the cost of completely rebuilding the home and this can typically far outweigh its current market value;

? Contents insurance: the contents of even a second home can represent a sizeable investment. The sums you’ve spent on furniture and furnishings, appliances and equipment, not to mention your personal belongings, can soon mount up and the cost of replacing items lost, damaged or stolen could leave you seriously out of pocket. Second home insurance typically aims to help you make good any such loss.

Do note that any successful claim normally comes with an excess (this is the first part of any claim that you are liable for) and also that policy features and benefits can vary depending on the provider, so never assume that the cover you need is automatically included – do check.

The differences

Whilst holiday home insurance is therefore clearly recognisable as a form of otherwise standard property insurance, there are particular considerations attached to insuring what is a second, rather than the principal, home. Second homeowners might want to pay special attention, therefore, to at least the following:

? it’s probably in the very nature of the second home that there will be times – and possibly prolonged periods – when the property remains unoccupied. Where standard home insurance on your principal residence is unlikely to maintain full cover during such extended periods, you might want to ensure that the cover on your second home continues to afford the protection required during such times;

? similarly, if your holiday home is likely to be let out to paying tenants, you are likely to want the reassurance that full insurance cover is maintained during periods that the property is let and that the insurance does cover paying guests;

? if your holiday home is overseas, there is the potentially added complication of dealing with local insurers and grappling with policies written in a foreign language. Fortunately, however, there are UK-based, specialist insurers perfectly competent in arranging holiday home insurance on properties abroad, with policy documents written in familiar and readily accessible English.



About the Author

Jason is the Webmaster of http://www.holidaypropertycover.com where you can compare rates for your holiday property insurance as well as take advantage of some excellent policy features.










Holiday Home Insurance

www.insuranceforholidayhomes.co.uk Specialist holiday home insurance, for the best deal on your second home insurance

Farm Dangers for Children This Summer

Farm Dangers for Children This Summer











Shears Family


Truro, United Kingdom (PRWEB) July 29, 2009

As part of a new safety awareness drive, at agricultural shows in the region, farm insurance specialists Cornish Mutual are warning parents of the danger to children of playing on farms.

Slurry pits, large machinery, farm animals and grain stores are some of the dangers being highlighted by the firm with figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) showing that over the last ten years 31 children under the age of 16 years old were killed in the agricultural sector, as well as a further 12 between the ages of 16 and 18. Many have also suffered serious injuries such as leg amputations or serious burns.

The most common causes of death and major injury include falling from vehicles, being hit by moving vehicles or objects, contact with machinery, falls from height, drowning or contact with animals.

“Agriculture has one of the highest fatal accident rates of all industries in the South West,” says Philip Wilson, Devon, Dorset and Somerset Area Business Development Manager for Cornish Mutual.

He adds: “As farms are homes as well as workplaces, children are often around and every year there are serious injuries or sometimes tragically deaths. With the warm weather, there will be many youngsters playing outside during the summer months and farms can be a real draw.”

Providing secure play areas, keeping farm yards clear and tidy and ensuring stores, machinery and chemicals are stored away and locked when not in use are some of the ways in which farmers can reduce the risks according to Cornish Mutual.

Ian Shears (pictured) who runs an organic farm near Topsham in Devon offers educational visits to schools and is aware of the importance of reducing risks to children: “At Highfield farm we’ve looked carefully at every area to reduce risk as much as possible whilst still letting the children enjoy their farm visit.”

“We have created safe areas where children can have their lunch with no hazards like machinery or traffic. We always talk to the children and teachers as soon as they arrive about safety.”

“Overall I’ve found children to be very sensible about safety, but its essential children are supervised by a responsible adult at all times. We also like to ensure that we have the right insurance so that if the worst were to happen we know we have the right cover.”

Roger Nourish, Head of the Health & Safety Executive’s Agricultural Sector, said: “Most of us don’t even want to contemplate the death of a child. The fact is tractors, quad bikes and children just don’t mix. With weeks of school holidays ahead – it is time to ask: “How am I going to keep my children, and any friends or visitors, safe when they are on the farm?”

“Don’t think for one minute that an accident couldn’t happen on your farm. It only takes a second for an accident to happen. Yet, only a few seconds thinking time can make the difference and prevent the needless loss of young lives.”

However, it is not only children at risk of serious injury or fatality on the farm – many farms in the region have public rights of way across land and walkers may also be at risk.

HSE figures also show that in 2007/08 there were eight fatal injuries among workers in the agricultural sector and 76 major injuries in the South West. There were also 10 non-fatal injuries to members of the public.

The Agricultural Wages Act means farmers are legally required to pay most full-time employees whilst they are off work due to injury. On a wider basis, legislation means all land owners and users are accountable for injuries which happen as a result of their activities.

Cornish Mutual provides its Members with a range of cover including farmers insurance which can indemnify farmers against these legal liabilities.

Insurance policies can help to offset the income lost as a result of an accident, and may be used to pay overtime to employees or hire temporary or replacement labour depending on the needs of the farmer.

Every farm is unique – Cornish Mutual offer farm insurance packages that can include public liability, employers’ liability, property insurance, livestock insurance and personal accident cover. Other products include a tailored buy to let property insurance for property owners in the residential and holiday lettings markets, including public liability insurance, building and contents insurance, loss of rent insurance, employers and holiday home insurance.

For more information, contact:

Melissa Ward    

Cornish Mutual    

01872 277151    

07702 673343     

Notes for editors:

Founded by a group of Westcountry farmers in 1903, Cornish Mutual is the only general insurer based in the South West. Even today, the company is still owned by its Members, and remains at the heart of rural communities throughout Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset.

Although staying true to its origins in agriculture (around two thirds of Cornwall’s farmers are Members), Cornish Mutual now provides household and holiday home insurance, commercial, events and personal accident insurance to Members of all descriptions, living or working throughout the South West countryside.

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Farm Fire Risks Campaign Launched

Farm Fire Risks Campaign Launched











Andrew Dinnis


Truro, Cornwall, UK (PRWEB) September 8, 2009

Cornish Mutual is warning farmers across the region about significant fire risks during harvest time.

A new campaign is being launched by the farm insurance specialists to raise awareness of the potential dangers of farm fires and steps that landowners can take to reduce the risk of blazes from happening.

It comes as figures released by Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service show that during 2008/09 their crews attended 133 farm fires – 80 involved barns or agricultural buildings and hay. 53 call-outs dealt with vehicle fires including tractors and combine harvesters. Of the 133 fires, 47 may have been started deliberately.

Latest statistics from Cornish Mutual show that over the last year they handled 34 claims involving farm fires worth £319,000 – eight of which involved farm machinery. The firm has also handled 26 claims from Members who have been victims of arson during recent years.

Philip Wilson, Cornish Mutual’s Area Manager for Devon, Dorset and Somerset said: “Farm fires are surprisingly common and there are practical steps that all landowners can take to minimise the risk of blazes occurring. It is a good idea for farmers to consider carrying fire extinguishers on all their vehicles – this is just one simple measure that people can take.”

He added: “As well as the physical damage, fires can also lead to significant financial losses and huge disruption to businesses. Fires cause more damage to industrial and commercial property than any other hazard. Farmers Insurance and taking steps to prevent fires can provide important peace of mind and minimise disruption.”

Andy Justice, Fire Investigation Manager for Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service said: “Every year in the UK 1,700 farm buildings and 66,000 acres of grassland are destroyed by fire. Fifty per cent of these fires are started deliberately, either as an act of vandalism or fraudulent insurance claim. Where it is believed a significant crime has been committed or physical evidence is found at a fire scene, then a joint police/fire investigation is often initiated with the intent of identifying and prosecuting the offenders.”

Andrew Dinnis (pictured) runs the 500 acre Rydon Barton Farm in Talaton, near Exeter and knows all too well the cost and consequences of farm fires – his baler went up in flames recently.

He said: “It was quite scary just how quickly the fire spread from the flames that I saw initially coming from the electrical control box. We tried to get it under control using two fire extinguishers and driving the tractor away from the baler, but the fire started again just before the fire brigade arrived.”

Meanwhile, John Down of Park Farm, near Taunton fitted extinguishers throughout his fleet after his first tractor blaze and experienced a second machine fire last summer.

He explained: “You could see the smoke from miles away. We tried to put it out with water, but five gallons doesn’t go far. That’s when we decided to put two proper, powder extinguishers on everything. We were able to get the second fire under control using them, limiting the damage. For ten or fifteen quid, they can save a lot of time and hassle.”

Cornish Mutual has now put together fire safety advice for farmers in the region to consider:


Complete a quick and simple survey to identify potential risks and security measures – ask your local fire safety officer or insurance advisor for help

Check your insured values are high enough – machinery values have risen recently and you could be left short if you have to replace a machine

Make plans and ensure staff are trained in advance to deal with fire emergencies, including evacuating livestock

Remove hay and straw from fields as soon as possible after harvesting

Keep petrol, diesel, fertilisers and pesticides under lock and key in secure areas and dispose of refuse safely on a regular basis

Regularly check and maintain open water supplies for fire fighting and check equipment and farm machinery is in good order

Regularly clean out machinery to reduce fire risk from debris

Keep water and CO2 fire extinguishers on board and in dry conditions keep a sprayer filled with water on hand to lay a fire break

Resist the urge to keep going when the temperature gauges are in the red or bearings are running hot

If fire breaks out, send someone to the farm entrance to direct the fire service

More information can be found by visiting Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue Service’s website http://www.dsfire.gov.uk

Every farm is unique – Cornish Mutual offer farm insurance packages that can include public liability, employers’ liability, property insurance, livestock insurance and personal accident cover. Other products include a tailored buy to let property insurance for property owners in the residential and holiday lettings markets, including public liability insurance, building and contents insurance, loss of rent insurance, employers and holiday home insurance.

Notes for editors:

Founded by a group of Westcountry farmers in 1903, Cornish Mutual is the only general insurer based in the South West. Even today, the company is still owned by its Members, and remains at the heart of rural communities throughout Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset.

Although staying true to its origins in agriculture (around two thirds of Cornwall’s farmers are Members), Cornish Mutual now provides household and holiday home insurance, commercial, events and personal accident insurance to Members of all descriptions, living or working throughout the South West countryside.

For more information, contact:

Melissa Ward    

Cornish Mutual    

01872 277151    

07702 673343     

mward (at) cornishmutual (dot) co (dot) uk

http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk

###






















Vocus©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







More Holiday Home Insurance Press Releases