Coronavirus conditions for unoccupied properties 24/04/2020

The following information may help you to prevent a breach of your insurance cover.

Government restrictions mean many businesses have closed temporarily which can result in buildings currently being left unoccupied. If your insurance policy has unoccupied / security conditions and your property was unoccupied prior to the Coronavirus outbreak, then the usual security conditions required by your insurer are the same as before. These conditions may include among other things at least weekly visits, removal of combustible waste, switching off gas, water and electricity and letterboxes sealed. You should refer to your policy wording for the exact requirements defined by your insurer.

For premises that have become unoccupied during the COVID-19 outbreak due to Government restrictions, a number of insurers are relaxing their policy requirements for the time being. During this period, insurers will continue to review their position. Each insurer may have a different position, so if your commercial buildings are left unoccupied at this time, please check your policy.

Please contact your broker or insurer immediately if;

the outbreak has left you unable to comply with the policy requirements, as your insurers need to be informed and any arrangement with your insurers to relax or vary the requirements needs to be agreed in writing;
your property policy has multiple underwriters writing lines on it, as each of these might have different unoccupancy conditions;

We have been informed of the following outline positions by the main insurers:

A: INSURER	B: OCCUPANCY POSITION
Ageas	Unoccupancy clause does not currently apply if premises are unoccupied due to COVID19 - AGEAS will review again by 23/05/20.
AIG	AIG have have indicated the following will apply to commercial business excluding SMEI. "If a building is now empty & this is a result of COVID19 then for the purposes of your property policy the building will not be classified as unoccupied. However, you will need to ensure you comply with any policy conditions in relation to security of the premises." Please contact your broker for more information.
Allianz (Including LV)	60 days.
Ansvar	Unoccupancy clause does not currently apply if premises are unoccupied due to COVID19. Ansvar will review 30/06/20.
Arch	Premises not deemed to be unoccupied. Arch will review by 01/06/20.
Aviva	90 days.
AXA	60 days.
Beazley	Beazley have indicated they are likely to amend their unoccupancy clause to 90 days, in respect of COVID19. However we are awaiting confirmation from Beazley. Please contact your broker for more information.
Burns & Wilcox	Burns & Wilcox have advised they will review each case individually. Please contact your broker for more information.
CFC	CFC have indicated they are likely to amend their unoccupancy clause to 120 days, in respect of COVID19. However we are awaiting confirmation from CFC. Please contact your broker for more information.
Chubb	30 days.
C N A	60 days.
Covea	90 days.
Ecclesiastical	Unoccupancy clause does not currently apply if premises are unoccupied due to COVID19. Ecclesiastical will review 30/06/20.
Hiscox	90 days.
Markel	Markel have indicated the following will apply. "While you may not be on site you are still trading (from the premises) and intend to trade from there in the future we do not deem this to be unoccupied. However, you will need to ensure you comply with any policy conditions in relation to security of the premises." Please contact your broker for more information.
NIG	90 days.
NMU	Please refer to your existing policy wording.
QBE	Unoccupancy clause does not currently apply if premises are unoccupied due to COVID19.
RSA	90 days.
Travelers	Travelers indicated the following will apply. "Unoccupancy clause will not currently apply if premises are unoccupied due to COVID19" Travelers will review 01/06/20. Please contact your broker for more information.
Victor	Please refer to your existing policy wording.
Zurich	Unoccupancy clause does not currently apply if premises are unoccupied due to COVID19.