This week we wanted to take look at the new regulations surrounding smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. This affects anyone who owns and lets a residential property.

The new regulations came in to affect from the 1st October 2015 and make it compulsory to have smoke alarms fitted in all residential properties that are let out.

If you have a property that you own make sure you are up to date on your responsibilities and check out our helpful guide below.

Landlords and the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations 2015

The Flood and Water Management Bill 2009-10 has received the Royal Assent. The Bill addresses the threat of flooding and of water scarcity, both of which are expected to increase with climate change.

The new legislation requires the Environment Agency to create a National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy, which a number of organisations will have to follow.  Leading local flood authorities are now required to create local flood risk management strategies and the Bill also introduces a more risk-based approach to reservoir management.

The legislation should enable the Environment Agency and local authorities to carry out flood risk management works more easily.

In addition, it requires the use of sustainable drainage systems in certain new developments and introduces a mandatory building standard for sewers. The cost of the damage caused by the flooding in Cumbria in November 2009 topped £200 million.

According to the Association of British Insurers, its members handled 36,000 claims totaling around £206 million, with 60% of the sum relating to business damage.

The Environment Agency has issued a report indicating that the terrible floods of 2007 affected some 48,000 homes. The cost per house was up to £30,000, with businesses having to fork out £112,000 to get their firm back up and running.As the dangers of flooding become more widely known, 150 persons have signed up to the National Flood Forum and Landmark Information Group’s ‘Know Your Flood Risk’ (KYFR) campaign.

The members come from a range of backgrounds including government at local and national level, flood protection specialists and housing developers.The campaign aims to increase awareness, and to provide support to homeowners and property professionals against the dangers of flooding.Director Rupert Evans, of specialist flood risk consultancy Evans Rivers and Coastal Ltd, has said he believes floods will become increasingly commonplace and that awareness must be raised.James Sherwood-Rogers, MD of Landmark Legal and Financial, has pointed out that the last decade has seen three major floods, destroying thousands of homes.

David Crowther, from Leicester based insurance broker Andrew Bourne comments “Increased awareness will help those at risk reduce their exposure to the dangers of flooding.  just because there were not many insurance claims in Leicester this time round is no guarentee for the future.  The floods in Cumbria during November last year caused damage totalling around £200m”

The Environment Agency has concluded that one in every six English homes is at risk of flooding and that £20bn needs to be spent on flood defences by 2035.

“Building” has warned that insurance companies, including Aviva and AXA, may refuse to cover some UK buildings because of fire risk.According to the construction magazine, recent figures from insurance research body, RISCAuthority, indicate that 40% of fires involving a loss exceeding £150,000 are related to timber-frame and light-gauge steel-frame buildings.Concerns centre on the performance of fire-stopping devices in cavities that separate the frame from cladding once a building is complete.

Aviva’s property risk manager, Allister Smith, has suggested that premiums could rise or cover could be refused because of “disproportionate losses” from large buildings of modern construction.In November, a fire at a tower block in Peckham cost six lives and the RISCAuthority has now submitted a report to the London assembly fire investigation panel, warning about the risks of some modern building methods.The assembly is proposing to undertake its own investigations this month. In December, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) reported that fire damage reached record levels in the first half of 2009.

Insurers paid out £639 million or £3.6 million every day for damage caused by fires. ABI director of general insurance and health, Nick Starling, said: “While the numbers of fires may have been falling, the increase in large-scale fires is increasingly putting lives at risk, and puts more pressure on businesses in these already difficult trading times.”

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has reported that its members paid out £650 million in total in dealing with claims arising from the coldest winter in the UK in thirty years. Acress the UK, policyholders submitted 335,000 claims for damage to their homes, businesses and vehicles, broken down as follows:
Motor insurance – 268,400 claims at a cost of £395 million – many claims were for accidental damage as motorists struggled on slippery roads.
Property damage (homeowners and business customers) – 66,600 claims costing £255 million – of these, 60,200 involved homes, at a cost of £194 million.
The volume of weather damage claims rose to double that normally seen during December and January, with a typical claim involving roof damage caused by snow.
The ABI’s director of general insurance and health, Nick Starling, says: “From dealing with snow damaged roofs, burst pipes, to repairing or replacing vehicles damaged by treacherous driving conditions, insurers helped their customers get through the snow and the freezing temperatures.”
David Crowther from Leicester Insurance Broker Anderew Bourne & Company comments “Insurers have paid out a total of almost £1 billion in total to customers as a result of the bad weather this winter.  the combination of heavy snow came just weeks after the flooding in Cumbria, which led to insurers paying out £200 million in flood claims. Thankfully Leiceter has not been too badly affected by these severe weather conditions, but we always waork hard to make sure that our clienst such as haulage companies and offices are fully prepared for any problems. ”

Right insurance essential for empty retail units

The recession has left plenty of empty shops on the UK’s High Streets.  In a new survey Aviva has reminded property owners of the importance of having the right insurance in place such as SME Insurance or property insurance.

According to research by Local Data Company, retail property vacancy rates across Britain have risen to 12%, with some towns seeing as much as 24% of shops lying empty. With the biggest two threats to an empty property fire and malicious damage, Aviva advises “now more than ever it’s imperative that landlords take all necessary steps to ensure that their buildings are adequately protected and insured correctly”.

Landlords should therefore notify their insurer when a property becomes empty, implement risk management measures and check out their policy conditions.

The group’s property risk manager, Allister Smith, comments: “Empty units must be adequately protected – every year, over three million properties are vandalised and 25% of this malicious damage occurs in empty properties with arson costing £2 billion.”

He adds: “Landlords also have a duty of care to anyone visiting the property, so failure to remove hazards or have sufficient warning signs, could mean the landlord is liable for any injury, even if a visitor is trespassing.”

David Crowther from Andrew Bourne, the Leicester Insurance Brokers suggests a number of other ways that property owners can ease their worries over empty units “attend immediately to any minor damage; regularly removing graffiti and fly-posters; ensuring intruder alarms and CCTV systems are in working order and continuing the operation of sprinkler systems and fire alarms” comments the Leicester Insurance Broker.

Christmas Travellers Should be Aware of Burst Pipes

Around 35% of Britons will be away from home for a few days over the Christmas and winter holiday period. Surprisingly burst pipes pose a bigger threat for property insurance than burglary over this period.

In December 2008 and January 2009, more people claimed on their property insurance for “escape of water” than for either fire or theft.  The average claim for water damage from a burst pipe is for just over £15,000, comprising £4,200 for contents and £10,900 for buildings.

According to research carried out by AXA only 8% of homeowners give a though to the danger of a burst pipe while they are away, compared with 57% who are worried about being burgled and 24% fearful that their homes could be consumed by fire.

The advice to reduce your property insurance claims is is to leave heating on a minimum of 12°C when away; check the insulation on water pipes and the cold water tank; insulate the loft; leave kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors open to allow warmer air to circulate pipes inside cupboards.

Clocks going back leads to increase in risk of theft.

It’s that time of year when we put the clock back an hour to GMT.   With dusk drawing in an hour earlier, homes and gardens need that extra bit of attention to remain secure to avoid property insurance claims.

This triggers an increase in burglaries so it is worth locking valuable items away wherever possible and investing in extra security, such as lights and alarms, to deter burglars. Timer switches for indoor lights are also a good idea to help reduce property insurance claims, as long as people remember to activate them when going out.

Five lever mortise deadlocks are must for doors, along with good quality locks for windows. Finally, criminals posing as bogus callers are not foiled by any of the above and checking photo ID can be a waste of time with a sophisticated operator.

Use these ideas to help reduce your property insurance claims

ABI issues holiday burglary reminder

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) is urging Britons to take extra care protecting unoccupied homes during the holiday season to reduce property insurance claims. While reported cases of burglary have fallen 57% since 1997, there are signs of an increase during the current economic downturn.

According to the ABI, burglary claims topped £100 million in the first three months of 2009, making it the most expensive quarter for property insurance for five years.

The Association has therefore joined forces with the Home Office to produce Insurance Advice on Home Security, which sets out basic security measures to cut property insurance such as fitting appropriate locks, property marking and security lighting.