Blog

Published on 25th August 2017

Airbnb and Home and Let Property Insurance

Airbnb has opened up a new world of opportunity to generate income from your property. The flip side is that home and property owners need to beware that insurance companies will not always accept that whole of part of your property being let via Airbnb and your policy may be invalidated as a result.

Only certain insurers will allow homes to be let via Airbnb and at Birnbeck we have access to insurance products that will allow buy to let properties to be let via Airbnb and can give you the appropriate cover. Home insurance cover can be more problematic and care needs to be taken to disclose this activity to your insurer and make the appropriate arrangements.

Whilst Airbnb provide a Host Guarantee, as they freely admit it is not a suitable substitute for properly arranged insurance. Storm and flood damage is not covered by the guarantee and any losses need to be linked to your listing with Airbnb.

Please contact us on 01934 522252 so we discuss your requirements.

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Nurseries & Childcare Insurance

If you are looking to cover your  child care centre or nursery you may have found it a challenge and not be entirely sure if you are getting exactly the right level of cover, both legally and appropriately for your business.

We can assist you with your insurance for Nurseries, Private Day Care Centres and Kindergartens. Cover for days out including outdoor learning and Forest School sessions can also be included.

Typical cover for your nursery business will include:

Public Liability

Employers Liability

Business Interruption

Legal Expenses

Building Insurance

Vehicle/minibus insurance

Loss of Registration

Personal Accident Cover

Professional Indemnity

Without speaking to an insurance professional who is employed to work on your behalf you are leaving it to chance whether or not you have the correct level of cover you need for your business.

We ask the questions that insurance companies require and disclose information to them to ensure you have the cover you need.

If you feel you require additional cover for any other activities you are involved in, please give us a call on 01934 522252 and we will be able to arrange the appropriate cover.

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Insurance for metal fabricators and metalworkers

We have access to an exclusive facility for the metalwork sector which offers market leading cover at competitive premiums. We have considerable experience in arranging insurance for clients working in this sector built up over a number of years.

Included amongst the activities that we can insure are steel fabricators, sheet metal work, CNC milling, CNC lathes and precision engineering. Site work including hot works can be accommodated. Work with structural steelwork or jobs at hazardous locations can also be included subject to full details.

 Please contact Stuart or Lorna on 01934 522252 should you require further information.

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Do you need last minute travel insurance?

Quote and buy travel insurance is now available online via Birnbeck’s website. We have partnered with experienced travel insurance specialist Citybond Suretravel to provide instant travel insurance quotes online, at competitive premiums.

Citybond provide 3 levels of cover Supreme, Premier or Economy to cater for differing cover requirements and budgets.

The insurance schemes available include Single Trip Travel, Year Round Travel, Young Traveller and Long Stay.

As ever if you prefer to please feel free to contact the office to discuss your requirements and obtain a quote on 01934 522252.

Published on 3rd July 2017

The Ogden Discount Rate, which is used by the courts to calculate personal injury settlements  has changed. This affects personal injury awards made to claimant and ultimately the premiums of all classes of motor and liability insurance, which involve compensation payments for personal injury.

When assessing lump sum awards for personal injury claimants the courts take into account the net rate of return (discount rate) that the claimant might expect  from a reasonably prudent investment of lump sum compensation.

Since 2001 the rate has been 2.5%. This has been amended by 3.25% to -0.75%. The rate change applies retrospectively to all current claims.

This removal of the discount rate is going to make a significant difference as certain awards (such as for nursing care) are paid annually.

Due to this change we expect insurers to have to pay out higher injury awards, which may filter through to premiums. However as an independent broker we use a wide panel of insurers and will continue to search the market for the best deal for you.

Published on 22nd June 2017

Please note that insurance premium tax has increased from 10 to 12% with effect from 1st June 2017. This tax is levied by the government on all insurance policies.

We hope that there will not be any further increases but fear that the government will push this tax up to the same level as V.A.T at 20% in the near future.

Published on 21st December 2016

Please note that we have some amended opening hours for the Christmas period, which will be as follows:

23rd December: 9am to 1pm

28th December: 9am to 1pm

29th December: 9am to 1pm

30th December: 9am to 1pm

May I take this opportunity of wishing all our customers and commercial partners a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Stuart Rose

Published on 19th September 2016

We are delighted to announce that Tracey Steele has joined Birnbeck. Tracey has been working in insurance for over 25 years in a variety of broking roles and joins us as an account handler. She brings a wealth of experience in motor, home and travel insurance and also be assisting clients with forest school and landlords Insurance. Tracey can be contacted on 01934 522252 or traceysteele@birnbeck.com.

Published on 16th April 2016

We have revamped our kit and equipment insurance offering for Forest School and Outdoor Learning Practitioners. We can now include cover for a wider range of items including camping equipment! Insurance for tools and equipment stored in vehicles overnight can also be included subject to agreement. Please contact Tracey Weaver for further information on 01934 522252 or tracey@birnbeck.com.

Published on 14th December 2015

Following Roger Hargest ‘s retirement in October, we are delighted to announce that Lorna Lyndon has joined Birnbeck . Lorna has been working in commercial insurance for 25 years in a variety of underwriting and broking roles and joins us as a commercial consultant. Lorna can be contacted on 01934 522252 or lorna@birnbeck.com.