Anyone who has recently had a business insurance claim may understand exactly what this question is all about.

If you have a buildings policy and separate one for contents and there is a loss, which damages both the contents and buildings, then you may find insurers arguing the toss about what they are responsible for.

We have an ongoing claim under an office insurance policy at the moment. A pipe burst behind one of the plaster walls, with enough pressure for the water to force it’s way, horizontally, through the plaster. The insured did the right thing and called the fire brigade who turned off the water in the street. I wont say where it is, but if they had phoned their local water board the chances are that it would still be flooding today.

Anyway, the water was off, emergency pumps were used to get the water out of the property (basement) and the insured then decided to pursue a claim. One of the items that they are claiming for is a damaged laminate floor. They tried to claim for the walls and ceilings as well but we have told them to speak to their landlord. The landlord insurance policy insurers are saying that the laminate floor is not part of the buildings. But, if it is fitted to the building and you would not take it with you when you go, then it is part of the building and should be covered as such.

Carpets, fall under contents, they always have and always will. Although they are “fitted” you can easily pick them up and take them with you when you go.

If you have a contents policy, please make sure that you have an item on it for tenants improvements that you may be responsible for. If you are in any doubt, please speak to your business insurance broker for advice on what you need, and can, cover.

Office insurance is one of the many types of cover that UK insurers have many years of experience in underwriting. As a result, many, if not all, have designed a standard package type policy, for most types of risks. However, as many of us have found, whether you are talking about financial services or buying a physical product, not everyone falls into the neat compartments that companies would prefer. Who has not tried to get some form of car insurance and found the person on the other end of the phone saying, “I cannot find a category for you or your vehicle” or, worse still, “that postcode does not exist on my database”.

Business insurance companies are a more flexible and although we talk about package policies, there is still sufficient human intervention to allow you to get the right product at the right price. So, to the question of whether to take a package or not? In our experience, in over 90% of cases, a package is a suitable product. You only tend to need, or have a requirement, for a bespoke policy if you are undertaking wider activities than would normally be expected on an office (ie a computer consultant who undertakes heavy cabling work) or if your sums insured are sufficiently high to warrant an individually underwritten policy.

Most packages are for a total sum insured, including buildings if applicable, of up to £5,000,000. If the sums insured are in excess of this, then it is usually better, price wise, to get a bespoke commercial combined policy. The individual nature of these policies mean that the underwriters can effectively pick and choose the correct pricing to make them more competitive.

If you are offered a package, for whatever trade, you do still need to discuss with a business insurance broker whether it offers exactly what you need. Potentially some of the limits on the package may not be at a sufficient level for you and may need increasing. Usually with an office policy, you need to specify any portable equipment, ie smart phones and laptops. These need to be covered either in the UK, EU or Worldwide. Only through a thorough discussion wi

Some of the best businesses in the world started out from humble beginnings. Usually this means working part-time initially, or from a home address. Then, as the business gets bigger and bigger you may choose to do the work full time and move to a commercial premises.

If you are at that start up stage and you are doing an office or non-manual role, you will probably be working from home. Nowadays, there are very few businesses that can trade, in a clerical environment, without any form of technology. This is where you need to consider home office insurance.

If you have a current policy for your house buildings and/or contents, this will be in either your name or joint names if you live with a partner. Therefore, any loss that you suffer, for physical damage to contents, will only be for contents that you, or your partner, have legal ownership of. This is basic stuff, you have a insurance policy for property that you own. You cannot take out a policy on your next door neighbours TV for example, because it is not yours.

Now, think about your home based business. If you buy assets in the name of the business, whether or not it is a limited company, then they are not covered under your house policy. This will be in the name of Mr A Smith, whereas the limited company is in a different name. So, if the business buys a laptop for £2,000 and you drop it, your house insurers will ask fro proof of purchase . When this comes through in the business name, they will not pay the claim.

You can get specialist “business from home” cover, with prices starting around £75 per annum. To get one of these, you will need to speak to an independent business insurance broker. Explain to them how your business is set up, and they will advise you on the legal requirements, if any, and other covers that you can purchase.