What type of Insurance (House/ Smallholder)?

[Squeak]

We've been given varying advice over the last couple of years by companies as to whether normal house insurance covers our property or whether we need smallholders insurance.

We've got a house with a couple of stables and barns and a couple of acres. We don't generate any income from it and only have our own animals. Do we need smallholders insurance or is normal house insurance ok? There's quite a big difference in cost between the two.

 

[Polos Mum]

What are you looking to insure against / for ?

Public liability (which even if you don't allow the 'public' on your land is still relevant as they can come on uninvited and have an accident!) - worth checking with your current provider.
Esp important if you have any foot paths etc. over the land.

Replacement for the farm buildings probably isn't covered on 'normal' policy - fire risk is most likely - maybe wind.
if the buildings burned down how would you replace them - vs. what is the risk of a catastrophic fire?

Loss of hay / bedding if you have loads of that but most don't have £10k's worth of that.

Ask the broker who's suggesting a more expensive policy what circumstances they actually want you to cover. If they can't tell you then you're probably OK.

We accept the risk on the school / barns as it's hard to think how they could catch fire / blow away (not wood built)

 

[Squeak]

What are you looking to insure against / for ?

Public liability (which even if you don't allow the 'public' on your land is still relevant as they can come on uninvited and have an accident!) - worth checking with your current provider.
Esp important if you have any foot paths etc. over the land.

Replacement for the farm buildings probably isn't covered on 'normal' policy - fire risk is most likely - maybe wind.
if the buildings burned down how would you replace them - vs. what is the risk of a catastrophic fire?

Loss of hay / bedding if you have loads of that but most don't have £10k's worth of that.

Ask the broker who's suggesting a more expensive policy what circumstances they actually want you to cover. If they can't tell you then you're probably OK.

We accept the risk on the school / barns as it's hard to think how they could catch fire / blow away (not wood built)

My main concern would be theft from the outbuildings as we keep tack and power tools etc in them. I'd like them to be covered for storm damage/ rebuild as well. I'm not too bothered about loss of hay and bedding as we don't normally store huge amounts of them.

The brokers have been vague and contradictory. The smallholders policies seem to cover employing people and being a business, which seems completely inappropriate/ OTT but then as you mentioned I'm not confident the household insurance would cover the rebuild of outbuildings or replacing of their contents.

Good point re public liability (although it does seem bonkers to have to insure against people who shouldn't be there), we luckily don't have a footpath so it should be more for just in case.

 

[HopOnTrot]

Lloyd and Whyte are good, we used them and they covered outbuildings and horse stuff. Definitely worth speaking to them.

 

[Polos Mum]

Your current policy almost certainly won't cover rebuild of stables or content stored in them / tack rooms.

Speak to a good broker who should be able to get you a specific policy for kit / tack rather than a broad brush 'small holder' policy that will have lots of irrelevant stuff.

The trick is to work out whether you are able to comply with policy terms. Many tack room policies require certain types of door locks / bars on windows etc. that aren't practical.
We insure the tractor (as it goes on the road) but the requirements to secure all the kit that goes with it were so onerous we don't bother. Sods law the one day I don't lock it in the insurance approved away would be the one day it goes walkies.

It may also be worth speaking to current home insurer - esp about power tools - if you can designate an outbuilding as a 'garage' then it might be covered. But same caveats about suitable locks etc.

For tack and small value but annoying to replace stuff prevention is better than cure - as I'm sure you know.

I keep saddles in the house so they are definitely covered and really that's the most stealable item that would be a complete pain to replace.