Outdoor Workshop Insurance - Advice Welcome

Morning All,

I am fitting out my wooden 14 x 8' workshop that is at the end of my garden.

Direct Line will cover contents and structure under the house policy to £5k which isn't a lot really and I am concerned about them wriggling out of a claim on what is effectively a bolt-on to the main house policy.

Does anybody (in the UK) have any experience of companies that specialise in workshop insurance where I might be able to get more cover?

Many thanks, Nick

Walker midgely insurance brokers specialise in model and vintage insurance,look up their website and find model engineers insurance ,scroll down to section 4 which covers buildings ,tools.etc I use them for stationary engines and classic tractor.

I am concerned about them wriggling out of a claim on what is effectively a bolt-on to the main house policy.

My strategy, if there's anything unusual to insure, is to use a broker

It costs a bit more through a broker, but if a claim is made they don't get messed about anywhere near as much as a clueless individual does, plus the claim paperwork should all be done by them, once a signed statement form has been submitted by yourself

Don't forget to tell them anything, the broker may not be an expert in insuring private hobby workshops, so write it all down, the structure, locks, contents etc, and bring photos if possible, to show the broker what's being insured

All a bit of a fiddle really

People in the USA have to do this with their private health insurance each year, each contract is unique and it can take days of effort to check what's covered and more importantly, what is not

Most people just take the easy instant bolt-on option and offer a silent prayer up to the god of insurance payouts

Nick,

NFU Mutual has a very decent approach.

MichaelG.

George,

Their declining to quote on your property isn't quite what I had in mind.

... I can only comment based on my own experience.

MichaelG.

Thank you all and especially Nigel.

I have been in touch with Walker Midgely and it is looking good.  Certainly cheaper than insuring my three push bikes!

Regards, Nick

Edited By Nick T on 14/05/2015 18:41:46

I am insured with NFU Mutual and have just been through the annual haggle over premiun rates.

The helpful man I was speaking to confirmed that outbuilding cover was limited to £5000 for contents and that workshop equipment would need to be listed and fairly fully described for consideration by their underwriters to take that further.

Ride on lawn mowers are things NFU understand, lathes, milling machines etc.etc.are outside their experience.

So, maybe Walker Midgeley are a better placed organisation by being more familiar with the sort of things we would want cover for.

Brian

Edited By Brian Wood on 15/05/2015 09:46:54

I used to be with NFU for years for all sorts of insurance. A few years ago they told me they didn't insure pick-ups any more. So I don't deal with them anymore. Have since been told it was a "rogue" agent and should not have happened. So maybe should ask further up the ladder ?

I have also had no success with NFU. As soon as I told them I did welding, didn't want to know.

I asked if farmers never welded on their equipment then but it didn't get thru.

The welding bit is the hardest bit, as soon as you mention hot work they just don't want to know or quote telephone numbers. Not like you are going to burn the place down on purpose is it and doesn't 25 years no claims count ?

Don't mention it and have a claim and you might as well have saved the premiums as it's a let out.

My brother used to own a small garage and worked on a lot of the local plods cars. They always used to park up outside at night on their breaks, soon became known and he never had no problems.

Might be worth while taking Plod and Dennis on a night out piss up with the premium, should think it money better spent.

Try Axa through a broker.

Tony

Would not touch Axa with a barge pole, had to go to the financial services ombudsman when my cooker door shattered whilst we were out.

They tried as hard as they could not to pay out, ombudsman made them pay though after 6 months.

I was with AXA for years and over a 3 year period they hoiked the price X 4.

Went onto a comparison website and low and behold AXA were one of the cheapest, rang them to get a quote and again as soon as welding was mentioned they said they didn't do the engineering trade. When I told them I was with them they denied it.

Now have to use a broker in Birmingham who has to swap me every year as the old company no longer want to do engineering, and this without a claim.

Perhaps I should have said that I haven't claimed off them as yet, also I think all companies will try not to pay out

Tony

Our house insurance is with RIAS. I have spoken with them about the workshop in the garden and they agreed to cover it for max £10.000. Have been thinking about it since and must get round to doing something about it as if it was torched the building alone would cost that to replace without all my stuff inside.

RIAS are now insisting that all house and workshop locks should be of the five lever variety, it cost us much cash recently to upgrade to the five lever type from four.

I have been told that most insurers also now stipulate the five lever type which must mean that a lot of people who only have four lever locks are not adequately covered - might I suggest that not a lot of people know that!

Rik

It's worth talking to Walker Midgely - I use a specialist broker for my PI insurance and it's cheap as chips because they know what they are insuring! Anyone not sure what they are taking on will quote high or refuse.

Neil

Another vote for Walker Midgley here. When I got started with my workshop (OK, first time I had a workshop that was 'mine' I had the bright idea of adding it to the house insurance. This idea came to a dramatic halt when I got the reply "what's a lathe?" when opening negotiations. Images of the total farce that might come if I ever had to claim flooded into my brain. This idea was shut down quickly.

One thing I would say (and I can't take credit for this, the idea came from a colleague) is get photos of not just the machines, but the contents of every cupboard, drawer, cabinet and shelf. It may not be 100%coverage, but (in his case) it was enough to convince them he was being honest about the value of the contents in the event (god forbid) of a claim. I get photos of any expensive new arrivals (also because it's the last time they'll be that clean and shiny).

Owain