Temporary Cover Enhancements for charities and not-for-profit organisations (May 2020)

(This does not apply to premises that were unoccupied before the outbreak or that close down permanently which will be deemed Unoccupied as defined in the policy and be subject to the normal unoccupied premises terms and conditions as set out in your policy)

Buildings that are temporarily closed / no longer in regular use are exposed to different and usually greater risk than occupied premises and premises that are open for regular trading. 

Our standard policies define “unoccupied” premises and apply standard restrictions in cover and conditions precedent to cover that need to be complied with. Normally a higher premium is charged on unoccupied premises.

To ensure customers are not unduly penalised for temporary closures solely due to the COVID-19 outbreak the following applies to affected premises:

• Unoccupied premises cover restrictions will not apply to Temporarily Closed premises
• Temporarily Closed premises will benefit from 

-no reduction in the level of policy cover 

-no increase in excesses 

-no increases in premium

• Provided the Insured complies with the following which details appropriate risk management practices (and is less stringent than the unoccupied premises condition)

Temporarily Closed means premises temporarily closed solely due to the COVID-19 outbreak (and such premises will not be regarded as unoccupied as defined in the Policy). 

In respect of Temporarily Closed premises the following risk management measures should be implemented as far as is possible:

(1) where there will be no need to re-enter the premises during the period of temporary closure you must turn off electricity gas and water supplies at the mains (and where reasonable to do so drain down water systems) other than those services required to maintain 

• critical business infrastructure required to allow the continuance of the organisations operations and support temporary home working arrangements 
• intruder alarms 
• fire alarms 
• sprinkler installations other fire suppression security or 
• other risk protection systems or devices 

(2) you must maintain in full and efficient working order and keep operational all 

• alarms 
• sprinkler installations 
• fire suppression systems 
• locks and all other protective and security devices including gates and other perimeter security protection at the premises 

(3) where water systems have not been drained down and / or where there is a sprinkler installation you must maintain the central heating system to prevent freezing and 

i. the sprinkler system should be inspected to ensure it is operating correctly whenever such buildings are inspected 

ii. the temperature throughout the building must be maintained at not less than 7 degrees Centigrade (45 degrees Fahrenheit) 

iii. where annual servicing and maintenance is due the sprinkler system must be serviced and maintained as soon as circumstance permit by an appropriately qualified engineer 

(4) you must 

i. remove all internal waste and 

ii. position all external bins as at least 5 metres from the buildings (or otherwise as far as possible where this is not possible) and secure the bins in position where this is possible 

(5) Provided any travel required to carry out an inspection is in line with the latest government advice you must undertake an internal and external inspection of such buildings at least every 7 days and 

i. rectify as soon as is reasonably possible any defects in the fabric of the building or any protective or security devices or installations 

ii. maintain a record of inspections including the remedy of any defects 

iii. remove accumulations of post from the letterbox during each inspection and take any other action to ensure the premises cannot be easily identified as unused or closed down 

Where government travel advice does not allow the necessary travel to complete an inspection the need for an inspection is deferred until travel restrictions are lifted to a level that allows inspections to re-commence 

(6) you must put in place contingency plans in case the primary person(s) carrying out weekly inspections or responding to alarm activations need to self-isolate or are ill so that weekly inspections and alarm activation responses can be maintained by another appointed person 

(7) you must tell us as soon as you become aware of any illegal entry to the premises whether or not any damage has occurred 

(8) you must review and update your risk assessment (including the fire risk assessment) of such buildings to reflect the temporary change in risk 

Unless otherwise agreed or varied by us in writing.