Given the recent government advice in relation to working from home, we feel that it is relevant to highlight that most business insurance which includes a Property Damage Insurance component (e.g. Office Insurance, Commercial Combined Insurance etc), will also include a condition in relation to the premises being unoccupied for a period of time.  Most commercial policies are rated on the assumption that the premises is occupied throughout business hours during the working week.

We advise that you check your policy, and ensure that your insurer is updated on the status of the occupancy, as per the requirements of any relevant conditions.  Some policies allow for a certain amount of time to elapse before a premises is considered unoccupied, but we would advise checking your exact requirements.

When it is necessary to tell your insurer about a business premises which becomes unoccupied, we recommend that you do so immediately by email, telephone or any other contact method specified in your policy.  Your insurer will typically want to know:

• If the premises is being visited regularly and checked for signs of damage
• If any additional security measures are in place
• If the water and electricity have been turned off at the mains (if electricity needs to be left on to power
• intruder and fire alarms, make this clear)
• The period of intended/expected unoccupancy
• The reason the premises will be unoccupied

We recommend that you ask for confirmation that your cover remains in place and if there is anything else you need to do to ensure that it does.

Whilst the situation is developing and insurers could at some point make special provisions, for the time being we have to assume that policy conditions apply as stated.