ALLIANZ Covid-19 Update

With the ongoing COVID-19 situation, we appreciate that you may still have to leave your premises temporarily unoccupied. As the world adapts to the ‘new normal’, insurers continue to monitor the situation and update policy wording to ensure that your property remains adequately covered during these difficult times. Below is their most recent update.

We previously extended the period before a premises was classed as unoccupied to 90 days. As lockdown and travel restrictions have started to ease we’re amending our approach as follows:

Premises still in Government enforced lockdown – If you are still unable to open for business due to the Government enforced lockdown, the unoccupancy condition on your policy will apply, but there’ll be no restriction in cover and we will not charge an additional premium for the unoccupied period. You do not need to notify us that your premises are unoccupied.

Premises where lockdown has been lifted – If you are able to open for business under Government guidelines, please inform us if your premises are to remain unoccupied. The unoccupancy condition on your policy will apply for these premises including any cover restrictions; however we will not charge an additional premium for the unoccupied period.

Policyholders who are shielding – If you are unable to meet the unoccupancy condition on your policy because you’re shielding and no one else from the business is able to attend the premises, you do not need to comply with the condition. You do not need to notify us of any non-compliance with the unoccupancy condition. We will not restrict cover and we will not charge an additional premium for the unoccupied period.

Government or local travel guidance – Where Government or local travel guidance means that travelling to unoccupied premises would breach regulations, we understand that complying with the unoccupancy conditions will not be possible.

Unoccupancy conditions: From 30 June 2020, we expect you to take all necessary steps to protect your premises, including complying with your policy’s unoccupancy condition. Where this isn’t possible for any reason (except for shielding and government or local travel guidance), please let us know (Note from Dixons – Please contact us on 01727 736 970) and we’ll look to reach a reasonable conclusion.

Where it isn’t feasible for you to comply, we will show flexibility, including:

• we’ll consider ‘immediately’ to mean ‘where practicable’ where the condition stipulates ensuring that any defects in the condition or state of repair of the building or any defects in security, alarm or fire protection installations are rectified, remedied or repaired immediately

If you would like to discuss the above, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01727 736 970 and we will be happy to assist you.