Fire
Heatwave and drought – Swiss Re boss urges adaptation
“Insurance helps households and businesses recover, while pricing risk can inform decisions about where to invest. But it cannot make up for avoidable damage. This can only be achieved through reducing the risk itself through careful adaptation.”
Home insurance premiums tick down in Q1 – ABI
Household property premiums fell in the first quarter of the year, the fourth drop in a row according to the Association of British Insurers.
Interview: Tigi Singhateh and Adrian Best, Invicta Insurance Services
Since coming on board in 2022, Invicta Insurance Services’ leaders have doubled the size of the business, despite having to deal with a fraudster. With the now ex-employee jailed and the case firmly behind them, they are targeting doubling again.
Axa urges brokers to warn customers on solar panel fire risk
Axa UK has warned customers on the risk of fires caused by solar panels and highlighted the need for using a reputable installer and regular maintenance.
UK economic losses from natural catastrophes hit $800m in 2024 – Swiss Re
UK economic losses caused by natural catastrophes reaching $800m (£596.6m) in 2024 has shone a spotlight on the urgent need to strengthen resilience against future events, according to Swiss Re.
Allianz warns motor traders on EV batteries with guidance for brokers
Allianz UK has warned motor traders on the high risks and costs of Electric Vehicle battery fires, as it offered risk management guidance to brokers and policyholders.
Video Q&A: Hiscox head of private art and private clients Robert Read
Following the High Net Worth Forum, which was held on the 7th November in London, Insurance Age content director Jonathan Swift caught up with sponsor Hiscox’s head of art and private clients Robert Read, to discuss the state of the market.
Brokers to warn businesses on lithium-ion batteries
Brokers should urge businesses to take steps to manage the risks that lithium-ion batteries can present, according to guidance from Aviva.
Blog: Sheltering customers from the storm
Caroline Elliott-Grey, senior product manager for the UK and Ireland at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, addresses the changing environmental risks and the opportunities for brokers from geospatial intelligence data.
Blog: Questions need to be asked around solar panel fire risks
With reports of the number of solar panel fires rising six-fold in recent years, RiskSTOP’s head of technical risk engineering & surveys, Paul Farmer, suggests insurers and brokers need to start asking questions around maintenance, inspections and more.
Body cameras improve claims dispute times and pricing – Axa’s Barnett
Body cameras help decrease the length of claims disputes involving brokers according to Dougie Barnett, director of customer risk management and midmarket at Axa UK.
Brokers urged to warn businesses as fire brigade ends automatic alarm response
Axa Commercial has advised London businesses to review their fire risk assessments and staff training after London Fire Brigade announced it would no longer respond to daytime activations of automatic fire alarms in most non-residential buildings from…
Blog: Why building safety case reports can be the gold dust for everyone
The evolution of construction techniques and material mean it is more important than ever that brokers don’t lose sight of the need for comprehensive building information. Julian Strutt, director of estate adjusting at Charles Taylor explains.
Brokers told to act now over BT Redcare closure
Brokers should alert clients about the closure of BT’s Redcare signalling system next year, and need to find an alternative supplier as soon as possible to avoid “installation bottlenecks”, insurers have warned.
Waste management and recycling plant insurance – a market short on capacity
Media stories of massive premium hikes highlight issues in the waste management and recycling insurance market.
Brokers pledge to stop sharing building commissions and cap fees
Five top 100 UK broking groups have pledged to end sharing building insurance commissions with landlords and to cap fees. However, many others have not signed up including Gallagher UK who has refused to back the pledge in its existing version over…
Blog: Three event insurance trends not to be ignored in 2024
From civil commotion to climate change and changes in the duty of protection, event organisers and their brokers have a lot to consider when placing insurance next year. Rob Carslake, head of event insurance, Hiscox UK, offers some guidance to those…
Ecclesiastical UK & Ireland COR balloons to 106.6%
Ecclesiastical Insurance’s combined operating ratio in the UK and Ireland shot up to 106.6% in the first half of 2023 from 94.5% in the same period of 2022.
Biba urges Government to bring forward ban on sharing property commission
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association urged the Government to bring forward legislation to ban the sharing of commission with property managing agents, freeholders and landlords to create a ‘level playing field and avoid an early mover penalty’.
SRG buys Consort Insurance
Specialist Risk Group has bought mid-market commercial broker, Consort Insurance, subject to regulatory approval.
Insurance Cares: Broker helps launch home contents cover aimed at closing premium poverty gap
ECH Facilities has launched a home insurance policy in partnership with the Salvation Army to help people with lower incomes to protect their contents.