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Have you done enough to protect your unoccupied buildings during the COVID-19 outbreak?

Jun 04, 2020
Views: 927

Business Insurance Commercial Property Insurance General Insurance

The COVID-19 outbreak has had a global impact on SMEs, either forcing them to close operations entirely or making their employees work from home. The result is that many buildings are now left unoccupied, a situation that currently has no end in sight. Whilst SMEs are being faced with a host of challenges during this time, one issue that might slip under the radar is the problem of unoccupied buildings. Specifically, what are you doing to protect your empty buildings?

The vast majority of SMEs should already have some form of insurance policy in place that covers the loss of their physical business assets (for example Property Insurance). However, given that buildings are now unoccupied, what can SMEs do to protect their assets and reduce their risks further?

Strategies to protect unoccupied buildings

Malicious damage, fire and theft pose a significant threat to commercial buildings at the best of times, but in today’s volatile climate, these threats can be heightened. Combustible items, fuel and waste materials can be very attractive to arsonists, and copper and lead are very attractive to thieves. If the building is unoccupied, but still retains all your furnishings, computers and stock, it’s often too much of a temptation to thieves and arsonists.

To help reduce your risk of malicious damage, theft and arson, SMEs need to consider the security of their unoccupied buildings. It’s a good idea to regularly check for damage and continue to perform maintenance as required, so that the buildings don’t look abandoned, acting as a lodestone to criminals. There are other measures however, that also need to be taken to ensure the safety of anyone who legally enters the buildings. So let’s take a look at some of these strategies.

Protecting unoccupied buildings from arson

Remove all combustible materials from inside and outside the buildings, securely storing any that can’t be removed. Turn off gas, water and electricity, unless they are essential for maintaining fire or motion detector alarms, and redirect all postal services. Seal the letterbox so that unsolicited letter drops don’t collect and overflow the area, providing both combustible material and notice that the building is unoccupied.

Protecting authorised visitors in unoccupied buildings

The longer the building is unoccupied, the more likely authorised visitors will need access to the buildings. Their health and safety should be a priority, so these visitors should be accompanied and the details of their visits, along with entry and exit times, recorded. If there are any unsafe areas within the buildings, these should be taped off with adequate signage, and lighting should be available.

Protecting unoccupied buildings with additional security measures

Ensure that all doors, roller doors and windows are locked and install padlocks if appropriate. Install protective boards across windows, install external lighting and CCTV cameras. It’s also a good idea to hire security guards and inform the local council, police and fire brigade that your building is unoccupied. You should also inform your insurance provider, so that they can ensure that your current policy is sufficient to cover your changed circumstances.

Management Liability Insurance

Management Liability insurance is designed to provide protection to both the business and its directors or officers for claims of wrongful acts in the management of the business.

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Business Insurance

A business insurance pack can provide cover for your business premises and contents, against loss, damage, theft or financial loss from an insured interruption to the business.

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Business Package

Purchase up to six products under one Business Insurance Package.

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To discuss whether your building is covered, or to seek more advice, talk to Steven Thomas today.

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General Advice Warning: This advice is general and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the advice is appropriate for you and your personal circumstances. Before you make any decision about whether to acquire a certain product, you should obtain and read the relevant product disclosure statement.

All information above has been provided by the author.

Steven Thomas