Home insurance - Buildings vs. contents cover

Your home is likely to be the most expensive purchase you’ll ever make so it’s important to insure it properly. Having the right type of cover in place means your property will be protected for a range of incidents, from burglary to a burst pipe.

Buildings insurance explained
Buildings insurance covers the permanent fixtures and fittings of a property, such as baths and toilets, fitted kitchens, and even decorations such as wallpaper. It may also provide cover for your garage, greenhouse or gar...

Don’t fall for a financial scam

Official bodies are warning consumers of an increase in scams designed to prey on people’s coronavirus fears.

Statistics from Action Fraud reveal that over £16m was lost to online shopping fraud during lockdown. In some scams consumers purchased goods online that never arrived. Others targeted animal lovers who lost nearly £300k in just two months after putting down deposits on non-existent pets advertised online.

Get scam savvy
Being familiar with the most common scams is essential to recognizing the dange...

2020 spending review at a glance

• Forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) show the economy will contract by 11.3% this year
• It may take until the end of 2022 for the economy to return to its pre-pandemic size
• GDP will grow by 5.5% next year, 6.6% in 2022, 2.3% in 2023, 1.7% in 2024 and 1.8% in 2025
• The budget deficit will be £394bn this year
• Borrowing will remain at £164bn next year
• Pay rises for the public sector will be paused next year (There will be an exemption for more than 1 million nurses and doctors in the N...

On 17 November the FCA confirmed guidance for homeowners struggling financially due to coronavirus. The mortgage payment holidays scheme, first announced in March and then extended in May, has been further extended until 31 March 2021.

How does it work?

• Those who have not yet had a payment holiday will be eligible for payment holidays of 6 months in total.
• Those who currently have a payment holiday will be eligible to top up to 6 months in total.
• Those who have previously had payment deferrals of less than 6 months will be able to top ...

Flexible insurance for when you need it

It's all too easy for us to put our head in the sand when it comes to thinking about our protection requirements. People tend to find it challenging to engage with the topic as it involves thinking of negative potential scenarios. In reality, this is the reason to put it to the top of your ‘to-do list’. Life is hopefully rosy but being prepared for any eventuality is truly priceless.

One important type of protection worth serious consideration is accident and injury cover. Life’s an adventure, we don...

Getting mortgage-ready

Buying a home takes careful preparation and planning. As well as finding a property you like, you need to get your finances in good order before lenders review them and assess your ability to make repayments on your loan.

Save up

During the recent lockdown, many lenders pulled their ‘high loan-to-value (LTV)’ products which typically only require a deposit of 5% or 10% (often first-time buyers) to take out a mortgage. The good news is that lenders are returning to the high LTV market, but you may need to act quickly...

Check your existing income protection policy

Insurance brokers have reported an increase in enquiries about income protection cover since the pandemic outbreak, with people concerned about becoming ill and being unable to continue working, or worried about losing their jobs.

Income protection explained
Income protection policies provide a monthly payment (payable after a waiting period) to help replace your income if you are unable to work because of an accident, illness or involuntary redundancy. Short-term income protection policies will...

Protecting your business in difficult times

During the past few months, millions of businesses have been forced to shut temporarily, with employees furloughed or working from home under very difficult circumstances.

With various business sectors reopening in July, many have suffered significant financial damage due to lockdown. For some businesses, productivity has been lost due to illness and self-isolation, while others have lost key personnel or shareholders, leaving a question mark hanging over their future.

Don’t leave your business ...

Exchanging contracts? Get insured first

Purchasing a property can be a busy, stressful time and it can seem like there are a million things to remember. Some things however, are more important to remember than others – for example, getting the right insurance in place at the right time.

Many people believe that they only need to take out buildings insurance once they move into their new home. However, this is not the case. It can come as a surprise to find out that, in most cases, the responsibility for insuring the property becomes the bu...