Business insurance, garden office

[TheCyclingProgrammer]

I think a few people on here work from home in purpose built garden offices and was wondering if anyone could give me any pointers on insurance.

I'm getting a posh timber framed garden office built in September. I'm paying for the building out of personal funds and my current home insurer has confirmed that they will cover the building on my existing buildings policy. Their business contents cover is minimal and not sufficient for my needs.

I already have a business policy with Direct Line that covers my employers and public liability, home office contents and portable equipment which is very cheap (about £90 a year) but they will not cover contents in a timber framed outbuilding.

I've tried Hiscox and their quote comes to around £260/year but by default they require premises to be of standard construction (I will give them a ring though as they may still be able to cover).

I've also been in touch with NFU Mutual based on a recommendation. They have been able to supply a quote which will cover a timber garden building, including covering the building itself, for about £400/year which seems expensive to me.

Can anyone recommend somebody else?

 

[Dimo]

I have home contents insurance with Aviva and get garage/outbuildings cover up to £2500 thrown in (for claims of theft only).

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Have you considered a log cabin, when i looked they had many attractions and no need for wall insulations etc.also might be more insurable

 

[TheCyclingProgrammer]

Have you considered a log cabin, when i looked they had many attractions and no need for wall insulations etc.also might be more insurable

No, I'm having a proper insulated building. I want something useable all year round with a proper finish and proper security. A log cabin is not suitable for a permanent garden office.

 

[TheCyclingProgrammer]

I have home contents insurance with Aviva and get garage/outbuildings cover up to £2500 thrown in (for claims of theft only).

Thanks, I have outbuildings cover but as I said in my original post it's not an appropriate level of cover as business equipment cover is minimal at best.

I'm looking for around £4.5k in office contents and £3k in portable equipment cover.

I've had a quote from Hiscox as well which is cheaper than NFU and they have agreed to cover contents in the garden office so seems like the best option so far.

 

[Paul Norman]

I think the Hiscox option probably is best - and it sounds about middle of the road to me. I used to have a garden office much as you describe, and my insurance quest went exactly as yours has.

I suspect that statistically the security and fire precautionary status of a garden office worries the insurers a bit, and even if you have done better than average it is still about those stats!

 

[TheCyclingProgrammer]

Thanks, I agree it's unlikely I will get much better and only heard good things about Hiscox.

I'm just waiting for them to give me a separate buildings quote. My current home insurance will cover it but future insurers may not and I do like to shop around so might be worth having a separate policy.