Working from home and insurance

dreaddan

I'm looking at house insurance again (always fun) and now that I'm gong to be working from home I'm wondering what the correct answer to the question about business use.
I've spoken to a agent about it but they kept saying that as I'm self-employed I need to say it's clerical use.
But as I'm employed by another company (directly, full-time) that's not the case..
I've also spoken to another agency who say that as a computer programmer thats not clerical use but cant tell me what use it is.

So has any one got any ideas?
Also what does it give and cover for the extra 100 quid a year?

Cheers
Dan

dacouch

Are you speaking to brokers ?

dreaddan

Yep have spoken to 2 brokers who i have a feeling is the same company given how poor they were

dunstonh

I've spoken to a agent about it but they kept saying that as I'm self-employed I need to say it's clerical use.

Self employment or employment doesnt have much to do with it. its what you do at home that matters. So, if its employed clerical work or self employed clerical work then its largely treated the same.

Clerical work is often covered within a normal household policy (although you should check). Its when you keep stock or have visitors or require liability cover that you find you need a homeworker policy. Also, the level of office equipment can have an impact as well.

So has any one got any ideas?

use a local broker. dont use an insurance company agent.

Also what does it give and cover for the extra 100 quid a year?

don't know. You havent said what the terms of the proposed policy are.

dacouch

Who owns the equipment you use in your home eg you or your employer

dreaddan

dunston: cheers ill have a look to see if theres any local to me.
I think that that the agent that kept saying i was self-employed either didnt understand or was trying to push a more expensive policy.
I wouldnt have thought it would make any diffrence personly.
I've not managed to get a clarifiaction about what clerical work is yet thugh I've spoen to 2 more agents 1 says to put it down as domestic use and the other as clerical..

dacouch: Currently I do for the short term but they will do in a few months.

Cheers
Dan

dacouch

It sounds like you're using national chain brokers eg Swintons etc whose staff tend go have a limited insurance knowledge.

Try a olde worlde local high street broker.

Personally I would class programming as clerical work as it is sedentary http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sedentary, however I (As should any broker worth his salt) ring and confirm it with the Insurer they use.

There are plenty of Insurers who have recognised there is a significant amount of the population who work from home for their employer either all the time or part of their time. These companies have worded their policies to cover this and include cover for your home working equipment that you own. There are some that will cover business equipment owned by your company, it would be prudent to advise the broker that the ownership of the equipment may change in the future. Many of these Insurers make no extra charge for this cover.

As Duntonh mentioned it can make a difference if you have business visitors to your home.

If you need to find a good local broker, you can find one here http://www.biba.org.uk/ConsumerHome.aspx

dreaddan

Cheers I'll have a look.
There will never be any business visitors due to the nature of the business i will travel to the customer or office.
Cheers

olly300

It's counted in the same category as clerical work - I work in the same industry and know others who do.

If you own any of the equipment then you can easily find well know names who will ensure business equipment up to the value of about £5,000 within a normal contents insurance policy. If your employer owns the equipment then they need to insure it. Off my head Post Office and the AA offer polices that will cover you however some of their policies don't hence reading the small print is very important.

dreaddan

Cheeres I've spoken to 2 brokers who have been supprised that any one has said that it's not clerical work.morethan
Royal Sun Alliance & Morethan seem to be coming up the best for us via a broker/comparison site (in that order).

Cheers guys