Impact on home insurance whilst working from home indefinitely

mathewbarrett

Apologies if my question is silly...but I don't know the answer and couldn't find anything similar from searching the forum.
My wife and I are working from home indefinitely during this coronavirus pandemic, and our home insurance has just come due for renewal.  Double-checking the details before seeking new quotes, I was brought to a stop by the box I ticked in previous years which states that the home is not used for business purposes.  
Well, currently it IS being used for business purposes, twice over.  As soon as our offices at work open up again we will be back, but that could be September or later from what we're hearing.  

Does this mean that I have to now buy different home insurance?  Or is there some leeway in what constitutes "business purposes" during this extraordinary time?

Many thanks in advance.

rs65

Most insurers are happy with clerical work at home in normal times. Even more so now.  Most have a statement on their website about it.
If you keep stock at home or have visitors to you home it might be harder.
Might be a problem if you are a welder or woodworker though

davidmcn

Depends on the sort of "business", but if you're just sitting at a desk using a computer/phone, the insurers won't care.

macman

And of course, the house being occupied in the daytime greatly reduces the risk of burglary. 

elsien

I think there's a difference between running a business from home, with visitors, stock, expensive equipment etc and working from home for an employer with them providing your laptop and phone
.
I am a home worker anyway,  and I've not needed extra insurance cover. And I did ask the question when I took the insurance out.