It may seem that horror stories of shops underwater or being damaged by high winds are becoming more regular, but whatever the cause, when you’re there in the moment, opening up a shop that’s been affected, it may seem overwhelming.
Hopefully, a good insurance policy will come to your aid. Insurers are all-too familiar with bad weather and the havoc it can wreak, and should be prepared for events like storm Éowyn which has ravaged the North of Ireland and Scotland in recent hours.
But what should you do if your store is hit by adverse weather and has damage?
Louise Clark, general insurance policy adviser at the Association of British Insurers, said: “An insurers’ priority will be to help affected customers recover as quickly as is practical. If your property or vehicle has been damaged, contact your insurer as soon as you can for help and advice.”
Clark’s advice for anyone affected, after contacting their insurer, is to first assess the damage. An insurer will be able to offer temporary trading spaces if you’ve chosen that type of cover, and will be able to advise on any repairs, or at least the process behind it.
After an initial clean and the stripping out of any damaged items, repair work can begin. “Your loss adjuster will appoint a builder to do the repair and reconstruction work and to keep you updated on expected timeframes,” Clark advises.
“Commercial polices will cover damage to premises and stock. Business interruption cover (which may be included or purchased separately) will cover additional trading costs, such as hiring temporary alternative trading premises if necessary.”
For more information, click here. https://www.abi.org.uk/
Meanwhile, The Federation of Independent Retailers are always on hand to offer advice to anyone who needs it. You can contact them on 020 7017 8880 or by email at contactus@nfrn.org,uk.
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