Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When is the Overseas office open?

Q: Will I have to listen to numerous automated messages before I speak to a person?

Q: What are the policy excesses?

Q: Is immediate cover available?

Q: How can I pay for my policy?

Q: Is there any legal liability cover included?

Q: What do you mean by standard construction?

Q: In the event of a claim who would I contact?

Q: If I have to visit my property abroad to sort out a claim will I have to pay my expenses?

Q: Will the value of my overseas property be the amount I need to insure it for?

Q: What does Buildings insurance cover?

Q: What does Contents insurance cover?

Q: What amount do I need to insure my home and contents for?

Q: Who are the underwriters of the policy?

Q: Are the taxes applicable to the insurance for my Overseas Property included or will we have to pay them separately?

Q: If I wish to live in my overseas holiday home on a permanent basis, can you still offer cover on the home and contents?

Q: Can I increase the insured sums on my holiday home insurance after the policy has commenced?

Q: Will my holiday home insurance cover me for loss of use?

Q: Will I be covered if my apartment is damaged by fire or escape of water from an adjoining apartment?

Q: Does the policy provide accidental damage cover?

Q: Can you include accidental damage to cover damage caused by tenants?

Q: Will the policy you provide cover me for accidental damage to domestic supplies?

Q: If I sell my holiday home, can I expect to receive a refund for the remaining insurance period?

Q: How can I renew my policy?

Q: Can I insure more than one property?

Q: Are you able to insure my holiday home even though I am not a British citizen?

Q: I am concerned about terrorism - does your policy include cover for this?

Q: Do you insure an overseas mobile home or static caravan?

Q: When is the Overseas office open?

A: The overseas insurance office is open five days a week; 9am to 6pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 5pm on Fridays. If you require contact outside of these hours, please contact us to advise a convenient time and we will be more than happy to accommodate you. The Overseas office telephone number is: 0845 8 620 759

Q: Will I have to listen to numerous automated messages before I speak to a person?

A: No! All calls are answered by a person, in the UK without any automated messages

Q: What are the policy excesses?

A: Dependant on the underwriter the usual policy excess is £100 for each loss or damage claim

Q: Is immediate cover available?

A: Yes. Just ring us and cover will be confirmed. If you are completing and need proof of insurance urgently, we can send you your schedule via fax or email.

Q: How can I pay for my policy?

A: Customers can either pay by cheque (made payable to Underwood Insurance Services), with a Debit/Credit Card via our secure server or over the telephone. We only accept the following credit and debit cards: Visa, MasterCard, Delta, Switch, Maestro and Solo. There is no additional charge for paying by credit or debit card.For some policies interest free credit over twelve months is available payable from a UK bank account.

Q: Is there any legal liability cover included?

A: Overseas public liability protection is essential if you let your property even if it's to a friend or family, many management companies insist on proof of cover before they will let you property. Claims for third party liability i.e. claims from members of the public or domestic employees also holidaymakers are automatically covered for minimum indemnity of £5M for any occurrence, plus legal costs and expenses.

In litigious times this cover will protect you if for example a guest slips in the shower causing injury, and decides to take legal action, providing negligence is proved.Often holiday home insurance arranged overseas do not include sufficient liability protection. Bulgaria insurance includes low levels of liability protection, with some policies only including €1000 Euros protection.

Q: What do you mean by standard construction?

A: Holiday home insurance definition of standard construction properties is the same as properties in the UK i.e. they are built of stone, brick, concrete with a tiled roof, slate or other non combustible materials.

We can offer quotations for properties that are not standard construction, simply request a quotation and provide details of the construction in the additional information area.

Q: In the event of a claim who would I contact?

A: If you need to make a claim you will only need to deal with our claims dept in the UK. The claims department will liaise with loss adjusters (if they are required) and will keep you fully informed of the progress of your claim.

Q: If I have to visit my property abroad to sort out a claim will I have to pay my expenses?

A: The policy provides a minimum of £1,000 Emergency Travel cover, often increased to £1,500 which will assist your hotel and flight costs providing the damage is as a result of an insured peril, and likely to exceed £1,500

Q: Will the value of my overseas property be the amount I need to insure it for?

A: No, the sums insured need to be based on the rebuild cost and not the purchase price, as often the location of a property accounts for a large percentage of the purchase price

Q: What does Buildings insurance cover?

A: Building insurance covers against damage to your building, outbuildings and fixture and fittings (including fitted kitchens and fitted air conditioning units); arising from perils (cause of damage) e.g. fire, lightening, explosion, earthquake, theft, storm, smoke, escape of water, riot & civil commotion, impact and accidental damage to fixed glass, sanitary fittings, underground pipes and cable

Q: What does Contents insurance cover?

A: Contents insurance cover for damage to furniture, furnishings, utensils and domestic appliances (not fitted), outdoor items (within the boundary of your property) belonging to you arising from perils (cause of damage) e.g. fire, lightening, explosion, earthquake, theft, storm, smoke, escape of water, riot & civil commotion, impact, freezer contents, replacement locks, alternative accommodation, loss of metered oil and water.

Q: What amount do I need to insure my home and contents for?

A: Buildings- It is very important that you insure the buildings for the re-build cost, which should include the main dwelling, any fixtures & fittings, outbuildings, site clearance and professional fees etc. The cost needs to be sufficient to rebuild balconies and patios. You may be able to obtain this information from your surveyor or your agent.

Contents- Your contents should be insured for the full replacement cost as your policy is on a "New for old Basis", with depreciation only being taken into account for items of clothing

Q: Who are the underwriters of the policy?

A: The policy will be underwritten by one of our chosen suppliers, both based in the UK being regulated and governed by the FSA, which provides total security.

Q: Are the taxes applicable to the insurance for my Overseas Property included or will we have to pay them separately?

A: All local taxes are included within the quoted premium and the underwriters are responsible for paying them to the appropriate countries.

Q: If I wish to live in my overseas holiday home on a permanent basis, can you still offer cover on the home and contents?

A: Yes, we would be able to offer more extensive cover for Overseas Holiday Homes that are now used as your main residence.

Q: Can I increase the insured sums on my holiday home insurance after the policy has commenced?

A: Yes you can change your sums insured, you would only be charged pro-rata for the remaining term of the policy.

Q: Will my holiday home insurance cover me for loss of use?

A: Yes, the cover includes loss of rent due or additional costs of accommodation in the event of the residence becoming unusable, provided the damage is caused by an insured peril.

Q: Will I be covered if my apartment is damaged by fire or escape of water from an adjoining apartment?

A: Yes, your insurance company will handle the claim and if appropriate attempt to recover their costs from the negligent party.

Q: Does the policy provide accidental damage cover?

A: Full accidental damage cover can be provided as an optional extra provided the property is occasionally occupied by you as well as tenanted on a short term basis.

Accidental damage beyond the standard cover of fixed glass and sanitary fittings that is included in all policies is not available on investment only properties.

Q: Can you include accidental damage to cover damage caused by tenants?

A: If the holiday home is to be rented short term and used occasionally by you and your family we can include accidental damage cover to extend to tenants. The excess level for these claims is either the amount shown on your policy schedule or the deposit paid by your tenant, whichever is greater.

Q: Will the policy you provide cover me for accidental damage to domestic supplies?

A: Yes, the cost of repairing accidental damage to domestic oil pipes, underground cables, underground water supply and gas pipes for which you are legally responsible is included. Limit of indemnity will vary dependant on the policy wording.

Q: If I sell my holiday home, can I expect to receive a refund for the remaining insurance period?

A: Yes you may be entitled to a refund depending on how long the insurance has been in force and whether you have made a claim

Q: How can I renew my policy?

A: Approximately 3 weeks before your policy expires we will send you a renewal invitation, which will detail the terms (including the premium) renewal is offered at, how to pay and contact details should you have any queries. If your premium is not received by the renewal date a renewal reminder will be sent.

Policies can be renewed securely online via our secure server, which uses advanced encryption technology to ensure your details are safe during transmission. Alternatively please call us direct or email us to confirm you wish to renew your policy and arrange payment of the premium.

If you pay your premium by monthly interest free instalments, this will continue at renewal unless you tell us you no longer require the cover

As we are not tied to one individual underwriter at renewal we will source alternative quotations, and highlight the main differences. You can then make an informed choice as to which cover suits your needs.

Q: Can I insure more than one property?

A: We can offer individual policies or we can accommodate all the properties you own under one policy. We can also offer block of flats cover for small blocks of apartments (less than 15 flats per block)

Q: Are you able to insure my holiday home even though I am not a British citizen?

A: We can offer insurance to customers, immaterial of where you live. However the limitation is the policy is governed by UK law and all policy wordings are prepared in English.

Q: I am concerned about terrorism - does your policy include cover for this?

A: Terrorism is included in most countries including (not limited to) Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Cape Verde, Spain, Slovenia, France, Cyprus, Montenegro & Serbia, etc

Q: Do you insure an overseas mobile home or static caravan?

A: Yes, please use the normal quote form and provide details regarding make of van, construction etc in the additional information box. This cover is offered in Spain, Portugal, France and Eire

Your question not answered? Then please contact us today!