
What to do if an insurance company insists on security or risk improvements
An insurer may insist on certain security (or risk improvement) requirements at your premises, such as new locks that conform to a particular standard that they specify.
You may already comply
Check first to see if you already comply with the requirement. You may well do, in which case you need do no more.
And if you don't comply
If you don’t already comply, and you need to have further equipment installed:
- Make sure you understand exactly what the insurer requires. Ask your broker or insurer to clarify if you are in any doubt.
- If you cannot comply with the requirement immediately, ask how long you have in which to carry out the work. Make sure you are allowed a reasonable period – this can often be negotiated, especially if you will be dependent on suppliers or installers. Make sure too that you are fully insured throughout this period.
- Sometimes, when you get down to actually carrying out the work, you may find that a risk improvement is impossible to implement – or at least is extremely difficult. If so, tell the broker or insurer and explain why. Ask the insurer to lift their requirement for the risk improvement to be implemented.