Glossary of Terms
Below are Definitions of Terms Used in Insurance
Asbestos
Asbestos asbestos fibres or any derivatives of asbestos
Accidental Damage
Physical damage that occurs unexpectedly and not through wear and tear, breakdown or malfunction.
Aggravated damages
These are damages that are awarded when the behaviour of the insured, or the circumstances of a case; increase the injury to the other person because they are humiliated, distressed or embarrassed.
Act of Terrorism
An act, including the use of force or violence and/or the threat thereof, of any person or group(s) of persons whether acting alone or on behalf of or in connection with any organisation(s) or government(s), committed for political, religious, ideological or similar purposes including the intention to influence any government and/or to put the public or any section of the public in fear.
Bedroom
A room used as or originally built to be a bedroom, even if it is now used for something else.
Bodily Injury
Bodily injury to any person shall include:
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Death illness and disease
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Mental injury, anguish or nervous shock
Broker or Insurance Intermediary
The person or persons who placed an insurance product on behalf of the insured.
Business equipment
Cover for Business equipment that the insured owns. These can include, but not limited to:
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Desktop and laptop computers,
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Keyboards,
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Visual display units,
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Printers,
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Word-processing equipment,
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Desktop publishing units,
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Photocopiers,
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Telecommunication equipment excluding mobile phones
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Office furniture
Computer Viruses
A set of corrupting, harmful or otherwise unauthorised instructions or code including a set of maliciously introduced unauthorised instructions or code, programmatic or otherwise, that propagate themselves through a computer system or network.
Contents Household
Goods and personal property within the home, which are the property of the insured or the insured is legally liable for.
Contract
The agreement with the contractor(s) for work to be carried out on behalf of the insured by way of:
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construction,
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installation,
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extension,
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alteration,
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repair or maintenance.
Contractor(s)
The parties who carry out contract works at the risk address. This includes any Sub-Contractors or any parties that are notified on the contract.
Contract Works
The permanent and temporary activities executed in performance of the contract and site materials and free issue materials for incorporation therein whilst at the risk address.
Costs and Expenses
Costs and expenses recoverable by any claimant from the insured, costs and expenses incurred by the insured or the insureds solicitors fees for the representation at any coroners inquest or fatal accident inquiry or in any court of summary jurisdiction.
Credit cards
Cover for fraudulent use. These can include, but not limited to:
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Charge
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Credit
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Debit and cash cards
Damage
Material loss destruction or Damage
Data
All information which is electronically stored or electronically presented or contained on any current and back up discs tapes or other materials or devices used for the storage of data including but not limited to operating systems records programs software or firmware code or series of instructions
Denial of Service Attack
Any actions or instructions with the ability to Damage interfere with or otherwise affect the availability of Computer Equipment or Data including but not limited to the generation of excess traffic into network addresses the exploitation of System Weaknesses and the generation of excess or non-genuine traffic within between or amongst networks
Domestic employees
A person employed to carry out domestic duties associated within home and not employed by the insured in connection with any business, trade, profession or employment.
Domestic Outbuildings and Garages
Permanent structures that are not attached to the main residence, but are situated on the property grounds. These may include, but not limited to:
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Garages,
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Stables,
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Barns,
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Studios,
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Pool houses and summer houses
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Garden sheds,
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Greenhouses
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Other similar structures
Employee
Any person under a contract of service or apprenticeship for selected place of work by the insured/insured’s firm
Any of the following persons whilst working under supervision or control in connection with the Business
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Any person who is hired to or borrowed by the insured/insured’s firm
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Any person engaged in connection with a work experience training or similar scheme
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Any self-employed person working on a labour only basis
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Any person engaged by a labour only sub-contractor
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Any labour master or person engaged by them
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Any driver or operator of hired-in plant
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Any volunteer helper
Endorsement(s)
A change in the terms and conditions of an insurance policy.
Excess
The amount stated on a schedule or endorsement(s) that the insured will be responsible for paying in the event of each and every claim.
Existing Structure
Any permanent buildings, domestic outbuildings and/or garages at the risk address owned by the insured. These can include, but are not limited to:
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Driveways
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Fixed domestic fuel tanks.
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Fixtures and fittings,
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Fitted Kitchens or Bathroom,
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Gates – Both Electric & Manual
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Hard tennis courts
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Solar Panelling
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Swimming pools & Pool houses
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Underground service pipes
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Walls,
Failure of a System
The complete or partial failure or inability whether in terms of availability functionality and/or performance or otherwise of a System whether Property of the insured’s or not, to operate at any time as desired as specified or as required in the circumstances of the Business
Family
The person you are married to or live with as if you were married, your children, foster children and any other person who permanently lives with you, but not lodgers or any other paying guests.
Fine Art
Collectors’ items, pictures and other works of art, rare and unusual figurines and ornaments.
Free Issue Materials
New materials or items purchased by the insured and/or any reused materials made available for incorporation within the contract works by the contractor(s). The original purchase and replacement values of such free issue materials will need to be noted during the period of insurance.
Garage
A structure originally built for storing a motor vehicle or motor vehicles.
Garden items
Gardening items located outside of the any building, however are still within the boundaries of the home. These may include, but not limited to:
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Flowerbeds
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Hedges
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Lawns
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Potted plants
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Shrubs or trees
Hacking
Unauthorised access to any computer or other equipment or component or system or item which processes stores transmits or retrieves Data whether Property of the Insured or not
Hazardous Trades and Locations
A list of following trades and location that Insurers may deem either hazardous or dangerous. These may include, but are not limited to:
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Demolition unless such work forms part of a contract undertaken for rebuilding, alteration, maintenance or repair
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Excavations exceeding in any part a depth of one metres from the surface
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Collieries mines or quarries
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Chemical works gas works nuclear installations or establishments, oil refineries, petrochemical works, power stations and bulk oil, petrol, gas or chemical storage tanks or chambers
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Construction of or any work undertaken in, on or around the following
i. Blast furnaces Bridges,
ii. Canals, Dams, Docks, Harbours, Piers, Viaducts, Wharves
iii. Chimney shafts,
iv. Railways
v. Roads
vi. Steeples, Towers
vii. Tunnels
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Aircraft airports or airfields
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Watercraft or underwater
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Use of explosives tunnelling or piling work and underpinning
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The following in regards to Asbestos or products made partly, entirely or mainly of Asbestos
i. Removal
ii. Mining
iii. Processing
iv. Manufacturing
v. Distribution
vi. Storage
vii. Disposal
viii. Sampling
ix. Treatment
x. Maintenance or repair
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Mainframe computers or rooms containing mainframe computers
Heave
Upward movement of the ground beneath the foundations.
High-risk Property
A list of items that Insurers may deem to be high risk. These items may impose additional criteria for acceptance. These may include, but are not limited to:
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Binoculars and/or telescopes
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Clocks and/or watches
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Collections of Stamps, coins or medals.
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Fine Art
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Furs
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Goods made from gold, silver and/or other precious metals
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Guns
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Jewellery,
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Musical instruments,
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Photographic equipment
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Precious stones
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Wine
Incident
Any event that might lead to a claim.
Home
The private dwelling, domestic garages and outbuildings at the risk address shown on the schedule.
Index Linking
Whenever a Sum Insured is declared to be subject to Index Linking it is adjusted at annual intervals in line with suitable indices of costs and the renewal premium will be based on the adjusted Sum Insured
Indirect Loss
A loss that is not directly associated with the incident that causes the insured to claim
Injury
Bodily injury death illness disease
Insured
The person or persons named on the schedule as the policyholder.
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Landslip
Downward movement of sloping ground.
Liquidated damages
These are damages where the amount to be paid for failing to keep to the terms of a contract has been agreed by the people involved in the contract, at the time the contract was made.
Negotiable Money
Negotiable money is defined as:
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Current cash, bank and currency notes
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Uncrossed:
i. Cheques
ii. Giro-cheques
iii. Postal Orders
iv. Money orders
v. Bankers drafts
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Unused current postage stamps, Unaffixed national insurance stamps, holiday with pay stamps, trading stamps
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National savings
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Luncheon vouchers
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Mobile phone talk vouchers, Consumer redemption vouchers
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Gift tokens,
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Travel tickets, Validated tickets
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Scratchcards for the national lottery and gaming machine tokens
Non Negotiable Money
Non-Negotiable Money is defined as:
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Crossed:
i. Cheques
ii. Giro-cheques
iii. Postal orders
iv. Money orders
v. Bankers drafts
vi. Giro drafts
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Warrants
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Unexpired units in franking machines
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Stamped national insurance cards, National savings certificates, Premium bonds,
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Credit and Debit card
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Sales vouchers
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VAT purchase invoices
Motor vehicles
Motor Vehicles are defined as, but not limited to:
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Electrically or mechanically propelled or assisted vehicles of all types (whether designed for road use or not).
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This does not include:
i. Domestic garden machinery that does not have to be licensed
ii. Wheelchairs
iii. Registered disabled persons’ buggies that cannot go over 8 miles an hour and which are not licensed for road use
iv. Electrically or mechanically propelled toys and models that cannot go over 8 miles an hour
v. Golf trolleys which are controlled by someone on foot.
Mould
A fungus that produces a superficial growth on various kinds of damp or decaying organic matter. Also includes mould spores and mycotoxins and the scents and other by-products of any of these.
Multiplying compensatory damages
In some areas of the world the amount of money awarded as compensation is sometimes multiplied two, three or more times to act as a punishment against the insured.
Offshore
Any offshore rig offshore platform or offshore installation or support vessel in the sea or tidal waters
Other Party/Parties
Any other party named on the schedule.
Period of Insurance
The length of time the insurance is in force, which has been paid for, and insurers have accepted a premium.
Permanently physically disabled
Permanent incapacity resulting from accidental bodily injury, which medical evidence confirms will last for the rest on the insured’s lifetime and which stops the insured doing any paid job which experience, education or training reasonably qualifies the insured to do.
Personal belongings
Items worn, used or carried by the insured or the insured’s family in daily life, but not money, credit cards or items held or used for business purposes.
Policy
The policy wording as referenced on the schedule. A policy wording will give full details of the cover that the insured has purchased.
Premises
The Premises noted at the address or addresses specified in the Schedule in which the insured occupies for the purposes of either domestic or business.
Products
Goods or other material property which is is no longer in your control or custody, but still have a responsibility for. These may include, but are not limited goods or other material property that have been:
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Manufactured
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Sold
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Supplied
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Hired
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Processed
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Altered
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Treated
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Repaired
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Serviced
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Tested
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Installed
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Constructed
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Erected
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Transported
Projected Turnover
The estimate of the money to be paid or payable over the next twelve months for goods sold and delivered and for services rendered in the course of the Business
Proposal form and statement of insurance
The proposal form that has been signed by the insured or the statement of insurance that contains information that has been given to a broker/intermediary/company along with any other pertinent information. This includes information given on to the broker/intermediary/company on behalf on the insured.
Punitive or exemplary damages
These are damages that are awarded to punish the insured as well as compensate the third party should the insured commit and action deliberately.
Reused Materials
Materials available for incorporation for which the insured is responsible, which has been fully removed from the existing structure and laid aside ready for re-use.
Risk Address
The address as detailed on the policy schedule.
Secured
Insurer will consider a premises secured if the following have been adhered to.
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Outside doors are fitted with five-lever locks.
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The windows can be locked with keys.
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Up-and-over doors can be locked with keys.
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Double doors can be locked with keys, and mortise bolts are fitted at the top and bottom of one of the doors.
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You maintain the locks and bolts in full working order.
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You use the locks and bolts at night, when nobody is in the home and when the home is unoccupied.
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Outbuilding doors are fitted with a padlock or other key-operated security device.
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Outbuilding windows are closed or sealed.
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Garage doors are fitted with a padlock or other key operated security device.
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Garage windows are closed or sealed.
Schedule
The schedule is part of the purchased insurance and contains details of the insured including but not limited to:
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Statement of fact
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Risk address
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Sums insured
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Any excesses
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Any endorsement(s)
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Period of insurance
Settlement
Downward movement as a result of the soil being compressed by the weight of the risk address.
Site
The site of the contract. This will be stated on a policy schedule.
Specified items
Specified items are items that have been individually identified to us and are shown in your schedule.
Standard Construction
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Residential Properties – Walls constructed of brick or stone with a pitched roof fitted with either tile or slate. Flats roofs may be constructed of felt and timber or concrete – The Insured must advise the insurance broker/agent/company if this is the case.
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Commercial or Industrial Properties – Walls constructed of brick, stone, concrete or corrugated iron. Pitched roofs to be fitted with either tile, slate, concrete or corrugated iron. Flat roofs may be constructed of felt and timber or concrete – The Insured must advise the insurance broker/agent/company if this is the case
Storm
We consider storm to be strong winds of 48 knots/55mph or more, sometimes accompanied by rain, hail or snow. Heavy or persistent rain or snow alone does not constitute storm unless the rain or snow is so extreme that damage is caused to well maintained properties of adequately designed construction. Extreme rain or snow is: • 25mm/1 inch or more of rain over a 1 hour period, or a proportionate amount over a shorter time; and • 30cm/12 inches or more of snow within a 24 hour period (or less).
Subsidence
Downward movement of the ground beneath the risk address.
Sum Insured
The amounts shown against each section of a policy,
The policy will show but not limited to :
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A Maximum Sum Insured that has :
i. Been requested by the insured at the time of a quotation.
ii. Should the Insured alter the sum insured during the course of the contract (provided there is agreement with the insurer), a new sum insured will be shown on a policy schedule.
iii. In the event the Insurer offers a blanket cover policy, a maximum sum insured could noted on the policy schedule that is higher than the sum insured that has been requested.
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Maximum sum insured for automatic covers
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Any specified item
Swimming Pools
Swimming pools which are permanently installed.
Territorial Limits
Anywhere within England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
Transit
Transit within the territorial limits undertaken in connection with the insureds business.
Trespass or Nuisance
Trespass, nuisance or obstruction or interference with any easement right of air, light, water or way.
Unfurnished
A home with not enough furniture for someone to live in it
Unoccupied
Where the risk address is vacant for a period of a number of days. The number of days before a premises will be declared vacant is different for each insurance company.
Underwriter(s)
Underwriters as named on an insurance schedule.
Vermin
Insurers consider vermin to be as follows:
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Badgers,
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Foxes,
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Squirrels,
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Rodents
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Other wild animals and birds (whether a protected species or not), which by their nature cause harm, damage or carry disease.
Vitiating Act
Circumstances of fraud, misrepresentation, mis-description, non disclosure or breach of any warranty or condition by an insured party or parties.