Is Your Commercial Glasshouse Covered by Your Insurance Requirements

For many businesses, a commercial glasshouse is a significant investment.  Whether you operate a nursery, garden centre, commercial growing facility or other glasshouse based business, keeping the structure properly maintained is essential.

But there is another question worth asking:

Does your insurance policy require your glasshouse to be regularly inspected?

This is something worth taking seriously.

We’re seeing an increasing number of enquiries from commercial glasshouse owners following conversations with their insurers about regular glasshouse inspections and condition checks.  In some cases, insurers are now stipulating that glasshouses must have at least an annual condition check as part of their insurance requirements.

If your insurance policy requires evidence that your glasshouse has been inspected or maintained, failing to carry out the required checks could potentially compromise your insurance cover should you need to make a claim.

Could your insurance policy require an inspection?

Insurance requirements can vary between policies and insurers, so it is important to check the specific conditions attached to your cover.  Even if the policy doesn’t say so right now, it may be a clause that insurers add in at renewal.

Your insurer may ask for evidence that your commercial glasshouse is being appropriately maintained, inspected or kept in a suitable condition.  If your policy requires documented inspections and you don’t carry them out, there could be implications if you need to make a claim.  The important point is to check what your own policy requires rather than assume your existing arrangements are sufficient.

If your insurer has recently asked you to demonstrate that your glasshouse is being maintained or inspected, but hasn’t been particularly clear about what they require, you’re not alone. We’re hearing similar queries from other businesses within the industry.  The issue is that insurance companies are good with insurance policies, but are not experts in the glasshouse and greenhouse industry.  They sometimes don’t know what they’re asking for.   The conversation goes a little like this:

Glasshouse Owner: “We have a clause that says we have to provide evidence that the glasshouse has been maintained.  Can you tell us what we need to do?”
Insurance Company:  “You need to maintain the glasshouse and provide evidence of this if you make a claim”
Glasshouse Owner:  “OK so what do we need to maintain?  Just glass?  Vents? The structure?
Insurance Company: “It just needs to be maintained and you need to evidence it”
Glasshouse Owner:  “Maintained how?  Full service, full check, a bit of a walk-round?”
Insurance Company: “We think so.  But it needs to be done right or you may be compromising your cover”.
Glasshouse Owner: “Do we need to include rack and pinions in the maintenance?
Insurance Company:  “What are those”?

And so it goes.  The insurance company want the glasshouses maintained, but they aren’t actually sure what they want.  A catch 22 if ever we saw one.

Our Glasshouse Health Check

Our Glasshouse Health Check can help.  It provides a detailed inspection of the condition of your glasshouse, helping to identify potential issues before they become bigger, and potentially more expensive problems.

Why carry out an annual health check?

• Identify problems early – minor damage and deterioration can develop into much larger and more expensive problems if left unchecked.  An inspection can help identify issues before they become more serious.
• Help protect your investment – a commercial glasshouse represents a considerable investment.  Regular condition checks can help you keep track of its condition and plan maintenance (and budgets) accordingly.
• Keep documented evidence – a written Health Condition Report provides a record of the inspection, the condition observed at the time and any areas identified for attention.  This can be particularly useful if your insurer has asked you to provide evidence of regular inspection or maintenance.

Please Note:  It is really important that you check your policy and speak with your insurers if you are not sure.  It could mean the difference between your insurance claim being accepted or declined.