Aviva Update - Important Information for Policyholders

You may have heard on the grapevine that Aviva have made important changes to their Property Owners insurance products.

The changes, now in force, have been described by Aviva as "a radical refurbishment of the entire, substantial structure. It has involved the scrutiny and rationalisation of policy wordings, to create a suite of all-encompassing solutions with unprecedented simplicty, clarity and breadth."

Whilst not all of the changes will be relevant to everybody, the simplification process has meant that policyholders will only receive the most specific information about their bespoke solution. This is part and parcel of Aviva's committment to deliver 'intelligent' policies which meet individual requirements.

The details

So what are the changes? We've scoured and dissected the freshest information off the news block to bring you a breakdown of the most important amendments. Not all of these changes will be applicable to your policy, however if you would like more details on your policy fine print, please go to the Contact Us pages to find out how to speak to one of our highly trained advisors.

• Engineering - Instead of listing every single item of machinery, environmental management control systems, lifts etc piece by piece, Aviva will now only request an overall building sum insured saving you time
• Flexibility - Aviva have made it easier for us to include additional and extra covers depending on your needs, whatever these may be
• Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 - In an effort to remove areas of ambiguity and provide practical cover, policies will now include legal fees and expenses incurred in defending proceedings including appeals and costs of prosecution made in respect of the above
• Emergency Services - In event of forced entry into premises when considering trapped or sick and incapable person within buildings, cover is provided. Previously, this was subject to many clauses which Aviva have replaced with a statement of intent to cover
• Failure of Thirty Party Insurance - Sometimes, a tenant may be responsible under a lease for adequately insuring the Property Owner's building. If this obligation is not met the Property Owner may lose part or all of the value of their asset following damage. Aviva have placed an element of contingent in this scenario
• Illegal Cultivation of Drugs - Even in spite of checks, tenants may not always be as they appear. Aviva have clarified intent to cover provided residential landlords follow good management practice
• Munitions of War - Aviva has decided that to exclude any cover for damage caused by a World War I or II device would be unfair under their War exclusion. Again, intent to provide cover has been clarified.
• Environmental Clause - The aim of which is to provide reasonable costs to reinstate buildings in a more energy efficient manner than they were prior to damage
• Eviction of Squatters - Not something a landlord would want to deal with but a growing problem nevertheless. Aviva will provide legal assistance to move them out as well as standard cover for damage and income stream
• Fly Tipping - Added owing to increasing costs of landfill; cover is provided to deal with the environmental aspect quickly, keeping tenants happy
• Legionella/Statutory Clean Up Costs - Not covered as standard until now, these pollution and contamination covers provide cover for the potential legal liabilities
• Waiver of Average - If you agree to professional RICS insurance valuations every 3 years (and annually index link their sums insured), Aviva will agree to waive the average condition