Buildings, contents, stock and business interruption, one policy covering every commercial property risk, from a single shop to a portfolio of premises.
Three steps. Reinstatement valuations, business interruption sums and indemnity periods all reviewed by your broker before terms come back.
Property type, rebuild value, contents and stock value, occupancy, security. Two minutes online or a call, your choice.
Your named broker takes your details to specialist commercial property insurers, including markets for flood, unoccupied and non-standard construction.
Documents emailed, payment arranged. Mid-term changes, new acquisitions, occupancy changes, claim notifications, handled by the same person.
A commercial property policy is built up from a handful of standard sections. Most policies bundle them; you can leave some off if they do not apply.
The structure itself, against fire, flood, storm, escape of water and malicious damage. Insured on a reinstatement basis (rebuild cost, not market value), the buildings element of business premises insurance.
e.g. A retail unit damaged by a kitchen fire next door, requiring partial rebuild.
Fixtures, fittings, equipment, computers, furniture and the goods you sell or hold for resale. Tenants and owner-occupiers both need commercial contents insurance, landlords typically need premises cover instead.
e.g. A restaurant’s kitchen equipment and food stock destroyed by a freezer failure.
The lost revenue and additional costs while premises are unusable. Indemnity periods of 12, 24 or 36 months are standard, too short is a common underinsurance trap.
e.g. A pub closed for 8 months after a fire, with rent, payroll and lost takings to cover.
Plate glass, shop fronts, internal partitions and external signage. A high-frequency claim category for retail and hospitality, and one of the most-claimed-on sections of a property policy.
e.g. A shop front kicked in overnight, with stock theft on the same incident.
Cash on premises during and outside business hours, in transit to the bank and overnight in safe storage. Sub-limits apply by location and time of day; the broker rates them to your trade pattern.
e.g. A pub with weekend takings stolen during a forced safe break-in.
For pubs, restaurants, bars and licensed venues, cover for the revenue lost when a premises licence is suspended or revoked through no fault of the licensee. Critical for any trade where the licence is the business.
e.g. A late-night venue forced to close while a licensing review runs.
The property types we most commonly place commercial property cover for. Each gets a tailored conversation rather than a one-size policy.
Commercial landlords
Buildings, loss of rent and property owners’ liability.
Tailored coverPubs
Wet trade, kitchen, accommodation, BI and money cover all packaged.
Tailored coverRestaurants
Kitchen, glass, money and stock cover for sit-down and takeaway.
Tailored coverShops
Retail buildings, contents, stock and money for high-street and parade traders.
Tailored coverOffices and professional services
Tenant or owner-occupier office cover with contents and BI.
Warehouses and industrial units
Trade and industrial occupancy with high-value stock cover.
Mixed-use buildings
Retail at ground floor, residential above, common in town and city centres.
Leisure and hospitality
Hotels, B&Bs, gyms and event venues with public footfall.
Whether you own a single retail unit or a portfolio of mixed-use properties, the policy structure adapts. Single renewal, named broker, and reinstatement valuations reviewed before each renewal to avoid underinsurance.
Property premium reflects exposure, but a handful of choices on your side meaningfully change what you pay.
Get reinstatement valued
A professional reinstatement valuation prevents underinsurance and the "average" discount applied at claim. Most insurers expect a recent valuation, typically within the last few years.
Upgrade security
Alarm grade, CCTV, key-holding, sprinklers, verified upgrades earn premium credit at most commercial property insurers.
Take a voluntary excess
Carrying the first slice of any claim yourself reduces the insurer’s exposure and the premium. Effective on low-claim records.
Bundle into combined cover
Property plus public liability plus stock and BI on a combined commercial policy usually prices below buying each cover standalone.
A standard commercial property policy covers the six layers above. The list below shows what most insurers will add on, and what falls outside the cover by default.
Deterioration of stock
Frozen and chilled stock loss after refrigeration failure.
Property owners’ liability
For landlords, third-party injury or damage at the let property.
Subsidence
Subsidence and ground heave, usually optional and rated by postcode and ground type.
Trace and access
The cost of finding the source of a leak or fault, including breaking through to reach it.
Commercial legal expenses
Tenant disputes, contract claims and property-related legal costs.
Wear and tear
Gradual deterioration, dampness and rot are not insured events.
Unoccupied premises (without endorsement)
Standard cover restricts after around 30 days unoccupied; specialist endorsement required.
Faulty workmanship
Damage caused by defective construction or installation falls on the contractor, not the property policy.
Deliberate or criminal acts
Loss caused intentionally or through criminal conduct is excluded across the market.
Tell us about the property, type, value, occupancy, trade. Specialist commercial property markets, including flood, unoccupied and non-standard construction.
The questions we hear most often, with straight answers. Anything else, call the office.
You do not need buildings cover (that is the landlord’s responsibility) but you almost certainly need contents cover for your stock, fittings and equipment, plus business interruption to protect revenue if the premises become unusable. Most tenant policies are built around contents and BI rather than buildings.
Cannot see your question? Speak to a broker on 0800 123 4567.
Why brokers, why us
FCA regulated
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
45 years broking
Long-standing relationships across the UK insurer market.
Named broker
A direct line to the same person at quote, renewal and claim.
Independent
No tie-ins. We use the market that fits your property, not a panel of one.
● Cover that often sits alongside this
Ready when you are
Two minutes to tell us about the property. Terms back from a specialist commercial property panel. Your named broker on the file from day one.
