Belinda Thorpe, Managing Director at Residentsline discusses the requirements of gated estates and private roads across the insurance industry.
Gated Estates have long since been a somewhat controversial topic within the housing market. Whilst undoubtedly providing a heightened level of security for those living within, there is a well-established criticism that putting up gates around homes deepens the financial societal divide.
Channel 4 presenter Phil Spencer is outwardly opposed to this property type and has previously caused waves by claiming that gated estates are a “desperate, if understandable, response to decreasing trust and investment in our society.” Others point out that it is a way to separate the rich from the poor, whilst others argue that it provides rich people, especially in heavily urban areas, with a place to escape the poorer parts of the cities.
On the flip side, gated estate properties come with a multitude of advantages. Most notably, they have far more security measures than a standard street-side property. With 24/7 security guards, restricted access and round-the-clock assistance, gated estates are arguably some of the safest places to live in the UK. That may be why they are especially popular with elderly residents and single woman, as well as those who travel a lot – the additional security that comes with gated estate properties is hard to match in a standard street-side dwelling.
Private Roads and Gated Estates insurance
At Residentsline, we know that protecting your property is important, no matter where you live. And, whilst gated estates tend to have more security, they also pose problems that street-side properties don’t. For example, who is held responsible for communal areas within the estate? Certain incidents to communal property need to be accounted for by insurance policies.
As property insurance specialists, we are fully aware that one policy does not fit all. Our unique Roads and Private Estates Insurance policy has been tailor-made to cover you against your responsibility of ownership for communal areas within your estate, making it one of the best on the market.
What does the policy include?
Our bespoke policy covers accidental damage to communally owned property, as well as Employers Liability cover and Property Owners Liability cover.
Material Damage: This is included as standard, and insures your estate against damage to outbuildings and other structures in your grounds, such as:
- Car parks/car ports
- Lampposts and street furniture
- Roads, pavements, paths, gates and fences
- Bin stores
- Playground equipment
- Re-landscaping costs
- Fixed fuel oil and liquid petroleum tanks
- Underground services, septic tanks, cesspits and pumping stations
This cover is provided on a ‘no sum insured’ basis. The maximum payable under this policy for any one period of insurance is capped at £100,000.
Employers Liability: This protects you against your legal liability towards accidents or injuries happening to employees working in your capacity, including maintenance staff, cleaners and gardeners.
Property Owners Liability: You may have a responsibility for your un-adopted road, or you may be lucky enough to enjoy the benefits of having a gym, tennis court or swimming pool on your grounds. With these benefits comes the responsibility to protect those that own, use or visit these facilities, making this a highly beneficial addition to the policy.
What type of scenario will I be covered against?
Our policy has been designed to protect you against a massive scope of accidental and unforeseeable incidents, for example:
- A storm damages your fences.
- A delivery vehicle hits your gates.
- A fire destroys your bin store.
- A visitor is injured after tripping on uneven paving.
We know how important a comprehensive insurance policy is, no matter what type of property you have. Gated estates (and the shared property within) aren’t massively common, so it is unsurprising that they require a bespoke policy to achieve full insurance coverage. Our policy is tailored specifically to this type of property, giving you peace of mind that you will be covered against the unexpected, no matter what.
Roads and Gated Estates Insurance cover starts from £350 + Insurance Premium Tax at 12%.
