With buy-to-let property business booming across Europe, more British buyers are getting in on the trend, and yet hardly any are aware of the risks they could face. It’s estimated that over 1.5 million Brits own holiday homes abroad. However, only a fraction of them have insurance in place to protect them if a guest is injured during a visit to their property.
While Britain has not yet reached the litigious heights of the US, properties marketed to the UK are especially vulnerable because claims made against them are often processed through the British judicial system, rather than the country in which the property is located. If the worst should happen, this would result in higher legal costs and a substantial payout at the end if the owner hasn’t made any attempt to protect guests.
Research conducted by health and safety experts, Check Safety First, revealed that property owners were either choosing not to take out indemnity insurance at all, or were relying on low-cost local policies that did not provide adequate cover. The company is now warning holiday home owners to review their health and safety measures to protect guests.
Steve Tate, Chairman of Check Safety First said, “Holiday home owners are at peril if they don’t pay attention to the small print of their insurance policies. If a guest is injured as a result of poor health and safety standards, property owners could face a hefty legal bill and the prospect of compensating for loss of earnings in some cases.” He goes on to argue that while some may see local policies as a good compromise, they can often end up costing property owners more in the long run since they don’t always cover all the necessary risks.
To ensure that property owners implement the best health and safety practices possible, Check Safety First has launched a new service, VIA Cristal, which will offer peace of mind for both property owners and guests. Under this new scheme, property owners will be given a detailed, straightforward manual that outlines a series of action points to avoid the risk of injury to guests.
Following this, property owners can organise for an independent audit from Check Safety First’s inspection team, who will visit the property and, if the necessary criteria is met, will grant a VIA Cristal certification for 12 months, which is subject to an annual audit thereafter. Having this certification not only makes good financial and legal sense, but it can also be a good marketing tool for your rental property. Once a property gains VIA Cristal certification, its details will be added to www.checksafetyfirst.com, an online portal that is used by both the general public and the travel trade.
To support its launch, Check Safety First has joined forces with specialist insurer, HISCOX, to offer VIA Cristal certified properties access to buildings and contents insurance packages that also covers holiday rental homes for up to £2,000,000 of third party liability cover per claim.
The annual service, including entry to the website, safety manual, certification and audit ranges from £250 to £325, depending on the type of accommodation. For more information on VIA Cristal, visit www.viacristal.com.
For our Members only, IndependentOwners.com has negotiated a 20% discount on the Via Cristal certification with Check Safety First. To take advantage of this fantastic offer, please contact the Customer Service Team at support@independentowners.com.
0 Responses to “20% off Health & Safety check for all Members”