What to do if your business has been affected by the recent riots
If your business is affected it is very important that you understand the support available to you through your insurance policy and the Riot Compensation Act (RCA)
We are saddened to see the damage and disruption caused by the recent unrest and we recognise that some of our clients may have been damaged or disrupted by this activity.
If your business is affected it is very important that you understand the support available to you through your insurance policy and the Riot Compensation Act (RCA) and the steps you need to take to ensure that you can access this support.
Insurance
If your property has been damaged then you should notify PIB or your insurer as soon as it is safe to do so. We will be able to discuss the claim and the cover you have in place and will support you in submitting this claim.
You should also report the incident to the police, even if they are already aware the wider disruption it is important that you obtain a crime reference number specific to your premises.
What if my business is disrupted but not damaged?
If you haven’t received any physical damage, but have been impacted and lost revenue as a result, then some business interruption policies may offer cover for ‘non-damage denial of access’. Please speak with your usual PIB contact to discuss this if you have been affected in this manner.
Would I be covered by a terrorism policy?
There has been some speculation in the press that these acts should be declared as terrorist incidents. At the time of writing the government has not taken this step, meaning a terrorism policy would not provide cover in this situation.
The Riot Compensation Act (RCA)
If your insurance policy does not cover or excludes ‘riot’ or ‘civil commotion’ or if a claim is denied, the Riot Compensation Act 2016 (RCA) may provide an alternative route for compensation.
If your property is insured, the RCA requires an affected party first to claim via their insurers. However, if the claim is declined in full or part, the affected party can seek further remedy under the RCA.
Importantly you must claim under the RCA within 42 days from the riot ending or 42 days from the date that your insurer declines/partially declines your claim.
More information about how the RCA and how to claim can be found at these useful links:
Contact Us
For further advice on this subject please speak with your usual PIB contact or contact us through our form here.