What happens if I have to make a claim ?
In the documents provided by LWI you will have a ”Claim Helpline” number. You can also call LWI, or send LWI an e-mail. It will be as simple as that.

You will then be in touch with, or contacted by someone who will be there to help you, and resolve the matter quickly and with minimal fuss. Please make sure of course you quote your policy number. If you have any problems, just call LWI and we will help you.
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Who actually pays the claim ?
The claim will be paid by the “Underwriter”. This will be stated on your policy documents and communication from LWI.
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Do I have to pay anything if I make a claim ?
Yes, it is likely that you will have what is called an “Excess”, which is the amount you will have to pay towards any claim. For example, if you have a policy excess of £200, and you make a claim for £500, you will have to pay the first £200 so you will receive a total of £300 towards your £500 claim.

Check your policy carefully to ensure you are comfortable with the excess. Many policies have varying excesses, where you can voluntarily increase your excess, which may reduce your premium.
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What if I already have a policy from the past ?
You can change your insurance cover whenever you wish. You may however not get a refund on premiums paid if you cancel your policy before the “Renewal Date” (LINK here to an explanation of renewal date)
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What if my current foreign or UK mortgage provider provides my insurance ?
Again, you can change to LWI whenever you wish, but again, bear in mind the best time to change is at renewal. However, if you are concerned about your policy and the level of cover you have, changing may be the best option to ensure you know what cover you have, and that it is appropriate for you.
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My Mortgage provider is insisting I take their Buildings and / or Contents policy ?
Nowadays there are very few mortgage providers who make their Buildings and Contents policies compulsory. Those who do might charge you a fee to arrange this elsewhere and you should check. In most circumstances, however, you will NOT have to take this policy. Simply state you wish to take their mortgage, but will be placing your Buildings and Contents elsewhere.
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I already have Buildings Insurance through a community block Insurance policy ?
If your property is part of a complex or apartment block your monthly community fees may or may not include buildings insurance. You should check with the management company and do make sure you go through this policy very carefully. If you cannot understand it, don’t rely on it. As with many foreign policies, community block policies are often basic and generally exclude ‘fixed items’ such as bathrooms and kitchens. In addition, protection for liability is often low (300,000 Euros rather than the UK norm of 1,500,000 Euros) and you may not be covered for damage caused by a neighbouring property, so check it carefully.
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Do I have to have Insurance ?
Obviously insurance is necessary if you wish to protect your property against damage and yourself (PMI) in case you fall ill. Not having adequate insurance leaves you extremely vulnerable in certain circumstances, and we would urge you to ensure you are appropriately covered, not just for your property, but also in case anyone might be injured or that you become liable for any reason relating to your property.It is compulsory if you are borrowing money to fund your property, as the lender will require you have adequate cover to repay the loan should the property be damaged.
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What Insurance do I Need ?
You will require Buildings Insurance as a minimum. If you also wish to protect your personal belongings in your property you should also take out Contents Insurance.
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Can I have Buildings only or Contents Only Insurance with LWI ?
Yes you can. Many providers insist on you taking a policy which covers both. LWI can provide you with just buildings insurance or just contents insurance, or both. Clearly taking both buildings and contents cover combined is often cheaper, so check this before you do anything.
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How do I know what value to insure for ?
Buildings Cover

Known in insurance terminology as “Sums Insured” this is the maximum amount you should expect to be paid by the insurance company in the event of a vaild claim against a policy. Note, the buildings cover should be the REBUILD value, which is different to the MARKET value of your property. With a brand new property for example this will often be quite significantly less than the market value.

The rebuild value is the total cost of reconstructing your property and all its buildings back to its form prior to damage. This amount must include the cost of all outbuildings, domestic oil & gas pipes, domestic oil fuel tanks, swimming pools, tennis courts, drives, patios, terraces, walls, gates and fences etc.

To find out the rebuild value of your property you should ask a local builder, or surveyor to provide an insurance valuation. Your lawyer or vendor should also be able to advise you on the rebuild cost for insurance purposes.

Please do not under estimate the importance of ensuring that your “Sum Insured” is accurate, as if you under insure your property, in the event of a claim you may receive LESS than you expected or require. Over estimating this cost will also be a mistake as you will be paying a higher premium for cover you will never need.

Your insurance company should also “Index Link” the value you put on your rebuild costs, so each year this should be adjusted to reflect a higher cost. Do check to ensure this is the case before taking out a policy. You should also check carefully when you receive your “renewal documents” to check the Sum Insured is correct.

For example, if you have any work done on your property, for example fitting a pool or extending it, or anything which you feel will increase the value of the property in terms of rebuilding, you will need to advise your insurance company of this so the Sum Insured can be adjusted. This will of course mean your premium will increase in line with this increase.

If you do plan to have any work done on your property, make sure you contact your insurance advisor BEFORE this work commences so it can be adequately covered and to make sure that your policy does not exclude anything which will be important.
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You should check to ensure that your contents are insured if you rent your property out, and if your policy covers you for “New for Old” (full cost of new items to replace older one’s). Many policies do not provide “new for old” if the property is rented out, or at all.

Also, bear in mind that although you may not actually rent out your property (take payment from a non family member) but if you do have guests who are “non family members” you should check to ensure that you do have cover if they damage anything. Some policies will not pay you if damage is caused by a non-family member, even if you have not charged them for the privilege.

LWI can provide you with a suitable policy, and we can also provide you just with a contents policy based on your needs without buildings cover if you wish.
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What constitutes “Standard Construction?”
You should check that if you do consider, or are advised that the property is made of “Standard Construction" that this is the case. Your vendor, agent or a builder will be able to advise you. “Standard Construction” in relation to the policies provided by LWI, means a property built of brick, stone or concrete and roofed with slates, tiles, asphalt, metal or concrete.
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Am I insured if my property is left unoccupied for long periods?
This is something you should check, as many policies will not cover you if the property is left for long periods. For those who do provide cover, some may insist on you taking action prior to it being left, for example turning of the water or draining the heating system or emptying the pool etc.
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Legal Liability Cover
This cover, which should be contained in your policy, is very important indeed. Do make sure you have adequate cover, and if you have a swimming pool, you should also ensure you are covered in this respect. Many foreign policies, for example in Spain, they have cover only for 300,000 Euros compared to a typical UK secured policy which has up of 1,500,000 Euros.

Also check to ensure that you have Employers Liability Cover. Although you may not see yourself as having any employees, if someone cleans or does any work on your property (paid or unpaid) you will need to ensure you are adequately insured for any accidents or issues which may arise out of their work.
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Do premiums include Local and UK Taxes?
In Spain for example, insurers are legally required to collect insurance taxes for the Spanish Government including the “Consorcio”. The consorcio provides cover against natural catastrophes, such as floods etc. If your property and / or contents are damaged due to a natural disaster you can claim against the consorcio fund.

Make sure your premium includes the relevant insurance taxes and the insurer pays them to the relevant government department on your behalf.
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Why is the Financial Services Authority (FSA) important ?
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is a governing body designed to protect you, the consumer. It is the independent watchdog that regulates financial services in the UK.

Lloyd & Whyte International Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the UK. Lloyd & Whyte International FSA Register number is 314291. You can check this on the FSA’s Register by visiting the FSA’s website www.fsa.gov.uk/register/ or by contacting the FSA on 0300 500 5000.

Being authorised by the FSA requires us to give you certain information when we advise, arrange and transact business for you.

You should be aware, however, that for business transacted outside of the United Kingdom, some or all of the FSA regulatory system, including any complaints handling or compensation arrangements, will be different from that of the United Kingdom. You should therefore read the appropriate terms of business from each of our European offices
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Should I take out Private Medical Insurance (PMI) ?
Although you will be covered as an EU national if you have paid full National Insurance contributions in the UK for at least two years prior to moving abroad, you will only be covered for a limited time, and if you do then become a resident of another Country, you will need to pay social security in this Country to qualify.

Suitable travel insurance (available from LWI) will cover you if you spend less than 30 consecutive days outside the UK (ensure countries you visit are covered by your policy). If however you intend spending more time away, or you feel that you wish to be able to spend more time away, we advise you to take out PMI.

Please see our “PMI” section for further details:- PMI Section
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Should I take Travel Insurance ?
Yes, you should most certainly take out travel insurance whenever you travel outside the UK. You should make sure that it covers you for both the countries you visit, and more importantly the ACTIVITIES you undertake. If you are planning to do any activities which could be considered to be “Dangerous”, such as scuba Diving, Horse Riding or Skiing etc, you should ensure you are covered for this.

You should also ensure that your policy covers you for “repatriation”, where the insurance will cover you if you are injured and need to be returned to the UK. This is a very, very costly activity, and can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

Travel insurance today is very cost effective, and you can take a policy for a “Single Trip” or an Annual Policy if you feel you may be travelling more than once in any one year.
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Do I need Business Use Extension ?
If you intend running a business or working from your property you may need this cover. It is important that you discuss this with LWI who can advise you accordingly.
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Terminology

Premium
The Cost you pay for your insurance cover. Check that this includes all necessary taxes, both in the UK and the Country where your property is located.

Excess
This is the value YOU will have to pay towards any claim before the Insurance Company pays anything.

Sums Insured
This is the value of the item. In the case of Buildings you need to make sure this is the REBUILD value, NOT the market value. For contents, make sure you calculate the value of your contents based on the NEW price to replace them.

New for Old
This means that if you ARE covered “New for Old” if you sustain damage to an item in your property, it will be replaced with a new item even if your current item is old.

Schedule
The schedule is part of the insurance and contains details of you, the premises, the sums insured and the period of insurance and the sections that apply to you and your policy.

Endorsement
This details any changes to the terms and conditions of the insurance cover

Broker
The intermediary placing your insurance with the insurance company, such as LWI

Standard Construction
Standard Construction in relation to the policies provided by LWI, means a property built of brick, stone or concrete and roofed with slates, tiles, asphalt, metal or concrete.

Period of insurance
The length of time for which this insurance is in force, as shown in the schedule and for which you have paid and we have accepted a premium.

Buildings
• The home and its decorations
• fixtures and fittings attached to the home
• permanently installed swimming pools, tennis courts, drives, patios and terraces, walls, gates and fences and fixed fuel tanks you own or for which you are legally liable within the premises named in the schedule.

Premises
The address which is named in the schedule

Home
The private dwelling of standard construction and the garages and outbuildings used for domestic purposes at the premises shown in the schedule.

Contents
Household goods and personal property, within the home, which are your property or which you are legally liable for.

Bodily Injury
Bodily injury includes death or disease

Europe
'Europe' will include: (This may vary slightly from Insurer to Insurer)
All Mediterranean Islands
All countries with a Mediterranean shoreline
The Canary Islands
Madeira
Journeys between these countries.

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