Landlords hit by spike in lockdown fires
Landlords have been hit by a rise in fires in commercial properties, with the number of claims increasing by 46% over lockdown, new research shows.
According to insurer NFU Mutual, the number of commercial fire claims nearly doubled between 22 March to 31 July compared to the same period last year.
The insurer said it was “concerned” that landlords were putting fire safety to one side while preoccupied with combating the business impact of Covid-19.
Landlords have been hit by a rise in fires in commercial properties, with the number of claims increasing by 46% over lockdown, new research shows.
According to insurer NFU Mutual, the number of commercial fire claims nearly doubled between 22 March to 31 July compared to the same period last year.
The insurer said it was “concerned” that landlords were putting fire safety to one side while preoccupied with combating the business impact of Covid-19.
The business urged landlords to implement fire safety measures, including regularly reviewing fire risk assessments on the premises and seeking advice from fire safety professionals.
Trevor Palmer, property insurance specialist at NFU Mutual, said: “The ongoing global crisis has put pressure on commercial property owners and their tenants as they adopt new measures to ensure working environments are Covid-secure, often involving changes to the premises.
“As coronavirus poses new challenges, it is important to give pre-existing dangers equal consideration. The risk of fire remains, and property owners should maintain efforts to protect occupants, properties and themselves from fire incidents.”
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