7 Dec

Farmers Urged to Check Insurance Policy and Record Full Cost of Shed Collapse

“One of the gravest problems of the many that farmers are currently battling with is the damage to sheds and buildings caused by the heavy snow. The situation is recoverable but we are urging people to check their insurance policy to make sure they can claim full compensation for both immediate damage and any loss of long term income,” says Andrew Jamieson, Rural Business Consultant with Geroge F. White.

“With some farm buildings completely destroyed by the sheer weight of snow and the prospect of further damage or injury to stock, the temptation to intervene is strong. However we would advise  caution as weakened structures continue to take punishment beyond their designed strength, the problem will only get worse,”

Rather than people put themselves at risk Andrew is keen to emphasise the importance of following the simple steps below:

1. Check your insurance policy fully to ensure that you are adequately covered for the damage caused and any loss arising. This could include the inability to house your livestock, store equipment and grain or the reduction in value of stored forage, straw and other feed. It is important that nothing is agreed in haste as some of the impacts of the shed damage may not become apparent immediately.
2. Take action to ensure that the building is made secure and no-one is able to access it until it is made safe. Record the damage caused with photographs from all angles and include any damage caused to machinery or livestock as a result of the shed collapse. 
3. Should your normal use of the shed be disrupted by the damage then you will need to include any costs incurred or the loss of value in your insurance claim. If you are unable to house your livestock in the normal way then it is important that you fully understand the implications. For example, extra feed will need to be purchased, extra labour will be incurred feeding and looking the stock, higher than normal deaths may result and it may cause some reduction in breeding performance. It may even result in you needing to sell your livestock earlier than you would normally as you are unable to house them over the winter to fatten, or you may need to hire a building and transfer the stock.
4.  If you need to sell grain stored or transfer to another storage facility this will certainly incur costs by way of income lost or haulage and extra storage costs. The quality of the stored crop may be reduced or completely lost if it takes time to make the shed safe and remove stored crop.
5. Farmers may face the prospect of being unable to gain access to the buildings until they are made safe. This could take some time, as it appears that the snow is not going anywhere, and more is forecast for later in the week. Shed roofs are dangerous in good weather when clear, but when heavily laden with snow, farmers should ensure they are taking all necessary precautions if they attempt to remove fallen snow from the roofs.
6. Some losses are not easily quantifiable but it is very important that accurate records are kept of all costs or the resulting loss of value so you are able to prove any loss should it be required. This may include evidence of the normal use of the shed from previous years. Records should be kept of any time incurred in dealing with the claim by either the farmer or an employed third party agent, of time spent with the loss adjuster and conducting any correspondence or calls. If in doubt, advice should be taken as to how best to ensure you are properly compensated for any loss incurred.

 George F. White has offices in Northumberland, County Durham, North and East Yorkshire, and Park Lane, London.

For more information on its specialist planning services please Tel. 01665 603581 or visit www.georgefwhite.co.uk