Tailored cover, specialist expertise

We understand the complexities and unique nature of the challenges those working in a heritage building can face and so your broker can have absolute confidence in the services we provide to the sector.

More than just insurance

With over 130 years’ experience in the UK insuring heritage, we understand the needs of businesses and organisations located in unique buildings. As well as specialist covers, we give you expert advice and support, including health and safety guidance.

Risk management for the heritage sector

We work with key organisations to understand risks in the sector and find solutions to some of the issues our customers face, like offering health and safety solutions which are not detrimental to the building’s original features. For risk advice, you’ll have access to our risk management team.

Specialist building valuations

We work hard to help you protect the characteristics that make your building unique and provide buildings valuations to our customers at no additional cost1.

Claims expertise

If you need to make a claim, you will be assigned a dedicated claims handler to guide you through the process. Where appropriate, we will defend liability claims in a manner that protects your client’s reputation. We’re proud to say 97% of our customers were satisfied with their claims experience2.

Hear what our customers think

Claim dealt with promptly and professionally

Heritage business and leisure product features

Our Heritage Business and Leisure insurance can be tailored so you get the exact insurance you need and only pay for what’s important to protect your business. Cover can include: 
 
  • Buildings and contents
  • Business interruption
  • Reputational risk
  • Trustee and management liability
  • Employers’ liability
  • Public liability
  • Directors’ and officers’
  • Loss of licence/Registration
  • Equipment breakdown
  • Fine art, collections and antiques
  • Loss of money
  • Fidelity
  • Hirers’ liability
  • Legal expenses
  • Personal accident
  • Professional indemnity

We recognise that every heritage building and location will have different needs and requirements, that's why our Heritage Business and Leisure insurance policy allows you to add additional cover such as cyber insurance and cover for fine art and valuables. Speak to your broker about the level of additional cover that’s appropriate.

For our full summary of cover please view our Heritage Business and Leisure policy.
1Subject to underwriting criteria

FAQs

Ecclesiastical uses building valuations to assess the cost of reinstating the building in the case of a claim. Heritage and listed buildings will require specialist support and valuations so it is important to ensure that you’re insured for an accurate value should an event such as a major fire cause the need for significant restoration. 
 
Our valuation services are delivered at no extra cost by our team of specialist surveyors, subject to underwriting criteria
Yes. Ecclesiastical is one of Ireland’s leading insurers of protected structures and we are involved in insuring many of Ireland's most significant historic buildings.
Protected Structure is a structure that a planning authority considers to be of special interest from an architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social, or technical point of view and is included in its Record of Protected Structures (RPS). It may be a building or part of a building which is of significance because of its architectural or artistic quality, or its setting, or because of its association with commercial, cultural, economic, industrial, military, political, social or religious history. 
 
Every planning authority is obliged to have an RPS that includes structures of special interest in its area. The RPS forms part of the Development Plan. The legislation for protected structures is contained in the Planning and Development Act 2000. Part IV of the Act deals with architectural heritage.
Public liability insurance provides cover for an organisation’s legal defence following an incident where a member of the public has suffered an injury or property damage as a result of an incident connected to the organisation. Though cover is not required by law, claims can be costly and therefore insurance is recommended to protect against the financial and reputational impact of a claim. 
 
In addition to providing insurance cover, we provide advice on how to keep evidence of risk assessments and procedures which may help defend your organisation in a public liability claim. 

In insurance terms, a building valuation is to assess the cost of reinstatement of the building. It can be difficult to calculate this value as there are many considerations including; architects fees, restoring original features, debris clearance and specialist considerations. 

Ecclesiastical has been insuring buildings for more than 130 years and by carrying out a building valuation, we are helping to find a more accurate value for your building insurance cover and avoid the risk of underinsurance.

Ecclesiastical has specific standalone Fine Art insurance for organisations. The product gives you the option to place collections held at your premises with Ecclesiastical’s specialist fine art underwriters. You can buy a standalone cover or add fine art as an addition to your existing policy. Please speak with your insurance broker for more information.