Travel insurance for skiing holidays

Sunday 19th December 2010; Day 2 of the busiest weekend for people travelling before Christmas. This year however it is worse than last year in the UK. There was some snow about , however not like this year where it covers the majority of England, Scotland and Wales and across the sea into Ireland, Belgium, France and The Netherlands.

Many airports in the UK were closed yesterday and it looks like there be others closed today or part of the day.

If you are about to set of your holidays, it is essential that you have travel insurance. Many insurance companies will cover you for:

•Missed departure?
•Lost your passport?
•Personal money stolen?
•Damaged your ski equipment?
•Personal Accident?
•Abandon your holiday before you leave the UK
•Catastrophe — fire, flood, earthquake or storm
•Medical Emergency — Hospital — Emergency Dental Treatment
•Legal Advice
•Mugging

At this time of year there are lots of people who combine a Christmas break with a skiing holiday. Schools have broken up a few days ago now and there is a clear week before Christmas and after.

The jml insurance website has a great selection of insurance companies advertising Travel insurance and Ski, winter sports insurance for British and Irish residents and these companies include: Essential Travel (including insurance for Irish residents), Direct Travel, Endsleigh, Staysure for the over 50’s, Simple, Quotezone, Travel Plan Direct, Kinsure Emergency Medical Insurance, Protect your holiday - Financial Failure Travel , Travel Insurance Medical Insurance, JS Insurance Travel Insurance, Insureme4.co.uk Travel Insurance, Primary Travel Insurance, Devon Direct Insurance Services and Kidnap and Ransom Insurance via Equity & General Insurance Services.

For more information visit: http://www.jml-insurance.co.uk/types.php?id=10&sec=8

Councillor wants to build houses in flood risk area

The "Irish Times" reported an interesting story on Thursday 16th December 2010 -"Councillor seeks permission for houses in area prone to flooding" Apparently a member of Clare County Council in the Republic of Ireland who had flood problems last year has put in a planning application for five detached on a site prone to flooding next to his home in Ennis.

The report on the left shows a photograph of Fine Gael Councilor Tony Mulqueen walking along in waders and had to access his house by dingy.

Water levels had risen around 76cm around his home in December 2009. A decision on the application is due next month and the Department of the Environment does have guidelines on areas prone to flooding so it will be intersesting to know if he obtains consent.

If you are experiencing problems getting insurance cover for properties in flood affected areas in Northern Ireland, England, Scotaland and Wales then you need to contact Equity and General Insurance Services. Their expert insurance broker is Neil Cook and the insurance company advertises on the jml-insurance.co.uk site. http://www.jml-insurance.co.uk/displayproduct.php?id=259&sec=1

Villa in Quinta do Lago Portugal for sale at €10 million

The December 16th 2010 "Irish Times" property page had a headline "€10m for Quita villa". Apparently according to the report the villa in the Algarve, Portugal once owned by the late Formula 1 racing driver Ayrton Senna is up for sale.

It is located in the popular resort of Quinta do Lago and is being marketed through Quinta do Lago Real Estate. It has a floodlit tennis court, four hole putting green and a solar heated swimming pool. The accommodation offers six double bedroom with ensuites plus a number of reception rooms.

If you can't actually afford a €10 million price tag you can rent a great selection of villas and apartments at Quinta do Logo and other fabulous destinations in the Algarve by visiting the jmlvillas.com holiday homes self catering holiday rentals site. Follow this link - http://www.jmlvillas.com/country/Portugal

If you are fortunate enough to own a property in the Algarve and are searching for property insurance written in English take a look at this link http://www.jml-property-insurance.co.uk/overseas_property_insurance_2.htm

Finally don't forget your travel insurance Visit
http://www.jml-insurance.co.uk/products.php?id=8 for a great selection of insurance companies advertising their products.

Drying out Flooded Buildings

The Department for Communities and Local Government has published an interesting summary of guidance on dealing with flooded properties which may well prove valuable in the months ahead. It is entitled "Guidance and standards for drying flood damaged buildings Signposting current guidance – BD2760"

You can download this by following this link HERE

This is not formal advice in itself, more a signpost to the various pieces of advice out there and the areas which still need work. There are some useful flowcharts and an overview of different methods of drying and moisture testing.

According to ne commentator "It is not a publication for the faint-hearted though and assumes a fair degree of technical knowledge."

If you have concerns about flooding and insurance why not contact insurance broker Neil Cook of Equity and General Insurance Services. Follow this link http://www.jml-insurance.co.uk/contactEquity.php.

Mundys Estate Agents win five-star UK property award

10th December 2010 - Mundys estate agency received the top award for the third year in a row for the Best Estate Agency in Lincolnshire at the UK Property Awards.

Pictured on left Mundys' Senior Partner Philip Barnatt receiving the award for the Best Estate Agency in Lincolnshire from Maryam Nemazee, political, business and economic news presenter; and Helen Shield, Chairman of Judges for the International Property Awards.

Estate agency Mundys has been judged the Best Estate Agency in Lincolnshire for the third year in a row at the prestigious UK Property Awards in association with Bloomberg Television.



Mundys was presented with five stars at a high-profile event at the Lancaster London Hotel on Saturday 27th November.



The fact that Mundys has won one of these coveted awards is proof that Lincolnshire is capable of triumphing within the highly competitive UK property arena.



The awards are open to every estate agent in the UK and Mundys was one of only a select few to be awarded five stars and therefore rejudged to find the ultimate world’s best.



“We are so pleased to win this award, especially as it has completed our hattrick having also been voted best in Lincolnshire in 2008 and 2009,” said Senior Partner Philip Barnatt.



“Agents are judged on their professional qualifications and training, quality of customer service, innovation and creative approach, all of which we take great pride in, and I am sure this greatly helps our customers get the very best out of their move.



“I would like to say a big thank you to my colleagues at Mundys who have worked incredibly hard during what has been a difficult time for the UK property market. They have risen to the challenge and it’s a credit to them that we have still managed to triumph in what is a very tough competition.”



Stuart Shield, chairman of the International Property Awards, said: “Now approaching its 17th year, this is the world’s most prestigious competition with the prime aim of distinguishing the best real estate professionals across the globe in residential and commercial categories.



“In our quest to find the most outstanding projects and property professionals from around the world we were fascinated to discover that the total value of the award-winning projects was over $100 billion.



“This helps to contrast with the bear market approach to the property market in general. There are some incredibly strong roots being established for the future growth and generation of properties that are more attractive to look at, safer, kinder to the environment, smarter and able to deliver a better quality of life for those who live and work in them.”



The International Property Awards cover both residential and commercial categories. Top scoring entries from all the different regions (Arabia, the UK, Asia Pacific, the Americas, Europe and Africa) are re-judged to find the ultimate World’s Best in each category.

Essential Advice For Accidental Landlords

With the housing market stuck in the doldrums and the demand for rental properties increasing, the number of accidental landlords is on the rise
once again. Research conducted by ARLA showed that more than a third (34%) of member offices surveyed during Q3 2010 saw an increase in the number of rental properties coming onto market because they couldn't be sold.

Becoming a landlord however is not an easy option as a Lincoln-based lettings management company is urging first-time landlords to consider all factors before committing to renting out a property.

Lighthouse Property Services reports that owing to the recession and the decline in the housing market a new wave of ‘accidental landlords’ is springing up all over the UK, and many entering the rental market for the first time are finding that the process is not as simple as initially thought.

“Research conducted by ARLA has revealed that over a third of member offices surveyed during Q3 2010 saw an increase in the number of rental properties coming onto the market because they couldn’t be sold,” says Tim Clark, Managing Director of Lighthouse Property Services.(pictured above).

“For some entering the rental market can be a daunting prospect. Therefore it is essential that any prospective landlord entering the rental market for the first time considers a number of issues.”

According to Tim the first consideration should be whether or not to actually rent out the property in the first place, as having tenants could potentially prevent homeowners from selling. However a property that is already occupied with tenants could be a selling point and therefore is not necessarily a negative factor.

The second issue is to remember that this is a business decision and there is no room for sentiment. Landlords need to divorce themselves from any emotional attachments to their property.

Legally homeowners will need to switch to a buy-to-let mortgage, and the advice is to thoroughly research all options and get quotes from a number of brokers.

Practical matters such as properly checked appliances and the amount of paperwork can also be a minefield to the first-time landlord.

Many first-time landlords employ the services of a specialist letting agency. These companies can alleviate some of the difficulties associated with renting property and deal with the majority of practical issues and paperwork for you – for example, lodging the deposits, co-ordinating repairs and dealing with emergencies.

They can also help with testing all the gas appliances and electrical supplies which all landlords are legally required to do.

Tim also raises one other vital point which should not be overlooked; “If you are reliant on the rent to cover your mortgage remember the two are not inextricably linked and rental insurance could be a safer option. Lastly if you do decide to instruct an agent to look after your property always chose an ARLA registered one.”

Source 8th December 2010 from Lighthouse Property Services who were established in 2001 and is a residential and student lettings agency operating in Lincoln.

If you are having to let out your property do make sure you have proper landlords insurance including rent protection / guarantee policies. To find out more follow this link http://www.jml-property-insurance.co.uk/Landlords_Rent_Guarantee_insurance.htm

Keswick woman uninsured for three months after struggling to renew her home insurance

Neil Cook an insurance broker who works for Equity and General Insurance Services, spotted this article in the "News & Star" on the 25th November 2010.

"Battle to insure Keswick floods flat"

A Keswick woman was uninsured for three months after struggling to renew her home cover because she had been flooded twice in six years.

Maria Harrogate, 54, of St Kentigern’s Close, lives in a ground floor flat and was flooded in 2004 and 2009.

Her insurance company paid out both times, but when she tried to renew her home insurance in August she was refused because she was in a high risk area.

She said: “There was about three feet of water in my house last year and I lost everything.

“I walked out with medication under one arm and my dog under the other.

“It was like someone coming into your house and wiping out your life.

“Since I was told I couldn't renew I rang everyone in the Yellow Pages trying to get cover.”

Maria was eventually given the number of Rugby insurance firm Equity and General Insurance Services and her prayers were finally answered.

She was told they could insure her if she got a flood guard fitted to a patio door.

The firm put her in touch with Flood Master Limited which gave a guard free.

The insurers then arranged for the guard to be fitted by a local company and decided to match Flood Master’s generosity by giving Maria a year’s free insurance.

Maria said: “It was the best Christmas present anyone could have given me and I can’t praise the two companies enough.”

Have your say........on the News & Star Blog: no this was genuine the reporter will gladly supply my contact details we are truly helping flood victims no stunts just true help- Posted by neil cook on 2 December 2010 at 12:28

Source: News & Star

Looking for Insurance for your property - Flood damaged property and Household Insurance via Equity & General Insurance Services http://www.jml-insurance.co.uk/contactEquity.php.