House insurance is a tricky thing. We have the water tower insured up to the eyeballs with NFU* Mutual. Or so we thought.
NFU Mutual
Because we get so many visitors, many of them total strangers, we did wonder if we were covered if say one of them tripped, fell and did some expensive injury to themselves. The risk is there and in these litigious days you never know when things could turn nasty. We are entering the Settle Open Gardens scheme this year and the organisers advise entrants to check with their insurers.
We contacted NFU to ask about not just the Open Gardens couple of days but the almost daily flow of visitors. They checked with their underwriters and whoaaah. The Open Gardens were OK but the background of almost daily visitors would mean higher premiums.
We explained that we do this as a friendly gesture to very nice people, many of whom have come a long distance to see the tower. Australia is the furthest (hello Martin) but it will be Martians next, you'll see.
NFU pleaded our case to the underwriters and the extra premium was waived, enabling us to remain open to visitors. Well Done the NFU.
*National Farmers Union **
** A curious choice of insurer perhaps but farmers sometimes live in unique and large houses, expensive to insure or replace. I am always reminded of visiting the NFU Mutual tent at Bentham Agricultural Show. There was a typical Dales farmer sitting there, enjoying the hospitality. He was greeting every newcomer with "Yer know what NFU stands for don't yer?" Before anybody could reply he would say "No F###ing Use".
Well, on this experience I disagree!***
*** That story may have been aired earlier in this Blog but it is worth repeating.
