The hidden risk of snow and ice to commercial properties

Common winter risks to commercial properties and ways to mitigate them

• Blocked drain pipes: If your drain pipes are blocked, these could freeze and shatter in cold temperatures. Blockages also impede rainfall from draining away, which could cause flooding around your property. Make sure your drain pipes are clear to prevent this.
• Frozen water pipes: Cold temperatures can lead to external and internal pipes freezing and shattering. Prevent frozen pipes by turning on the heating at regular times - even if the property is empty at the weekend, you can leave the heating on a timer to make sure the pipes are heated and avoid them freezing.
• Swelling and shrinking doors and windows: The wet and cold weather can cause your doors and windows to swell and shrink - this can lead to both health and safety and security hazards if you are not able to close them properly. Take action by checking your windows and doors regularly to make sure they remain sealed when closed.
• Overheating appliances: It’s tempting to plug in extra heaters during the colder season, but the appliances should be PAT tested. Make sure you don’t plug fan heaters into extension leads. Instead, plug them directly into the mains, as using extension leads can lead to overloading and fires.
• Ice and frost outdoors: Snow and ice can cause slipping hazards around the outside of your property. Consider putting down salt or grit around your property to reduce the chance of slippages. In the case of heavier snowfall, you may want to look at snow removal contracts to make sure the snow is regularly removed and the area remains safe.
• Exterior lighting: As well as snow and ice, poor lighting outside of your property can lead to slipping hazards. The darker months are also a prime opportunity for thieves, so make sure your lights are in working order and come on automatically during the night.

How commercial property insurance can protect against winter damage

It’s important to have the right insurance in place for your property, so you’re protected if the worst happens. Commercial property insurance helps to protect your property against a wide range of cold weather risks, and offers public liability cover in the event of someone being injured on your property.

If something goes wrong - for example, your pipes still freeze and burst despite being regularly heated - you should assess the damage and make a claim with your insurance provider.

Commercial property insurance from Towergate

We can offer cover for a range of commercial properties from our trusted network of leading insurers.

You can place just one commercial property or a whole portfolio under one policy, including standard and unoccupied residential and mixed-use buildings.

Get a commercial property insurance quote, call us on 0330 828 0512 or request a callback.

About the author

Alison Wild BCom (Hons), FMAAT, MATT, Taxation Technician is a highly respected industry professional who has been working with and advising SMEs in areas including tax, pensions, insurance and marketing for over 25 years. She is a Fellow member of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) and Association of Tax Technicians (ATT) and also has 20 years' experience as a residential landlord.

Consistent with our policy when giving comment and advice on a non-specific basis, we cannot assume legal responsibility for the accuracy of any particular statement. In the case of specific problems we recommend that professional advice be sought.