[mijbil]

Does anyone have any good recommendations for smallholder insurance? I only have two sheep on one acre, all well fenced, however I am worried about the slim possibility of an escape, and any subsequent claim for vehicle damage if one of the sheep strays onto the road.

I have tried NFU, who my motor insurance is with, and they want an eye watering £250, more than the cost of my motor and home insurance! Why is it so expensive to insure just a couple of sheep, and does anyone have any better suggestions? I am not bothered with insuring farm machinery, or crop loss etc, I just want to have peace of mind should there be an escape attempt!

[lachlanandmarcus]

You could try Farmers and Mercantile (F&M), we haven't used them but they get a decent feedback on farming forums, have taken a lot of business from NFU who don't seem to want business any more!


Don't know if they do standalone liability, but worth a check.


NFU often say they won't insure smallholding stuff unless they also have the house insurance (which they aren't always v competitive for) so well done for at least getting a quote!


As a guide 3rd party liability for horses with BHS is about £90 for me and OH (as it also covers when we are leisure riding the horse) just one of us would be £5o odd. I would have thought horses a higher risk if anything.

[plumseverywhere]

You could try Farmers and Mercantile (F&M), we haven't used them but they get a decent feedback on farming forums, have taken a lot of business from NFU who don't seem to want business any more!

Not the same as they used to be, that's for sure. NFU don't seem to want to hold onto staff either 

[Torrin37]

We just tried to get a quote from NFU.  We've only got a few bits of machinery but we have a public footpath so thought some public liability might be a good idea.  Unless we also had a house, large outbuildings or expensive machinery they didn't really want to know  Said they'd come back to me but that was a week ago so they clearly don't want the business.

Might try talking to F&M if they're recommended

[plumseverywhere]

http://www.fandmgroup.co.uk/default.aspx

they look very good!  like their ethos

[mijbil]

Thanks for the reccomendations, I will ask for a quote.

Interestingly NFU were the same with me, even though I have had motor insurance with them for 10 years. The quote took 6 weeks to arrive, I had almost given up hope! It can't make ay sense for the insurance to be 4 times the value of the property being insured, I think they don't want my business, hence the quote!

[Rosemary]

Or try Greenlands - they do on-line quotes. Looks really simple 

[mijbil]

F and M want £210 for liability only, for 2 sheep on one acre. There must surely be a cheaper way, any other suggestions?

[mijbil]

Greenlands are £290, which is prohibitive- even though my smallholding turns over less than 5000 per year- in fact i turn over nothing! I'm just wondering whether I can try insuring them as pets?

[Dan]

Self-insure: the risk is small, and you can spend the money you would have spent on premiums improving fencing, security, etc, further minimising risk.

Then put away a tenner a month into a separate account.

[ScotsGirl]

There are a couple of other companies around but it is still £178-185 a year. Cliverton and Stuart Benger are the ones I think.

[lachlanandmarcus]

I don't think it's worth them doing the admin for much less than that, easier to just not offer it.  A shame really.

[FiB]

we've self insured (ie done nothing!) for the last year but it is a worry.  We also have a public footpath and sheep.  My big worry is sueing walkers - they would have to prove negligence (and our style, and footpath are well maintained) but its the worry of fighting it if it. Im as sure as possible that our sheep cant get out (unless someone lets them out) ... but still.  I would like to pay about £100 for public liability - no dead stock, no buildings .. nothing else. SURELY there are companies out there.  £200 is the cheapest I have found and it still includes stuff I don't need.  With you on this

[ScotsGirl]

Well we have the most robust stock fencing with 2 strands of wire round top with hedging round 2 sides behind it. Yesterday my son phoned in a panic to say sheep out. I thought he was winding me up but sure enough a lamb out by road. She must have been eating hedge and something has bunted her over as nettles flattened outside.


I am now frantically trying to sort insurance cos there could easily have been an accident as very busy road.

[SteveHants]

I'm with the NFU, who seem competetive enough, although I believe the co-op can be pretty good.