How brokers can better support site operators and landowners
When it comes to managing land, change is inevitable and as the seasons change, so do risks and regulations.
Farmers and landowners are also facing many economic challenges – for example, the removal of the Basic Payment Scheme, inheritance tax, land values skyrocketing and succession planning – which means that many of them are starting to diversify their business models. In this article, we will explore how site operators and landowners can diversify their businesses, and how you as their broker can support them.
Risk management
Supporting landowners requires a tailored approach as every scenario will be subject to different risks, depending on the location of land, the activities it facilitates and other variables. So, what sort of risks generally come up in claims that you need to be aware of?
As many camping sites are in rural areas, it’s not unusual to see visitors getting injured from slips, trips or falls, resulting in third-party bodily injury claims. To avoid this, ensure to conduct regular and thorough risk assessments and health and safety management. Your site operators need to be aware of the risk and their responsibilities, especially around higher risk items on a campsite such as hot tubs or children’s playgrounds, and should be clear about who is responsible for which areas of land and who would be liable.
For those who facilitate caravan storage, we can provide a liability extension, if required, to allow for damage that may occur to the caravan while on-site - for example, a barn door blows open into the side of a caravan..
When it comes to mitigating risks for landowners and site operators, it’s important to document, manage and evidence these risks. This is particularly important for those who are diversifying into new areas that they haven’t previously explored. With diversification comes new risks, and landowners and site operators may find that they need specialist insurance solutions.
Why should site operators insure with Geo?
Due to the cost-of-living crisis and supply chain issues, the problem of underinsurance remains critical. It's imperative that landowners and site operators review the sums insured for their buildings - this is not only their responsibility but also yours as their broker.
Having a strong risk management policy and the right levels of cover in place can prove to your client’s guests that the site is well-managed and well-run, which appeals to customers and can assist your client with maintaining their licence from their local authority.
Landowners and site operators typically require insurance that includes property damage for buildings and contents, sales stock, clubhouse, toilet blocks, and liabilities. At Geo, we can account for all of these risks and more.
We also offer top-level service thanks to years of experience in the market, and good extensions with our bespoke policy wording. Our policies are also flexible – we can bespoke underwrite to ensure operators are fully insured.
Why should brokers look to win business with site operators?
While many of the larger, corporate landowners and site operators bring their own professionalism and business acumen and are worthy new business opportunities, smaller landowners and operators are typically family-run and multi-generational businesses. Families with whom you can build a long-term, working relationship typically make for good business and well managed risks. By striving to provide clients with a personal touch supported by sound underwriting, brokers can become their client’s go-to insurance contact for many years to come.
It’s also a steady business. Between the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, glamping and staycations have become increasingly popular. According to Mintel’s 2024-25 Global Outlook on Sustainability, consumers are also becoming more conscious about sustainability and their carbon footprint, viewing glamping and staycations as more environmentally friendly than travelling abroad. These sites need underwriting, and because of the quirks of each business, it’s not something that can go in a portal. If you maintain a good relationship with the site operators, they will likely keep returning to you for advice.
When should brokers speak to landowners?
At Geo, we’ve found that there haven’t been any significant peaks and troughs in terms of when landowners need cover. As they continue to diversify their land, host events and experiment with different activities, their insurance requirements will continue to change. That’s why they need a trusted point of contact to guide them through it.
Get in touch with Geo today to find out more about our insurance offerings for site operators and landowners, or find out more by visiting the product pages on our website below.
- Visit our Agriculture product pages
- Visit our Caravan and Holiday Park Site Operators product page
Contact our sales team for a prompt response on geosales@geounderwriting.com
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.