Do I need to insure an Unadopted Road?

There is a Legal Duty to insure these roads, but this does not fall on the highway authority under the Highways Act 1980. The legal duty for unadopted road insurance falls upon the owners of the road – and this normally means the owners of any properties that front that particular road.

The reason for this onus to insure is not on the highway authority, is because although these roads may be a public right of way, they simply do not belong to the public road network. How can I insure an unadopted road?

Normally, if you do own one of these properties that fronts an unadopted road, it is common for a resident’s association to be formed. The resident’s association will then be responsible for maintenance and general upkeep of the road, ensuring it is safe for members of the public when it is accessed.  This is a particular benefit to the insuring party, as it enables the residents to split the costs between them.

Did you Know?

A department for Transport Survey which was conducted in 1972, estimated there were around 40,000 Unadopted Roads in England & Wales. That number is still considered accurate nearly 50 years later, and will only be greater should you throw Scotland and Northern Ireland into the mix!

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We are specialists in many types of insurance

What level of cover can I insure an unadopted road for?

There are various levels of cover you can choose from. Ultimately, this will be down to the insuring party to consider which level of cover suits their own particular profile. The insuring party may want to consider, how often members of the public access the road. They can then look at insuring up to the following limits of Private Road Liability.

£1,000,000

£2,000,000

£5,000,000

You may also be able to add extras to the insurance, such as electric gates or barriers. This may cost an additional premium on top of the Public Liability Insurance for the Road.

What will it actually cover me for?

Unadopted Road insurance will cover you for claims made against you (the policyholder) for Injury to third parties or third party property damage. It is common knowledge among insuring parties that it will give the policyholder protection against third party injuries, but often third party property damage is often overlooked – and these claims are becoming extremely common! For example, if a pothole develops on the road and someone damages the wheel of their car, you may potentially be proven negligent and liable for the repair.

Contact us

We are market leaders in Liability insurance for unadopted roads. Our staff are all certified to level 3 & with over 40 years’ experience, Property Insurance Centre can find the right policy for you or your resident’s association. Give us a call on 0800 085 3761 and speak to a staff member for expert information.

If you want more information on private roads & their ownership you can see HM Land Registry here. This will often help with identifying road ownership, which may help if you are investigating any insurance obligations you might or might not have.

Further Information & Resources you should consider:

House of Commons Library 

Highways Act 1980

Registered Property or Land Information for England & Wales

Residential Landlord

Commercial Property

Why choose the Property Insurance Centre

Independent advice by approachable staff online or by phone

Access to a wide range of insurers to source suitable insurance cover for your needs

Bespoke Insurance Schemes & Portfolio Policies available

We can tailor your policy to suit your exact needs to give you complete peace of mind

Competitive Premiums

Cover available for the buildings while the property is being converted, renovated or extended

Over 40 years experience working with the best insurers in the UK

Excellent communication so that you understand what risks you are insured against

Why choose the Property Insurance Centre

Independent broker with staff you can speak to by phone or online

Access to a wide range of insurers to source suitable insurance cover for your needs

Bespoke Insurance Schemes & Portfolio Policies available

We can tailor your policy to suit your exact needs to give you complete peace of mind

Competitive Premiums

Cover available for the buildings while the property is being converted, renovated or extended

Over 40 years experience working with the best insurers in the UK

Excellent communication so that you understand what risks you are insured against

Why choose the Property Insurance Centre

Independent broker with staff you can speak to by phone or online

Access to a wide range of insurers to source suitable insurance cover for your needs

Bespoke Insurance Schemes & Portfolio Policies available

We can tailor your policy to suit your exact needs to give you complete peace of mind

Competitive Premiums

Cover available for the buildings while the property is being converted, renovated or extended

Over 40 years experience working with the best insurers in the UK

Excellent communication so that you understand what risks you are insured against

Specialists in Commercial & Residential Insurance

We have over 40 years experience as Residential and Commercial Insurance Brokers. We find the right policy to suit your needs and understand the risks that a property owner can face in the course of ownership. We work closely with our Insurers to get the best rates and our experience and excellent relationships with them mean that we can provide cover for even the most difficult to place risks.

Whether you have an adverse claims history, a high value property or a large portfolio of properties, we can source suitable cover for you. Whatever your requirements, we can tailor a specialist property insurance policy to suit your exact needs and provide you with a range of quotes to choose from. Established in 1976, we are not a call centre but a specialist insurance broker with a traditional office mentality, where the client comes first.

Looking for a quote now? Give us a call on 0800 085 3761 or complete one of our quote request forms.

We are also authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and you can view our registration here.

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Director at Property Insurance Centre | Website |  + posts

Robert Fisher is a company director of the Property Insurance Centre, who specialise in Business and Property Insurance, serving clients throughout the United Kingdom. His expertise and career in insurance spans almost twenty years.

Robert’s background is in Building Surveying, which he studied at Heriot-Watt University, where he was awarded a BSc (Hons) degree. Much of his educational background is in Building Structural Safety from an engineering perspective.

The knowledge that Robert gained at undergraduate level has lent itself well, particularly as it has enabled him to evaluate the risks associated with certain buildings. This means he knows how best to place these risks and ultimately insure the properties against such risks.

His in-depth knowledge of various methods of construction has enabled him to easily identify which insurer’s underwriting criteria would best fit each client’s needs and provide the correct levels of cover.

Additionally, Robert is responsible for training the team and ensuring that they are always kept up to date with the latest industry developments. This is an area that he is naturally drawn to because of his inquisitive mind, diligence and passion for passing on knowledge to others.

He is a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) and qualified to Level 3 with the CII.

As part of the Level 3 certification, Robert has undertaken modules in Insurance, Legal & Regulatory (IF1), Insurance Claims Handling (IF4) and Insurance Household Products (IF6).

As a condition of CII membership, Robert continues his professional development by keeping abreast of the latest industry developments.

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