As part of our annual review, we have made several enhancements and updates to Rural Protect and Rural Protect Elements, for both renewals and new business incepting from 1st May 2025. These changes aim to improve cover and align with our Consumer Duty obligations. If you have received a May renewal, you will have already seen the following updates:
Rural Protect
- Improved clarity on rradar services – We have simplified the information regarding rradar services included in the policy and clarified which services fall outside the scope of legal advice.
- Easier navigation – Section definitions are now placed within their respective sections rather than at the end of the policy wording.
- Legal representation outside of rradar – The amount payable has been increased where we have agreed to legal representation outside of rradar for Defence matters.
- Defined benefit pension schemes – The exclusion no longer applies to plans with assets below £5 million.
- Increased cover for circumstance investigation costs – Now covered up to £100,000.
- Higher compensation for court attendance – Increased to £350 per day.
- New cover for Directors’ personal property boundary disputes.
- Enhanced insolvency hearing cost cover – Now applies up to the policy limit.
- Shotgun and firearm licence protection – Previously, licence revocation was excluded. Costs for appeals are now covered up to £100,000.
- Higher loss of documents cover – Increased to £150,000, including essential documents such as Cattle Passports.
- Public rights of way disputes – Cover of up to £20,000 for opposing Definitive Map Modification Orders.
For a full list of amendments, you can view the Notice to Policyholders here.
Rural Protect Elements
- Improved clarity on rradar services – As with Rural Protect, we have simplified the description of included rradar services and clarified what falls outside the legal advice provision.
- Easier navigation – Section definitions have been moved to their relevant sections for improved accessibility.
- Legal representation outside of rradar – The amount payable has been increased for Defence matters where we have agreed to legal representation outside of rradar.
- Defined benefit pension schemes – The exclusion no longer applies to plans with assets below £5 million.
- Higher compensation for court attendance – Increased to £350 per day.
For a complete breakdown of all amendments, you can view the Notice to Policyholders here.
We have also reviewed and updated the policy rating structure. As a result, an 8% increase has been applied to our base rates, with the exception of Rural Protect Elements, where the base premium remains unchanged at £125 (inclusive of IPT).
Our new business and renewal fee has increased to £28.00, while we continue to apply no fees for mid-term adjustments.
We are currently in the process of updating all marketing materials affected by these changes. If you have any questions or require further information, please contact Rachel Kelly at rachel.kelly@hbunderwriting.co.uk.
