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When Reverend Jane Lee lifted a wedding kneeler at St Wilfrid's Church in Melling this Easter, she wasn't expecting to find the church's future. Tucked beneath the altar was a plastic bag containing nine gold Britannia coins and a note, dated 2022 and signed simply "James, servant of the Living God." Sold, they raised almost £30,000 — a lifeline for a 700-year-old, Grade I-listed church whose five-strong congregation had been quietly preparing for its final Good Friday servic

UK home insurers are heading into 2026 under renewed pressure, with profitability expected to weaken as claims costs, competition, and operational strain continue to weigh on the market. For brokers and underwriters, that creates a clear challenge: how to maintain underwriting discipline, improve claims efficiency, and support better risk decisions without adding unnecessary friction for clients. One practical answer is better property intelligence. In particular, drone-based

Recent coverage in both the BBC and The Times (see article) has highlighted the extensive scaffolding in place at Westminster Abbey, offering a rare internal view of one of the UK's most significant structures during essential conservation work. The reporting also notes that a drone survey is planned as part of the inspection process - signalling a growing integration of aerial survey technology with high-profile heritage environments. While scaffolding remains fundamental to

Stonegate's Pub Model Shift: From Managed to Tenanted – Lessons for Property Owners Stonegate Group, Britain's largest pub operator, is aggressively converting managed houses to tenanted and leased models to tackle its £3.2 billion debt mountain, reveals The Sunday Times [ https://www.thetimes.com/business/companies-markets/article/stone-gate-pubs-debt-boss-turnaround-xqhspj5n3 ]. (April 19th 2026) According to the article, the number of managed pubs fell from 674 to 544 last

UK storm damage roof claims have skyrocketed over the past five years, with insurers facing unprecedented pressure from extreme weather. New ABI data shows £244 million paid out for storm damage to homes in 2025 alone – a 32% rise from 2024, pushing total property claims to a record £6.1 billion. Average payouts climbed to £2,450, up £750 year-on-year, as high winds tore tiles from pitched roofs and overwhelmed flat roof. The trend is stark: Confused.com data tracked claims j

As of early 2026, UK churches and heritage custodians are facing significantly higher church repair costs after the end of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. Repair, maintenance and roof works are now subject to VAT at the full 20% standard rate, while only a narrow range of new, detached charitable buildings still qualifies for zero-rating. The government’s replacement £230 million funding package provides some support, but it no longer offsets VAT directly in the sa

Rising construction costs and material inflation mean many commercial properties are now operating with inadequate insurance coverage without their owners realising it. Christie Insurance’s Business Outlook 2026 warns that outdated valuations can leave businesses exposed, with average clauses reducing pay-outs when it matters most. That matters because reinstatement costs are not just rising — they are staying elevated due to labour, supply chain and specialist materials pres

Many UK landlords only discover a problem after making a claim: the damage may be covered in principle, but the insurer can refuse to pay if there is no evidence of adequate preventative maintenance. Blocked gutters, slipped tiles and failing roof coverings are often treated as foreseeable and preventable, especially where routine checks were not documented. The challenge is that ground-level inspections miss many of the defects that lead to water ingress and expensive intern

Historic pubs are under pressure from two directions: rising costs and ageing buildings that demand specialist upkeep. Research from the New Economics Foundation shows alcohol spending in UK pubs is down by around 60% since 2000 , while spending abroad has risen by a similar amount, leaving many landlords with thinner margins and fewer options for essential repairs. These are not just businesses needing pub maintenance. They are landmark buildings with roofs, wiring, heating

UK pubs are facing mounting cost pressures, with rising business rates, repairs and other overheads continuing to squeeze margins. JD Wetherspoon recently said those higher expenses added around £45 million over 25 weeks, cutting into profits and highlighting how quickly operating costs can escalate (The Time Newspaper - 22/01/26) In this environment, the building fabric matters more than ever. Pubs must withstand constant weather exposure while also shaping a customer’s fir

A National Churches Trust survey found that over 20% of churches experienced deterioration in the past five years, while nearly 38% said their roofs were either at risk or in urgent need of repair. The findings underline the scale of pressure facing heritage buildings, where ageing materials, weather exposure and limited maintenance budgets can quickly turn small defects into serious structural issues. For churches, roof deterioration is not just a conservation concern. It ca

A recent NFRC (National Federation of Roofing Contractors) and University of Southampton report, Building resilience of roofing technologies in changing climate, warns that rising temperatures, drought and increased water stress will make roofs in the built environment more vulnerable. For commercial buildings, that means greater pressure from overheating, material fatigue and faster deterioration over time. The findings are especially relevant for businesses with flat or lig

Roof repair and maintenance costs rose by 18% in 2025, according to the National Federation of Roofing Contractors Sprint Report 2025, adding fresh pressure to hotel and pub margins. The increase was driven by higher prices for materials and labour, making routine upkeep more expensive at a time when operators are already managing tight overheads. For hotels, pubs and restaurants, hospitality roof issues are rarely just a maintenance problem. Delayed repairs can lead to leaks

UK homeowners are often surprised when a home insurance claim is rejected, but insurers can decline cover where damage is linked to wear and tear, gradual deterioration or poor maintenance. Recent FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) linked commentary shows this remains a common issue in home insurance, particularly where policy wording is unclear or the cause of damage is disputed. The key point is that insurers usually pay for sudden, insured events - not problems that build u

Figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) reveal that insurers paid out over £600 million to cover storm and flood damage to UK homes and businesses in 2025 - the highest annual total on record. The rise in property claims reflects another punishing year of extreme weather, marked by 10 named storms between October 2024 and March 2025 and heavy rainfall across England & Wales. February alone saw more than a month's worth of rain in just two weeks, overwhelming dr