We arrange insurances for high net worth households and private collections, either as a package or in isolation.
Whatever your needs, we can provide reliable and appropriate insurance at competitive premiums, underwritten by the leading insurers for art and private clients in the UK and overseas.
High net worth household insurance packages include worldwide cover for your collection, and can include cover for jewellery, travel, second homes and rental homes.
We can be relied upon to maintain the highest standards of discretion and confidentiality.
Hallett Independent also arrange insurances for historic buildings and estates and for corporate collections. If you would like a quote for household, buildings, contents, home, antiques, paintings or property insurance, please call on 0207 6122771 or send us a message by clicking the button below.
Flood Re Information
The effects of climate change have increased episodes of flooding, meaning that an increasing number of properties are being affected.
We have written a Q&A where we explain what Flood Re, an initiative to make flood cover more affordable, is and how it affects you. If you have any further questions about Flood re or flood insurance, please contact our head of private clients Sarah Easom s.easom@hallettindependent.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Often, people are equally reluctant to consult a valuer because they think that they will charge a percentage of the value which is not the case or because they think that what they have doesn’t justify it.
Valuers do in fact charge a fee based on time spent and will be happy to give an estimate of this on their first visit.
The costly part for them is identifying and cataloguing the collection so if there are receipts available or good workable descriptions, these will help to keep the cost down.
The valuation process is not a scientific practice but is rather based on a series of criteria such as artist or maker, quality, condition, size and market desirability or fashion.
The major advantage is that an agreed value schedule not only gives the owner peace of mind but means that if there is a claim and a prized possession is lost, damaged or destroyed, they will receive the correct amount of compensation quickly and amicably.
It is therefore worthwhile to ensure that you check pictures periodically to ensure that they are secure. Often older pictures for instance are hung with string or even thin wire which can deteriorate over the years. Frames can loosen and often old mounts are not acid free and can diminish the value of a work on paper.
Both pictures and furniture are vulnerable to light and heat and in particular, dramatic variations in either. It is therefore wise to avoid hanging pictures in direct sunlight or over radiators for instance. While humidity and light levels are assiduously controlled in museums, it is not possible or desirable to do this in a home but simple tricks like keeping blinds down when a room is not in use and putting out bowls of water if you are aware that a room is particularly dry, are worthwhile measures.
"We were very pleased with the service we received from Hallett Independent after we came home to find our sitting room ceiling on the floor! It was really quite a trauma and we were very much helped by their swift and efficient assistance which meant that we could just crack on with clearing everything and finding someone to carry out the repairs"
Anna & Paul Stolper - Paul Stolper Gallery