Renovation Insurance

Buildings insurance for renovation and building work including self build extensions.

Specialist buildings insurance for renovation and building work or refurbishment.

Whether you are simply redecorating your home, or are planning building work involving structural works such as an extension, re-roofing or roof repair, or loft conversion, you need to ensure that your insurance policy operates effectively throughout the process as many policies will not allow such works to take place without notification, and may be useless in the event of a claim.

Any works affecting the structure of your property must be disclosed to your insurer, and severe restrictions to your cover will normally be applied.

There are a number of things to think about when undertaking any project which will leave your home empty or unoccupied, or any works affecting the structure or roof of the home:

Should I notify my insurer?

The short answer here is, whatever you are doing, no matter how trivial, the answer is yes! It is best to let your insurer decide if the information you are giving them is relevant or not. Insurance companies will often give the okay with no restrictions if they don?t consider your risk to be increased, but in the event of any major works affecting the structure or roof of the building, or if you are moving out during the work (even if it is only redecoration), they are likely to impose exclusions on your insurance policy until the work is finished.

What restrictions will my home insurer impose?

Many policies have a clause excluding any damage to your property caused by contractors. This is why it is vital that you check that anyone undertaking works on your property is adequately insured.

If you are having any works done affecting the structure or roof, most insurers will restrict cover to FLEE perils. This stands for Fire, Lightening, Earthquake and Explosion only, plus your liability cover. It will leave you uninsured for things like Storm, Flood, Falling Trees, Impact, Burst Pipes, Theft and Malicious Damage. Even if there are no structural works, but you will be moving out or removing your furniture whilst the work is done, beware of exclusions for Theft, malicious damage and escape of water ? these exclusions are likely to be part of your standard policy wording, and therefore might not be highlighted to you when you speak to your insurer. If in doubt, ask! If you are not moving out or having structural works, but workmen will have access to your property for some time, some insurers may apply a visible signs clause, excluding theft unless there is physical evidence of a break in.

Who is managing the build project?

If you are going to be acting as the main contractor for the project (ie managing the build, purchasing materials and hiring in labour and plant), then as well as insuring the existing building, you will need a contractors all risks policy.

This is a policy designed to cover the risks you will face during the building or renovation process, including cover for employers liability, tools and materials, hired in plant, and contract works (which covers you for the value of the building project as it progresses, should a disaster occur mid way through and destroy everything you have done up to that point).

We can provide insurance policies both for Contractors All Risks on a stand-alone basis, and for joint Material Damage (covering the existing building in it?s pre-build state) and Contractors All Risks (covering the works). This may also be arranged in joint names with you and your main contractor if you are using a firm who does not hold adequate cover already.

Obviously, we can?t tell you everything you need to know online, the advice here is non specific and no substitute for speaking to an expert, so please call us for a chat about your situation so we can provide some information tailored just for you