Home insurance and building work Post Reply

[claphamama]

Our house insurance is due to be renewed soon so I started looking for possible alternatives. Also, as we are due to start building works (side return extension) in 2016 I realised a standard home insurance won't suffice/cover for any aspects related to the work.
I was wondering what people do in this instance. Do they take up an additional insurance?

[coldatchristmas]

I'd talk to Hiscox.

We moved from Direct Line to them a few years back. We haven't had to claim but we came close and they were really really lovely to deal with.

I'd also ask them about the extra cover.

Please be really really careful, you may have seen this story

http://www.nappyvalleynet.com/mums/view ... 7&p=147549

about the building works which caused a couple of lose their homes.

Good luck

[Annabel (admin)]

I googled the names of the couple in the basement collapse and read this

http://www.building.co.uk/consultant%E2 ... 84.article

just as an FYI

[asknicky]

The type of insurance you will need is Contractors All-Risk Insurance (also know as Contractors Works Insurance) it is pretty easy to get. You can read more about it here http://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wik ... _insurance

Also, it is important to ensure your builder has Employers Liability Insurance and Public Liability Insurance before they start work (make sure you see the policy). If you builder is hiring subcontractors (ie the builder pays them) make sure the subcontractors have Public Liability Insurance and check if they need to be named on the main builders insurance. For subcontractors you hire directly they will need Public Liability Insurance and Employers if they have employees.

[Aprilmama]

You can usually simply add an extra clause to your existing insurance - you simply need to ring up your insurers and notify them of the works and then they may put additional requirements on your insurance and you may have to pay additional premium. so you when you are looking to reinsure it would be worth asking what sort of conditions / increased premiums might be likely in your scenario. They will probably ask for proof of your contractors insurance too.

[LP73]

Make sure that your builders have the adequate insurance and ask them to put this into your contract and also you will need a different type of insurance for the renovation work. It's worth speaking to your insurance company and trying to arrange something with them if you've been with them a while.