If you’re planning building work or renovations in your home, then you should consider the insurance implications. Don’t assume that your current home insurance policy will give you all the cover you need, and you should certainly let your insurer know about any major work you’re planning.
In this post we’ll discuss the key considerations to make when it comes to home insurance during building work. If you have any questions about your home insurance needs, or if you want a free quote on renovations insurance, get in touch by calling 0208 290 9086 or emailing personal@anthonyjones.com.
How Can Building Work Affect Home Insurance?
“All home building projects are risky. And while your home insurance will provide some cover, it’s unlikely to provide all the cover you need should something go wrong,” Mark Stevenson from Anthony Jones says.
Your current home insurance policy will likely be very limited:
- You may only have cover for works up to a certain value, which means you would not be covered for larger projects.
- Cover may only extend to your home’s structure, and not its contents.
- You may not be covered for certain things that might go wrong with your works. For instance, if you accidentally drill into a water pipe and cause a flood, will your policy cover you for an escape of water claim?
So before you start any building projects, check your current home insurance policy, to see what level of cover you have.
What Insurance Do You Need For Building Work?
If your current home insurance policy won’t cover you for your planned building works, then you should take out a specialist home renovations insurance policy.
A comprehensive home renovation insurance policy will provide a much broader scope of cover, and to a much higher value. Typically, you’ll get cover for:
- Structural damage
- Your home’s contents, in case anything gets destroyed, damaged, or stolen during the works
- Fire, theft, floods, and break-ins that may occur during the building work
- Employer’s liability, for any contractors you may hire during the project
- Any damages to your neighbouring properties that may occur during the works
A home renovation insurance policy can also provide unoccupied home cover, just in case you need to temporarily relocate while the works are taking place.
You can read our full guide to home renovations insurance, and what it covers.
When Should You Tell Your Insurer About Home Insurance?
You should tell your insurer about any building work you have planned, even if it feels like a relatively minor project.
If you don’t tell your insurer about your planned building work, and something goes wrong during the project, then they may reject your claim – even if your current policy covers you for the work! This would leave you with a hefty repair bill on top of the costs of the ongoing building work.
Yes, you may have to pay an extra premium for any additional cover. But no matter how much this costs, the potential costs of any repairs will certainly cost much more. It’s just not worth the risk: Talk to your insurer, and they can help you ensure you have all the cover you need.
Get Specialist Home Renovation Insurance From Anthony Jones
Mark Stevenson from Anthony Jones says:
“If you’re planning a home renovation project of any scale, come and talk to us. We can help you understand the risks to your property, to your neighbouring properties, and to your home’s contents. And if your current home insurance policy doesn’t provide sufficient cover, we can help you get the cover you need at the best price.”
If you have any questions about your home insurance needs, or if you want a free quote on renovations insurance, get in touch by calling 0208 290 9086 or emailing personal@anthonyjones.com.
