DIY Build Insurance?

Xeorix

To cut a long story short, we're not at the property yet and Admiral won't cover the renovation work if we're not there. They're passed use to Towergate insurance, but they will only cover us for Fire & Theft.

Since it's a DIY build, lets say the worst happen and the ceiling collapses, we would have to pay out of our own pockets to repair this.

Work being done is removing a structural wall and fitting a new kitchen. All work is being done by ourselves.

Does anyone know of any insurance which will cover us for a short term renovation?

dacouch

You need what's known as "Self Build Insurance" this also tends to cover renovations.

You need to read exactly what they're covering you for and what they're not covering you for.

Xeorix

dacouch wrote: »

You need what's known as "Self Build Insurance" this also tends to cover renovations.

You need to read exactly what they're covering you for and what they're not covering you for.

Does this cover you for if something goes wrong during build though? Say the ceiling collapsed?

Towergate do non standard insurance, but they don't cover you for damage to the property if caused by ourselves doing the work

forgotmyname

If you take a supporting wall down and the ceiling collapses you wont be covered.

Should shoul have supports in place unto a supporting beam is fitted.

Damage caused by yourself will be out of your own pockets. Are you really upto the task of taking down a structural wall?

InsideInsurance

You are talking about defective workmanship by the sounds of it in which case you are going to really struggle to get anything that covers this for a sensible price as your almost certainly talking a bespoke policy and those are always expensive.

Builders/ contractors would buy a liability insurance but that is because there are multiple parties involved and they can be sued. You cannot sue yourself and so liability is not relevant.

Xeorix

forgotmyname wrote: »

If you take a supporting wall down and the ceiling collapses you wont be covered.

Should shoul have supports in place unto a supporting beam is fitted.

Damage caused by yourself will be out of your own pockets. Are you really upto the task of taking down a structural wall?

Yes. My father in law is in the trade, however since this is done as DIY and not through the company he works for, insurance doesn't cover him

InsideInsurance wrote: »

You are talking about defective workmanship by the sounds of it in which case you are going to really struggle to get anything that covers this for a sensible price as your almost certainly talking a bespoke policy and those are always expensive.

Builders/ contractors would buy a liability insurance but that is because there are multiple parties involved and they can be sued. You cannot sue yourself and so liability is not relevant.

We're looking for insurance to cover us during the period of installation. How do builders in the same situation as my father in law go about it if something goes wrong then?

InsideInsurance

Xeorix wrote: »

We're looking for insurance to cover us during the period of installation. How do builders in the same situation as my father in law go about it if something goes wrong then?

As said, they have someone that can sue them and so they can get liability insurance.

You cannot sue yourself so cannot buy liability insurance.

A builder who messes up will have to reimburse his client and so he has no interest in messing up as this increases his premiums and some or all of it may come out of his pocket if there is a deductable etc.

You, doing your own place, may find that dodgy ceiling accidentally comes down but you then save yourself having to fix the ceiling because the insurance now pays out.... doesnt really encourage you to do a good job does it?

Certainly a policy could be found to cover you but the cost of it is probably so high that it wont make sense to buy it. Anything legal can be insured via Lloyds but you then arent paying for a call centre agent typing info into an automated computer system that spits out a price and wording but a highly paid broker speaking to a highly paid underwriter creating bespoke wordings with both wanting much more profit margin than mass market products. They may also want surveys of the property done, full plans submitted and proof of your competence in doing the work etc and so you're then also paying for both of those professionals to review all of those documents etc.

Xeorix

Thanks - I guess that makes sense.

What I've got is a policy to cover me, but not for and building damage. £500

What I find stupid is that I've just called my current insurance and if I am not sleeping there, they can't cover me however.

If I live there and do the work, but then over Christmas I go on holiday and the work is paused, that's OK...

InsideInsurance

There is a significant increase in fire and flood/ escape of water risks during renovations. By someone being there then the chances are a small fire caused by careless storage of a hot blow torch is likely to be spotted/ smelt early thus mitigating the damage caused where as if the property is vacant its only when the roofs caught fire that a neighbour spots it and then you're looking at a total loss.

Unfortunately speak from experience as our previous office had a fire on the roof that was spotted 24 hours after workman had stopped work and had set fire to a beam "that they thought was steel" but was actually wood.

forgotmyname

If your FIL is already a trader then get him to bill you for the work. You will then be covered wont you?

Although you may need to have clearly defined payment transfers.

Will it saying anything about him charging £100 to demolish a wall and add a supporting beam?

Talukdar

I have my DIY insurance from https://www.covomo.com/. You may try on this site for short term renovation. I hope you will find it helpful.