Home Insurance during large extension

Bad_Ash

Based upon advice received on this forum I contacted my home insurer to advise them of the work and the result is they have cancelled my policy effective from the date the work is due to start (Monday 18th).

Some background; the work is a large double storey extension (4m x 10m external foorprint), that will add a bedroom, a bathroom & study (plus make much larger open plan kitchen/diner/family room). We have engaged a builder to manage the build and it'll cover everything other than kitchen units & fitting, bathroom units, flooring and decoration. The builders quote is £130k (inc VAT) and we estimate another £40k for kitchen, bathroom, flooring, etc. giving a total of £170k

We have verbal timescales of 3-4 months and we will move out for the duration of the project. The builder provided a detailed quote of works with a total figure (rather than a breakdown). There is not a weekly schedule of work or contract.

We will be moving out during the majority of the work. Being a pessimist, and based upon comments everyone had made about how accurate timescale quote are, I said the build would take 5 month (and we would move out the whole time).

It was based upon the above that the policy was cancelled. I've spoken to a broker and we're struggling to get quotes due to a) lack of JCT contract and b) works taking over 128 days.

Since this we've discussed with the builder who is preparing a contract, but not a JCT one. He is providing a weekly schedule of work (linked to payment plan) that will be for 13 weeks (so much less than my 5 months).

Waiting for my broker to get back to me based upon the builder's provided timeline.

I'm looking for advice. What is the minimum we need (given the short timescales we have ) to obtain insurance and who should we use?

Quentin

You won't be able to get off the peg cover for this

Make sure that your broker is aware of the facts (is your property is uninsured from Monday) and if they cannot arrange cover immediately find another!

king132

I was in a similar position last year. Informed my insurer of my extension and renovation works and had my policy cancelled. I ended up using https://www.thehomeinsurer.co.uk.

A guy called me up and went through a few questions with me then went away and came back with a quote which was competitive.

You will need to pay a year’s premium upfront but the policy can be cancelled and part refunded from what I remember.