Home insurance wants contractors insurance details 30 days before work starts?

Herzlos

Bit of an odd one here so I need some advice.

After discussing a claim with my home insurer (which turns out to be a broker), it turns out they want 30 days of "any building work, conversions, renovations, demolitions and/or extensions prior to any work commencing". Some back and forth trying to determine what renovations means with respect to bathrooms hasn't helped much, and they've given me a form which asks for the insurer, PL amount and policy number for the contractor. I've so far had 2 out of 2 contractors refusing to provide them, with one claiming it's against data protection regulations.

Is this a reasonable request from the home insurer? Do the contractors have a point?

(for background, we're talking about a fairly straight bathroom replacement with a small amount of re-plumbing/wiring, but isn't going to be something that'd change the liability of the house).

FreeBear

Herzlos said: I've so far had 2 out of 2 contractors refusing to provide them, with one claiming it's against data protection regulations.

The Data Protection Act no longer exists, it has been superseded by the General Data Protection Regulations. For a contractor to try to hide behind the GDPR is laughable and just demonstrate ignorance on his part. You have every right to know if he does have PLI (or Tradesman's Liability Insurance), and it is a reasonable request so that you can verify his claim to have it.

If a contractor doesn't want to provide the information, cross him off the list.

That said, it does sound a bit odd that your insurer is asking for the information - Pretty sure mine doesn't - But they are just covering their back should this go wrong. They then have a third party to chase for their losses and are safe in the knowledge that another insurer will cough up.

TELLIT01

Irrespective of the correct terminology, I would have grave doubts about using a builder who refused to provide details of their insurance.  Obvious assumption is that they don't have any.

Herzlos

That's where I'd got to after sleeping on it, plus the wife checked and they are legally obliged to provide insurance certificates if asked so I'm not sure what the issue is. On further inspection I can't find a website or business address for them so I suspect that's part of it. Another trader it is!

That said, it does sound a bit odd that your insurer is asking for the information - Pretty sure mine doesn't - But they are just covering their back should this go wrong. They then have a third party to chase for their losses and are safe in the knowledge that another insurer will cough up.

I think it's just a very broad backside covering exercise, from the Customer Service interaction it seems that a straight replacement is OK but if any modification work is being done then they want to know so they can check with the underwriter.

It does make sense though, as it gives them someone to pursue for losses and I dare say a dodgy bathroom fitter could cause a lot of expensive damage.

Mistral001

I think it is unreasonable for the insurer to ask for these details and the builder is only protecting his own interests with regard to his own insurance.  He is not doing anything wrong or dodgy.  

PS.  By all means ask  to be shown proof of insurance.  That is sensible, but asking for it for the reason you have stated will meet understandable resistance.

unforeseen

It sounds like you are currently at the getting quotes stage.
I see o reason why a builder would need to provide the information at this stage as there is no contract., and fully understand why 2 have refused.

Agree a contract with them and at that point they will probably provide the details but not on a speculative quote. 

ComicGeek

unforeseen said:

It sounds like you are currently at the getting quotes stage.
I see o reason why a builder would need to provide the information at this stage as there is no contract., and fully understand why 2 have refused.

Agree a contract with them and at that point they will probably provide the details but not on a speculative quote. 

Insurance would be a key part of any contract I form with a builder, so I would have to see evidence of the insurance at the quotation stage. That's exactly what I'm doing at the moment for some building work.

I work in the construction industry, and have to provide copies of professional indemnity, public liability and employers liability insurance alongside the vast majority of quotes. It's really not an issue if you hold appropriate insurances.