Party Wall Insurance

ironmanjason

Hi,

I am in need of some advice. We are planning to undertake a rear extension at our property which is mid terraced. We have already received planning permission and party wall agreements. But I was wondering if we needed a party wall insurance in case something goes wrong with the adjoining properties during the building work? I checked with my insurance company and they provide cover damage to my property during building works but not to adjoining so a bit concerned. Any advise appreciated.

Thanks

EdGasketTheSecond

Doesn't the builder have insurance if they cause damage to a neighbouring property?

When I had a house fire, my contents insurance had liability insurance which covered damage to the neighbour's house.

eddddy

EdGasketTheSecond said:

Doesn't the builder have insurance if they cause damage to a neighbouring property?

When I had a house fire, my contents insurance had liability insurance which covered damage to the neighbour's house.

The Party Wall Act means it's probably not that simple.

Essentially, the Act means that a property owner has 'strict liability' for damage caused to neighbours property during party wall work.  It's not necessary to prove that anyone was negligent or that the damage was foreseeable etc.

The builder's liability insurance would probably only cover damage to the neighbour's property as a result of the builder's negligence. So 'Party Wall Insurance' would cover any damage caused without anyone being negligent.

But as I understand it, you tend to get 'Party Wall Insurance' for big projects like digging out a new basement in a terraced house.

I guess you have a Party Wall Surveyor - so maybe ask their opinion.

ironmanjason

thanks guys.
Like you are saying its not very simple and I feel it might be quite a task to actually prove that the builder was negligent.
Yes I will ask the surveyor. Just wanted to know if someone had used it in the past and have had to claim

GordonBurnett

There isn't a specific PW insurance for this - your builder and designers should have insurance. You are responsible for damage under the PWA but would reasonably expect to claim back from whoever screwed up. Problem is if they are doing what is reasonable and an unforeseeable calamity occurs they may duck out of it. This gap in the cover can be filled with 'non-negligence insurance'. Talk to your architect / surveyor about this.