Home Renovation Insurance

phykell

Hi,

I'm having some renovation work done on my property and I'm adding an extension as well. Unfortunately, I'll need to move out of the property for at least six months whilst the work is being carried out (floors being ripped out, steel beams being fitted, etc.). My builder has said I'll need insurance to cover the property but it seems that my current policy may not cover such extensive renovations and it's extremely difficult to get a quote without being forced down the rabbit hole of purchasing "normal" house insurance including contents, where they expect you to be living in the property together with a burglar alarm, smoke alarms, and appropriate security on the doors. Of course, if the property is being completely renovated, it's unlikely that any alarms will remain intact and working; likewise, the doors and windows are all being replaced as well so if they need to be boarded up, they're not going to have any locks, etc.

Can anyone suggest suitable brokers - any suggestions are welcome

TELLIT01

Have you seen this?  https://www.money.co.uk/home-insurance/home-renovation-insurance.htm  It was the first entry when I did a search for home renovation insurance.

phykell

TELLIT01 said:

Have you seen this?  https://www.money.co.uk/home-insurance/home-renovation-insurance.htm  It was the first entry when I did a search for home renovation insurance.

Thanks, I did.  The problem is that you end up filling out all of the details as though you're getting a quote for normal home insurance, even when they've stated it's for "home renovation" services. If you're having the whole house renovated though, questions about what security locks you've got seem irrelevant and if you're not going to be in the property while the work is being done or if the contract cost exceeds £75k, it tends to exclude you.

I've been in contact with Hiscox, and they're arranging a customised quotation for me - I think I'm too used to using comparison sites rather than speaking to insurance companies direct!

TELLIT01

Not a lot of point in supposedly having the Top10 if they don't actually do what they say on the tin.!

Yourbestbet

It might be worth going to a specialist broker, the main guys use the main insurers and I've had this probelm when finding insurance for my renovation. Give BGi.uk a go, they had a specialist renovation insurer last time I looked.

huckster

Depends on extent of works. There are specific policies for buildings which are being rebuilt and you would need to go to a brokers for options. E..g., Tower gate, Home Protect.

If it is just an extension plus general renovation, then it can be a standard Home Insurance, but the Insurers would then amend the cover to tailor it to the circumstances. 

This is not an Insurance that can usually be purchased online using standard forms. It will involve sending Insurers all of the information and they will then quote and advise conditions/exclusions.