Home insurance covering renovations and extension 21 June 2022 at 7:27PM in Insurance & life assurance 3 replies 93 views

IH23

Just checking if you have any work done such as an extension or loft conversion. Work is signed off by BC and insurance cover is updated, say a fault occurs because of poor workmanship. Will your insurance policy cover fixing the work?

For example roof wasn't constructed right and after a year fails.

Aretnap

Home insurance doesn't cover poor workmanship. It covers one off events which cause damage to your home, like storms, fires and floods.

In the event of the new roof failing due to poor workmanship you would have to take it up with the building company or roofer who did the work. For this reason it is worth making sure that the contractors offer a guarantee which is backed by an insurance policy if their own - so that if they go out of business in the meantime you still have some recourse. 

Sandtree

IH23 said:

Just checking if you have any work done such as an extension or loft conversion. Work is signed off by BC and insurance cover is updated, say a fault occurs because of poor workmanship. Will your insurance policy cover fixing the work?

For example roof wasn't constructed right and after a year fails.

No, as above, poor workmanship is an excluded peril on Home Buildings/Contents insurance.

However, if you had legal expenses insurance attached to your home insurance It may provide assistance in pursuing the builder as long as there is reasonable prospects of success and the costs aren't disproportional to the claim.

TELLIT01

Also worth checking with your insurer that you are fully covered while the work is on-going.