Home insurance for new house rejected

maupertius

I'm in the process of buying my first house and currently looking for house insurance. I got a good quote from Admiral but, when discussing the quote over the phone, they asked me many questions about the renovation work I wanted to do (which include removing the wall between the dining and living room) and eventually said they can't provide cover for me. There is nothing out of the ordinary about the house so I suspect it's related to the renovation work (unfortunately the agent wasn't able to tell me more as the system just rejected).

Is this something common? Should I shop for a different provider or just don't mention about planned renovation work?

dunstonh

Insurers will often refuse new cover (and sometimes end cover for plans in force) where there are significant alterations taking place.

Taking down brick walls is more serious than changing stud walling.  So, use some common sense in your descriptions to the insurer but do be honest.

maupertius

Alternatively, should I get an unoccupied home insurance for the period the renovation works are taking place, given that we won't be living there during the time?

Aretnap

maupertius said:

Alternatively, should I get an unoccupied home insurance for the period the renovation works are taking place, given that we won't be living there during the time?

How long are you talking about? Most common or garden home insurance policies have a limit on the number of days that they'll cover an unoccupied property for (eg 30 or 60), regardless of how major the renovations are.

macman

What stage of the buying process are you at? The normal process is to insure it from exchange, then inform the insurers that you are intending to make structural alterations, and also your mortgage provider.
Assuming these alterations require BC approval, and possibly PP and a PWN, then you're not going to be starting the work as soon as you complete?

maupertius

macman said:

What stage of the buying process are you at? The normal process is to insure it from exchange, then inform the insurers that you are intending to make structural alterations, and also your mortgage provider.
Assuming these alterations require BC approval, and possibly PP and a PWN, then you're not going to be starting the work as soon as you complete?

I'm set to exchange on 9th January and complete on the 12th. We want to start the works asap after completion and move in at the end of February. I was told that the home insurance must start on the day of exchange (in this case 9th Jan). The wall I want to remove is an internal load bearing wall and will require building regulation permission.

Are you suggesting that I should get a quote and not state about planned renovation works? AFAIK most insurers require you to let them know 30 days ahead of the works taking place that you are planning structural works.

DullGreyGuy

Cover during structural work is typically not covered by most mainstream insurers and major structural work not by even by the higher grade mainstream... you are then into specialist territory. 

maupertius

How about doing a 'special cover' for renovation in the first 45 days and then, when we move in, do a standard home insurance? Is that a possibility?

DullGreyGuy

maupertius said:

How about doing a 'special cover' for renovation in the first 45 days and then, when we move in, do a standard home insurance? Is that a possibility?

Thats the norm