What should I do about my home insurance after a renovation that the insurer wasn't aware of ?

vahidfar

I started a renovation in my home about 5 months ago which I should have let my home insurer know about before the work started, however I did not do that.

Now the work is complete and I've received the final certificate of building regulation approval as well and all is done. Where do I stand now? should I call them now and let them know? or should I wait until my policy ends and then do something about it?

prettyandfluffy

You need to tell them because if you need to make a claim before your policy runs out, they could refuse to pay or be difficult.

dunstonh

has the work changed the house in any material way that affects the insurance?

i.e. if it was a 4 bedroom brick and tile before and is a 4 bedroom brick and tile now, then the insurer wouldn't know that work was carried out.

vahidfar

dunstonh said:

has the work changed the house in any material way that affects the insurance?

i.e. if it was a 4 bedroom brick and tile before and is a 4 bedroom brick and tile now, then the insurer wouldn't know that work was carried out.

No, it has not changed. this is the description of the work done:

Alterations including enlarged rear balcony, new sliding patio doors , chimney

breast removal, installation of rooflights to rear roof slope with relocation of

bathroom and kitchen

user1977

I can't see the insurers being interested in any of that.

DullGreyGuy

user1977 said:

I can't see the insurers being interested in any of that.

Other than the sliding patio doors, depending on what was there before.


You may need to update the insurer depending on your prior declaration of what locks you had on your external doors other than your front door but the other items wouldnt need declaring individually. The only other consideration is if you have changed the rebuild value of your property, and only then if you have a sum insured policy. 

The insurer may dispute their liability if you discover an event that happened during the period of renovation but now they are complete they should be ok with all future incidents as long as the above two points are still accurate. 

vahidfar

DullGreyGuy said:

user1977 said:

I can't see the insurers being interested in any of that.

Other than the sliding patio doors, depending on what was there before.


You may need to update the insurer depending on your prior declaration of what locks you had on your external doors other than your front door but the other items wouldnt need declaring individually. The only other consideration is if you have changed the rebuild value of your property, and only then if you have a sum insured policy. 

The insurer may dispute their liability if you discover an event that happened during the period of renovation but now they are complete they should be ok with all future incidents as long as the above two points are still accurate. 

I was thinking for example if i develop a pipe leak in the new bathroom/kitchen location in the coming months, they might dispute that this leak happened after the renovation that they were not aware of and not cover the cost etc?

user1977

vahidfar said:

DullGreyGuy said:

user1977 said:

I can't see the insurers being interested in any of that.

Other than the sliding patio doors, depending on what was there before.


You may need to update the insurer depending on your prior declaration of what locks you had on your external doors other than your front door but the other items wouldnt need declaring individually. The only other consideration is if you have changed the rebuild value of your property, and only then if you have a sum insured policy. 

The insurer may dispute their liability if you discover an event that happened during the period of renovation but now they are complete they should be ok with all future incidents as long as the above two points are still accurate. 

I was thinking for example if i develop a pipe leak in the new bathroom/kitchen location in the coming months, they might dispute that this leak happened after the renovation that they were not aware of and not cover the cost etc?

There's no general need to tell insurers about plumbing work, so no, it shouldn't be relevant.