Non-regulation staircase to converted loft - will insurance be invalidated?

N3XUS12

So I have a converted loft (fully above board - no pun intended). It has planning permission, is fully boarded and windowed, etc. However the only way to access it currently is through the traditional loft hatch.

I want to install a staircase to the loft. I do not intend on using/labelling it as a bedroom, but I want easier access to the loft as a storage room. I also have no intention of selling my home so I don't care about future selling issues.

What I do care about is home insurance. The staircase I want to install would not comply with UK regulations, but there would be a fire door installed.

Will a non-regulation staircase into a fully compliant/legal loft affect my home insurance in the event of an unrelated claim (say, a burglary in my garage or shed)? I know the easy option is to just 'not mention' the staircase, but I don't want to fall into the realm of dishonesty or anything that could get me into trouble.

DullGreyGuy

You only have to answer the questions they ask you, you aren't required to offer anything additional up even if you think it is relevant. 

If an insurer asked if your property is currently up to code then you'd have to answer no but I've never seen an insurer that asks that or anything similar. The one thing you will probably have to do is count it as a room if you're getting quotes for a blanket/bedroom rated policy.

Hoenir

Stairs will in themselves need to comply with Building Regulations. To protect the safety of the occupants. Other than board the loft what other strengthening was undertaken. 

N3XUS12

DullGreyGuy said:

You only have to answer the questions they ask you, you aren't required to offer anything additional up even if you think it is relevant. 

If an insurer asked if your property is currently up to code then you'd have to answer no but I've never seen an insurer that asks that or anything similar. The one thing you will probably have to do is count it as a room if you're getting quotes for a blanket/bedroom rated policy.

Thanks. My concern is that I already have home insurance and the policy states I must inform them of any impending major reconstruction works. I'd be happy to have the work undertaken on an understanding I cannot claim if it goes wrong, but I wouldn't want it to affect other areas of my policy that are unrelated, i.e if my garage was burgled.

Hoenir said:

Stairs will in themselves need to comply with Building Regulations. To protect the safety of the occupants. Other than board the loft what other strengthening was undertaken. 

I know that is the official stance, but I also know lots of people that have stairs that don't exactly comply. Mine in particular will only not be compliant as the headroom will be 6/7cm lower than the required 2m at the top. Due to my house layout it's physically impossible to get that final push. The loft itself was converted with planning permission prior to my purchase. I don't know the technicalities of it, but I do know it has been strengthened and the surveyor was happy with it.

DullGreyGuy

N3XUS12 said:

DullGreyGuy said:

You only have to answer the questions they ask you, you aren't required to offer anything additional up even if you think it is relevant. 

If an insurer asked if your property is currently up to code then you'd have to answer no but I've never seen an insurer that asks that or anything similar. The one thing you will probably have to do is count it as a room if you're getting quotes for a blanket/bedroom rated policy.

Thanks. My concern is that I already have home insurance and the policy states I must inform them of any impending major reconstruction works. I'd be happy to have the work undertaken on an understanding I cannot claim if it goes wrong, but I wouldn't want it to affect other areas of my policy that are unrelated, i.e if my garage was burgled.

You'll have to ask them if putting in some stairs triggers their definition of major construction or not... many policies are not overly clear with their definition and some of those that are feel questionable. Hiscox for example say its works over £75,000 that need to be declared, on a normal property that'd be very significant works but if you are a high net worth individual that could just be a new kitchen. 

BarelySentientAI

N3XUS12 said:

Will a non-regulation staircase into a fully compliant/legal loft affect my home insurance in the event of an unrelated claim (say, a burglary in my garage or shed)? 

Why would the building regulations of your staircase be relevant to a burglary of your garage?

Not informing them of major reconstruction is a relevant point as an overall policy validity thing, but specific coverage is not important at this point.

N3XUS12

BarelySentientAI said:

N3XUS12 said:

Will a non-regulation staircase into a fully compliant/legal loft affect my home insurance in the event of an unrelated claim (say, a burglary in my garage or shed)? 

Why would the building regulations of your staircase be relevant to a burglary of your garage?

Not informing them of major reconstruction is a relevant point as an overall policy validity thing, but specific coverage is not important at this point.

It won't. My question was hypothetical, as I've never claimed on home insurance before. If I was to claim in the future for an incident completely unrelated to the staircase, would the staircase impact my claim? Do the insurers come and check your home or something, I have no idea.

BarelySentientAI

N3XUS12 said:

BarelySentientAI said:

N3XUS12 said:

Will a non-regulation staircase into a fully compliant/legal loft affect my home insurance in the event of an unrelated claim (say, a burglary in my garage or shed)? 

Why would the building regulations of your staircase be relevant to a burglary of your garage?

Not informing them of major reconstruction is a relevant point as an overall policy validity thing, but specific coverage is not important at this point.

It won't. My question was hypothetical, as I've never claimed on home insurance before. If I was to claim in the future for an incident completely unrelated to the staircase, would the staircase impact my claim? Do the insurers come and check your home or something, I have no idea.

Decades ago, much more so.  Everything that was a condition on your policy would be 'checked' for every claim, and if you hadn't complied with one of those things then the claim would be argued against.

Think of the old adverts about what BS your door locks are...

Now, it's nothing like that for home insurance claims.  For a policy condition to be applied on a claim, it generally has to be relevant to either the cause of the claim or the size of the claim.

So if you were claiming for burglary then the locks on your door are relevant, but if you were claiming for a leak from your bath taps the locks wouldn't be considered at all.

user1977

N3XUS12 said:

BarelySentientAI said:

N3XUS12 said:

Will a non-regulation staircase into a fully compliant/legal loft affect my home insurance in the event of an unrelated claim (say, a burglary in my garage or shed)? 

Why would the building regulations of your staircase be relevant to a burglary of your garage?

Not informing them of major reconstruction is a relevant point as an overall policy validity thing, but specific coverage is not important at this point.

It won't. My question was hypothetical, as I've never claimed on home insurance before. If I was to claim in the future for an incident completely unrelated to the staircase, would the staircase impact my claim? Do the insurers come and check your home or something, I have no idea.

No, they don't, and even if they did, I can't see how it could (legitimately) affect any claim. As already explained, all you need to do is answer the questions asked on the proposal form.

I think the point about declaring significant building works is more about cover while the works are actually going on, not whether they cover you after the alterations are complete.

DullGreyGuy

user1977 said:

N3XUS12 said:

BarelySentientAI said:

N3XUS12 said:

Will a non-regulation staircase into a fully compliant/legal loft affect my home insurance in the event of an unrelated claim (say, a burglary in my garage or shed)? 

Why would the building regulations of your staircase be relevant to a burglary of your garage?

Not informing them of major reconstruction is a relevant point as an overall policy validity thing, but specific coverage is not important at this point.

It won't. My question was hypothetical, as I've never claimed on home insurance before. If I was to claim in the future for an incident completely unrelated to the staircase, would the staircase impact my claim? Do the insurers come and check your home or something, I have no idea.

No, they don't, and even if they did, I can't see how it could (legitimately) affect any claim. As already explained, all you need to do is answer the questions asked on the proposal form.

I think the point about declaring significant building works is more about cover while the works are actually going on, not whether they cover you after the alterations are complete.

Then you haven't read  Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 @user1977

Under CIDRA an insurer can void a policy for non-disclosure if its considered deliberate or reckless, doesn't have to be anything to do with a claim though naturally its much more likely a problem will be spotted at the point of a relevant claim. If its careless rather than reckless then it comes down to if they would have offered terms had the real situation be declared... if they wouldn't then again can be voided, if they would have then the claim has to be paid but can be reduced by the percentage difference in premiums.

For example a policyholder claimed for storm damage to their roof a drone inspection was arranged. Whilst completing the survey the operator spotted both patio doors and a side door to the property when the customer had declared they only had a single exit door. Further inspection of all three doors showed very basic locks and no the BS compliant mortis lock thad claimed was on their only door so the policy was voided and the £10,000 claim declined. 

The stairs themselves won't be declarable, it may require an extra room to be declared and the work itself may or may not need to be declared whilst its ongoing depending on the insurers definitions

user1977

DullGreyGuy said:

user1977 said:

N3XUS12 said:

BarelySentientAI said:

N3XUS12 said:

Will a non-regulation staircase into a fully compliant/legal loft affect my home insurance in the event of an unrelated claim (say, a burglary in my garage or shed)? 

Why would the building regulations of your staircase be relevant to a burglary of your garage?

Not informing them of major reconstruction is a relevant point as an overall policy validity thing, but specific coverage is not important at this point.

It won't. My question was hypothetical, as I've never claimed on home insurance before. If I was to claim in the future for an incident completely unrelated to the staircase, would the staircase impact my claim? Do the insurers come and check your home or something, I have no idea.

No, they don't, and even if they did, I can't see how it could (legitimately) affect any claim. As already explained, all you need to do is answer the questions asked on the proposal form.

I think the point about declaring significant building works is more about cover while the works are actually going on, not whether they cover you after the alterations are complete.

For example a policyholder claimed for storm damage to their roof a drone inspection was arranged. Whilst completing the survey the operator spotted both patio doors and a side door to the property when the customer had declared they only had a single exit door. Further inspection of all three doors showed very basic locks and no the BS compliant mortis lock thad claimed was on their only door so the policy was voided and the £10,000 claim declined. 

So presumably based on incorrect answers to the specific questions on the proposal form about the doors/locks? Not sure that contradicts anything I said above?