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

DullGreyGuy

user1977 said:

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?

You 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. 

Policies typically require you to inform them when structural or major works are being done to a property, putting in a new staircase could trigger that requirement and so could cause issues. So if they OP was subsequently burgled and the Loss Adjustor spots the building work in principle CIDRA could apply for non-disclosure of the building works. 

Its likely that it would be considered careless rather than deliberate and so would come down to if they insure during building works, many insurers dont.