Self-Build Zone’s Extension Insurance ensures your extension project is covered against risk factors, along with materials, equipment and liability.
The very nature of a building extension involves your home so most people assume that their home insurance and/or the builder's Public Liability cover is sufficient, which simply is not the case.
Extension Insurance
An extension is an exciting time for any homeowner, with the prospect of bringing ideas to life and having more space. Extensions have quickly risen in popularity in recent years, with many choosing to save money by staying put and creating more space in their current home.
Although an exciting project, extensions are a big financial investment which comes with risks which must be covered. Self-Build Zone’s extension insurance provides comprehensive protection to cover your building extension. Sit back, relax and look forward to your home transformation knowing that you have the right home extension insurance in place with us.
What is Extension Insurance?
Extension insurance covers your extension project from start to finish including your existing structure. Extension insurance protects your building extension against risks that otherwise wouldn’t be covered by your contractor’s insurance policy. Self-Build Zone’s home extension insurance gives you complete peace of mind that your existing home as well as your extension that is being built, taking the stress out of the project.
What does Extension Insurance cover?
Extension insurance will adequately cover the existing home and the new works, materials and plant equipment as well as your liability to others, and has been specifically designed to give you the protection you need. Our home extension insurance will also cover you if damage occurs to your current home while works are carried out. Most home insurance has exclusion if you are altering the structure of your home or doing works over £25,000. For example, if your home collapses while creating a new opening through to the extension your home insurance wouldn’t cover you, you need extension insurance.
Self-Build Zone’s building extension insurance includes Employers' and Public Liability Insurance as standard, as we know that other people, including family and friends, could be working on-site and they may get injured or someone may cause damage to a third party or their property. It is important that they are adequately protected, including the cost of defending and/or pursuing a claim.
Extension Insurance is available for a range of different policy durations. Insurance for building work for an extension project will provide cover in all the places home or standard buildings insurance does not, including when the property is unoccupied prior to and during the extension works.
Perhaps your contractor is insured?
Most contractors only have Public Liability cover or a policy where the limits are not sufficient to cover the cost of your build, this leaves you exposed as no one is taking full responsibility for the existing structure or the extension works in progress. Insurance for building work is vital, as accidents do happen such as a seriously fire-damaged property, whether caused accidentally or by vandalism, is a financial and emotional loss that does not bear thinking about so don't leave it to chance.
Relying on Home Insurance or your builder’s Public Liability policy when carrying out an extension is definitely not a good idea.
Does Home Insurance cover an Extension?
Standard home insurance will not cover you adequately when it comes to building an extension and carries many exclusions including:
Property damage caused by any negligence of the builder
Damage caused by altering the structure of the home
Works in excess of £25,000
Burst pipes
Fire
Weather damage/storms
Damage from an open roof
Theft of equipment or materials
Most people also assume the builder or contractor’s Public Liability Insurance will cover them - however, this is a short-sighted approach and will only cover if negligence is proven. This means you will have to prove them to be at fault which could cost you a lengthy legal pursuit which might not be successful.
Extension Insurance is the most practical and efficient way of covering your building extension from start to finish. If you approach the end of your home extension insurance policy and you aren’t finished with the work you can purchase a new policy to keep you covered. Our site insurance policies can be for the duration of 3 months all the way through to 24 months.
Do you need to tell your insurance provider about an extension?
It is important to notify your home insurer of any extension works before they begin. The provider may then either withdraw or limit the cover you have in place for your existing structure and its contents, which potentially leaves some of your home uninsured.
Party Wall Agreement
If you have a party wall agreement in place with one or more neighbours, you will probably be responsible for rectifying any damage caused to their property (however serious) so you should seek professional party wall advice in this respect and make sure you have adequate cover in place. We can also provide JCT 6.5.1 Insurance. Self-Build Zone provides a range of Site Insurance as well as our extension Insurance, to help you get the right cover.
Legal Expenses Insurance Cover?
Extension projects can be complex affairs because of the diversity of trades working on the site and the associated risks or exposures that come with that. We have many years of experience with what goes wrong, what the major issues have been and what causes clients the most stress. Not using properly written contracts probably causes more problems and upset than anything else. Without a contract, you cannot prove the terms of engagement with professionals, contractors, or suppliers.
We have known people to lose large amounts of money because they failed to use properly written contracts. When it comes to trying to make claims without this, it is very difficult as the burden of proof is on you. With a contract, there is little escape. That is why with our contract package we give you unlimited use of the contract wordings.
We back this up with the addition of Legal Expense cover, which is provided as standard with all of our Site Insurance products (excluding Developers Insurance).
If a dispute arises, the legal team will provide you with essential legal advice to enable you to pursue a contractual dispute claim where there is a good chance of success (terms and conditions apply).
By correctly using our contract templates, you will have the necessary proof of the basis of the contract which will hopefully enable a swift conclusion of any dispute.
Need a Structural Warranty?
A Self-Build Zone 10 Year Structural Warranty is one of the best ways to protect your project against the effect a major structural defect could have. Should you wish to sell the property at some point in the future, a Self-Build Zone 10 Year Structural Warranty will give you the peace of mind that the building was completed professionally and that it is covered by a lender-approved warranty.
