20 November 2025

Understanding Renovation Insurance: A Beginner's Guide

By Self Build Zone
understanding renovation insurance

Renovating your home is an exciting opportunity to improve comfort, increase value, and create a space that truly works for you. However, renovation projects also come with risks that standard home insurance does not cover.

Whether you are updating a kitchen, converting a loft, or extending your property, having the right renovation insurance in place is essential for protecting your investment and avoiding costly setbacks.

What is Renovation Insurance?

Renovation insurance is a specialist policy designed to cover properties undergoing refurbishment or structural work. Standard home insurance policies often exclude cover when building works are taking place, leaving you exposed to risks such as fire, flood, theft, or accidental damage during construction.

A renovation insurance policy bridges that gap by providing protection for your existing home, the new work being carried out, and any materials or equipment stored on site. It ensures that if something goes wrong, you have the financial support needed to put it right.

What Does Renovation Insurance Cover?

Although cover varies between providers, a comprehensive renovation insurance policy typically includes:

  1. Property and Materials Cover
    Protection for both the existing structure and new works against damage from fire, storms, floods, vandalism, or theft.
  2. Public Liability Cover
    If someone is injured or their property is damaged as a result of your renovation work, public liability insurance protects you from expensive legal claims and compensation costs.
  3. Employers’ Liability (if applicable)
    If you hire tradespeople or labourers directly, this is a legal requirement. It provides cover if a worker is injured or becomes ill while working on your project.
  4. Alternative Accommodation Costs
    If your home becomes uninhabitable due to damage caused during renovation, some policies will help cover the cost of temporary accommodation.

Why You Need Renovation Insurance

Many homeowners assume their builder’s or contractor’s insurance will protect them, but this is rarely the case. Builder’s insurance typically covers the contractor’s business, not the homeowner’s property. If something happens and you cannot prove the builder is at fault, you may be left paying for repairs yourself.

Renovation insurance ensures that your interests are protected at all times, regardless of who is responsible for the damage. It also provides peace of mind that your project can continue even in the event of unexpected events, such as weather damage or the theft of valuable materials.

Choosing the Right Policy

Before purchasing renovation insurance, assess the scale and duration of your project. Be clear about the type of work being carried out and any risks involved, as these factors affect the level of cover you need. Always check policy exclusions carefully and make sure your chosen insurer specialises in renovation or self build cover.

A trusted provider such as Self-Build Zone can offer tailored advice and policies specifically designed for renovation projects. With the right cover in place, you can focus on bringing your ideas to life, knowing that your home, materials, and finances are fully protected.

Renovation insurance might not be the most exciting part of your project, but it is one of the most important. It protects you from the unexpected and ensures that the time, effort, and money you invest in improving your home are never at risk.

Two construction workers in hard hats review blueprints, discussing plans and choosing self-build insurance in a workshop.

Understanding Renovation Insurance: A Beginners Guide

New to renovation insurance? Get in touch with Self-Build Zone to learn how our specialist renovation insurance can safeguard your project and give you total peace of mind.

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