What Should You Have in Place Before Starting a Self Build?

Before starting a self build, put appropriate Site Insurance in place, arrange your Structural Warranty as early as possible, confirm contractor responsibilities and make suitable health and safety arrangements. Doing this before construction begins can help protect your budget, your future home and the people working on site.

When Should Site Insurance Start on a Self Build?

Site Insurance should normally be arranged before construction work begins. Once major building work starts, a standard home insurance policy may not provide the protection a live construction project needs.

Specialist Site Insurance can protect the new works and materials, with options that may also include an existing structure, plant, tools and specified liability risks. Arranging cover from the outset helps avoid leaving the project exposed during the early stages of the build.

When Should You Arrange a Structural Warranty?

A Structural Warranty is also best considered before work begins. Although the insurance period applies after completion, the warranty process includes technical assessment during construction. Arranging it early allows the provider to review the project while important elements remain visible.

Leaving a warranty until the build is advanced can make assessment more complicated and may lead to additional surveys or information being required. Early planning also helps you understand any lender requirements before they affect finance or completion.

What Should Be Agreed With Contractors Before Work Starts?

Written agreements can help establish the scope of work, costs, programme, payment arrangements and responsibility for different parts of the project. This becomes particularly important where several trades will be working on site.

You should also establish who will manage the construction phase and how health and safety responsibilities will be handled. Clear communication from the beginning can reduce uncertainty and help prevent gaps between different contractors.

What Health and Safety Measures Should Be Considered?

Before anyone arrives on site, think about safe access, site security, welfare facilities, storage of materials and how members of the public will be kept away from construction hazards.

Under CDM 2015, a homeowner having work carried out will normally be treated as a domestic client. Relevant duties generally pass to the contractor on a single-contractor project, or the principal contractor where several contractors are involved. Self builders should still take care when appointing competent people and provide sufficient time and resources for the work.

Questions to Ask Before Breaking Ground

Do I need Site Insurance before foundations start?

Putting appropriate cover in place before construction begins means the project can be protected from the point at which the building risk starts.

Can I arrange a Structural Warranty once work has started?

It may be possible, but the provider can require additional information or inspections. Arranging it early is generally simpler.

Is my builder’s insurance enough for my self build?

Not necessarily. A contractor’s policy is designed around the contractor’s own risks. Self builders should establish what protection is required for the project itself.

Good preparation is one of the simplest ways to reduce unnecessary risk on a self build. Putting insurance, warranty arrangements, contractor responsibilities and site safety measures in place early gives the project a stronger foundation before construction begins. Self-Build Zone provides specialist Site Insurance and 10 Year Structural Warranties for self builders.