I am a self-builder of a single-storey house with a builder who will build and project manage the build.
Should I take out insurance? At present I only have a Public Liability insurance in place for myself as an owner.
The builder is suggesting a 'joint-names policy'??
Do I need some sort of insurance myself in case he couldn't finish the work?
Thank you
Karen Humphreys
Hi Karen,
I’d strongly recommend that you look into securing your owns specific Self-Build Insurance policy through a recognised provider such as Self-Build Zone or Protek. In the grand scheme of your project budget, this will be a relatively modest investment but will protect you should things go awry.
Public liability insurance is a start, but it won’t cover all your potential risks on a site like a fully-fledged self build insurance policy.
Similarly, relying on the builder’s own insurance could open you up to extra risk. This issue has been highlighted by a recent case we’ve heard about, where the owner of a loft conversion project found themselves uninsured when their house was catastrophically damaged during the works. The builder had a court judgement against them for unpaid parking fines… which invalidated the builder’s insurance… and the homeowner hadn’t arranged their own policy. As a result, they were left with a whopping repair bill.
So, while it’s not mandatory, I would always strongly advise self builders to arrange specific insurance cover for their projects.
Best wishes,
Chris (editor, Build It)