Renovation insurance and building works

In a recent survey conducted by international specialist insurer, Hiscox Insurance, it was found that the number of homeowners in the UK choosing to improve their homes rather than move has risen fivefold in the last five years. UK local councils have seen a 29% rise in in the number of planning permission requests over the last ten years.

It is a requirement of all home insurance policies that the insurer is notified of planned building works during the course of the insurance policy, so it can assess the nature of the increased risk. Failure to do so will invalidate your cover in the event of a claim.

Comprehensive house renovation insurance

Whilst the end result of a renovation project can be the home of your dreams, the risk of damage to your home during the project is increased. A comprehensive house renovation insurance policy will provide cover for the following eventualities, amongst others:

  • Contractors may be using welding gear and heat lamps which can increase the chance of a fire occurring.
  • There may be times when the roof will need to be left open, exposing it to adverse weather such as storm and water ingress.
  • The property may be left unoccupied for long periods, increasing the risk of vandalism or theft, either of materials and equipment (such as bathroom or kitchen fittings) or your own personal belongings.
  • If the property is without heating, there is an increased risk of burst pipes and water damage in freezing conditions.

We can arrange home renovation insurance cover to include the following features:

  • Cover on an all risks basis – including accidental damage, theft and malicious damage
  • Cover for the contract works, existing structure and contents all under one policy
  • Meets the requirements of any specific terms such as the standard JCT terms
  • The ability for the policy to be written in the joint names of the property owner and contractor if required by the contract

“What about my contractor’s insurance cover?”

If it cannot be proved that damage to your home was caused because of the contractor’s negligence, you could be left with a costly repair bill. Also, how confident are you that the contractor is complying with the requirements of their insurance? For example, there may be a maximum height limit that they are restricted to work within, or an exclusion relating to work with heat. If these restrictions are broken and the contractor’s policy is invalidated, their insurer will deny the claim. 

A contractor’s public liability policy will cover damages that the contractor is legally liable to pay, i.e damage caused as a result of their negligence.  Likewise, the contractor may have Contractors All Risks cover, but this only provides cover for the contract works, not the existing structure, i.e the part of the home that isn’t being worked upon.

A policy to match your exact requirements

We work with some of the best home renovation insurance companies on the market to ensure we provide you with a policy to match your exact requirements and with no potential gaps in cover when you undertake your project.

How to obtain a quotation from Alastair James Insurance Brokers

Requesting a quotation could not be easier.  Either upload your current Policy Schedule or Renewal Notice.  Alternatively you can request a call back at a specific time convenient to you, or telephone the office directly.

Upload a schedule

Give us a call

Don't Take Our Word For It

I had tried lots of other brokers but some didn’t bother to get back to me

I had tried lots of other brokers but some didn’t bother to get back to me, and others couldn’t offer cover for our property. I found your service very professional and efficient. It is nice to speak with an individual person rather than a large company of telesales people!

I should be happy to reco…

Read More

Mrs H.W

I had tried lots of other brokers but some didn’t bother to get back to me

I had tried lots of other brokers but some didn’t bother to get back to me, and others couldn’t offer cover for our property. I found your service very professional and efficient. It is nice to speak with an individual person rather than a large company of telesales people!

I should be happy to recommend you to anyone or act as a reference.

Mrs H.W

Great service and made sure I had everything I needed! Thank you!

Alastair kindly helped me with my office insurance when setting up the office last year! Great service and made sure I had everything I needed! Thank you!

Fran Coulter

Great service and made sure I had everything I needed! Thank you!

Alastair kindly helped me with my office insurance when setting up the office last year! Great service and made sure I had everything I needed! Thank you!

Fran Coulter

Would highly recommend

Great service for our home insurance. Found us a much cheaper and more comprehensive insurance than we’d previously had. Would highly recommend

Janet Flowers

Would highly recommend

Great service for our home insurance. Found us a much cheaper and more comprehensive insurance than we’d previously had. Would highly recommend

Janet Flowers

Open and honest at all times, and I would recommend him without a moment’s hesitation.

My situation has been complicated by a previous subsidence claim, but Alastair has gone above and beyond to help me find appropriate cover.
He has been responsive and efficient, while always providing excellent advice.
I have found him to be open and honest at all times, and I would recommend him without a mo…

Read More

Dave Cooper

Open and honest at all times, and I would recommend him without a moment’s hesitation.

My situation has been complicated by a previous subsidence claim, but Alastair has gone above and beyond to help me find appropriate cover.
He has been responsive and efficient, while always providing excellent advice.
I have found him to be open and honest at all times, and I would recommend him without a moment’s hesitation.
Thank you Alastair.

Dave Cooper

Alastair has constantly found me better deals and provided exceptional service throughout

I have used Alastair James for car, building and contents insurance. Alastair has constantly found me better deals and provided exceptional service throughout. I will definitely be using their services again in the future.

Kier James Roff-Stanion

Alastair has constantly found me better deals and provided exceptional service throughout

I have used Alastair James for car, building and contents insurance. Alastair has constantly found me better deals and provided exceptional service throughout. I will definitely be using their services again in the future.

Kier James Roff-Stanion

I would thoroughly recommend using Alastair for all your insurance needs.

Alastair has sorted out a number of insurances for us with total professionalism and efficiency. He has dealt with our car and home insurance and in all cases he has come up with exactly what we wanted, balancing cost with cover and also some additional benefits we had not considered. I would thoroughly…

Read More

Christine Helps

I would thoroughly recommend using Alastair for all your insurance needs.

Alastair has sorted out a number of insurances for us with total professionalism and efficiency. He has dealt with our car and home insurance and in all cases he has come up with exactly what we wanted, balancing cost with cover and also some additional benefits we had not considered. I would thoroughly recommend using Alastair for all your insurance needs.

Christine Helps

Will continue using for the foreseeable future.

Alastair has helped my brother and I with numerous insurance requirements for several years. He has always provided exceptional service and prompt responses. As a result we have always found the best deals for all our insurance needs. Will continue using for the foreseeable future.

Rowan Roff-Stanion

Will continue using for the foreseeable future.

Alastair has helped my brother and I with numerous insurance requirements for several years. He has always provided exceptional service and prompt responses. As a result we have always found the best deals for all our insurance needs. Will continue using for the foreseeable future.

Rowan Roff-Stanion

Really got to know me and my business and helped me get a better understanding of which cover I should have in place

Alastair provides a professional and personal insurance service. He really got to know me and my business and helped me get a better understanding of which cover I should have in place. Would definitely recommend talking to Alastair if your insurance is up for renewal

Miss A.T

Really got to know me and my business and helped me get a better understanding of which cover I should have in place

Alastair provides a professional and personal insurance service. He really got to know me and my business and helped me get a better understanding of which cover I should have in place. Would definitely recommend talking to Alastair if your insurance is up for renewal

Miss A.T

Alastair listens to your exact requirements

Alastair listens to your exact requirements and finds the policies that suit you. Drop him a message

Mr S.C

Alastair listens to your exact requirements

Alastair listens to your exact requirements and finds the policies that suit you. Drop him a message

Mr S.C

Excellent service, Alastair, thank you for all your help. I

Excellent service, Alastair, thank you for all your help. I look forward to speaking again when my other policies are due

Mr G.D

Excellent service, Alastair, thank you for all your help. I

Excellent service, Alastair, thank you for all your help. I look forward to speaking again when my other policies are due

Mr G.D

Thank you for your help

Thank you for your help. You have been most patient with me and it’s appreciated

Ms R.D

Thank you for your help

Thank you for your help. You have been most patient with me and it’s appreciated

Ms R.D

Polite, very helpful and professional.

Polite, very helpful and professional.

Tess Mariapa

Polite, very helpful and professional.

Polite, very helpful and professional.

Tess Mariapa

PRIVATE CLIENT INSURANCE BROKERS

As private client insurance brokers, we have access to a variety of insurers and underwriting agencies who specialise in the insurance of high value homes, contents, valuables, performance cars and classic cars.

COMMERCIAL CLIENTS

Through our role as commercial insurance brokers we can provide comprehensive cover for individual company directors and sole traders through to small and medium sized enterprises and national organisations.

ABOUT ALASTAIR

Alastair established Alastair James Insurance Brokers Limited after nearly twenty years’ experience in the insurance industry, in both the Commercial and Private Clients sector.

Request a callback

It is easy to get in touch with us or simply request a call back at a time that is convenient to you.