Renovations, restorations and contract works on your listed building

Insurance for renovations on a listed building

When planning to undertake work at your home one of the things that people don’t always think of is to make sure that you notify your Insurer.  It is so important to ensure that you are protected throughout the duration of the works, so when you update or upgrade your house then the same needs to be done for your insurance policy.

When researching you may come across several names for this type of insurance:

Contract Works: This insurance covers construction-related activities and assets during a building project. It typically includes protection against physical loss or damage to buildings, materials, temporary works, and equipment involved in the construction process. This can cover incidents like fire, theft, vandalism, and natural disasters.

Renovation: Renovating listed buildings involves making alterations or improvements to the property while preserving its historical and architectural significance. This often requires special permissions and adherence to specific guidelines to ensure that the character and heritage of the building are maintained.

Restoration: Restoration refers to the process of returning a listed building to its original state or condition. This often involves using traditional materials and techniques to repair or rebuild parts of the property that have deteriorated over time.

As soon as you know any of these types of work will be taking place on your house, speak to your insurer or broker to discuss your plans. Your policy may cover what you have planned but it may only partially cover you due to a limitation. If this is the case a specialist broker will be able to advise you as to what steps to take to make sure your property is protected.

Why is it important to make sure you update your insurer regarding the work that you are planning to carry out?

• Increased footfall in your house means an increased chance of theft, damage or loss
• Unforeseen changes can happen as a result of the works taking place and cracks could appear in an adjoining property
• Should a dispute arise, cover will help when you need to settle it
• If you unexpectedly need to move out of the property for a while, this can be covered by your policy

It’s best to have an initial conversation with your broker about any proposed works at the earliest opportunity.

During your listed building renovation

During works it is important to update and inform your broker of any changes, especially if the contract value or duration of the works has increased or if the nature of the works has changed in any way.

If anything happens and you think it may result in a claim, advise your broker as soon as possible.

When your renovation works are complete

When the work to your property is completed, before you can sit back and relax in your newly renovated home there are just a few things that you will need to do:

• Advise your broker that the works are complete and that cover for the works can come to an end
• You’ll also want to update your building’s cover with the new estimated rebuild cost considering all the work that has now been completed

The more prepared you are before the work starts the less stressful it should be. Ensuring your insurance is sorted ahead of schedule also eases any pressure should anything go wrong. Whilst navigating your policy may seem confusing a specialist broker will be able to take you through the process step by step explaining exclusions, endorsements or factors you will need to consider.

To speak to one of our specialist listed building team for some advice please call us on 01622 476433 or to learn more abode listed building insurance, please find out more below.