Manage your exposure
Whilst special conditions may apply to any insurance we arrange for you, you may find the following information useful as a reminder of items to consider when your home is undergoing works.Managing the increased risk of damage and liability during works at your property
During the course of works at your home, you will be exposing this valuable and important asset to increased risk. Regardless of whether you buy insurance to protect you or not (and of course we strongly recommend that you do), you need to consider ways of protecting your property and your exposure to third party injury or damage.
Fire
Should fire occur at your home it has the potential to cause severe damage. During works the exposure to fire is increased due to such as electrical work, welding work, use of paint removal torches, etc. You should ensure that electrical wiring and appliances are worked on and checked by an adequately qualified electrician. You should consider whether there is adequate fire protection at the home e.g. smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, etc. You should consider banning smoking in or near the home. You may find asking advice of the local fire protection officer is of use as well as considering the use of temporary sprinkler systems, etc, especially if the home is large
Any areas where work has been carried out involving heat should be checked thoroughly and the area not left unattended within an hour of the use of heat.
Rubbish and debris created in the process of the works should be kept a suitable distance away from the building and especially if being destroyed by bonfire. It should be removed regularly.
Any areas where work has been carried out involving heat should be checked thoroughly and the area not left unattended within an hour of the use of heat.
Rubbish and debris created in the process of the works should be kept a suitable distance away from the building and especially if being destroyed by bonfire. It should be removed regularly.
Theft/Vandalism
You should always ensure that your home and its contents are adequately protected from intruders. However, during the course of works, with workmen perhaps going in and out of the premises, doors and windows may be left open and unattended. Scaffolding may make access to the upper parts of the building easier. You need to consider whether additional security will be required during the works to cater for this increased accessibility. If asking a contractor to secure the premises at the end of a day's work, you should ensure that they are aware of all the security measures that should be put in place.
Works materials should be secured rather than left out in the open and especially overnight.
If a property is unoccupied, particularly in a remote location, it is more susceptible to intruders. Additional security measures should be considered and proper supervision of the home/site should be carried out.
Works materials should be secured rather than left out in the open and especially overnight.
If a property is unoccupied, particularly in a remote location, it is more susceptible to intruders. Additional security measures should be considered and proper supervision of the home/site should be carried out.
"Wet" perils
By this we mean the exposure to wet weather or storm damage and the damage that can be caused by faulty water apparatus such as pipes or gutters.
You should always ensure that your property is weatherproof, especially at the end of a day's work. This is especially important of course when roof works are carried out or external walls knocked down or basements exposed. Gutters and waste pipes should be kept clear of any rubbish. You could consider installing leak sensors or trays on pipes.
If your property is going to be left unattended for any length of time we suggest that the water supply is turned off, especially if there has been any work on water pipes. During the winter, you should ensure that either the water is turned off when the house is unoccupied or that the central heating system is operational to a minimum set temperature to prevent water freezing in pipes and causing them to burst.
You should always ensure that your property is weatherproof, especially at the end of a day's work. This is especially important of course when roof works are carried out or external walls knocked down or basements exposed. Gutters and waste pipes should be kept clear of any rubbish. You could consider installing leak sensors or trays on pipes.
If your property is going to be left unattended for any length of time we suggest that the water supply is turned off, especially if there has been any work on water pipes. During the winter, you should ensure that either the water is turned off when the house is unoccupied or that the central heating system is operational to a minimum set temperature to prevent water freezing in pipes and causing them to burst.
Safety
The safety of you, your family, the contractors and the public is of course paramount. The very nature of certain works exposes everybody to an increased risk of injury. If using a professional architect or contractor to manage a project for you, you should ensure that they are adequately qualified and that they have adopted Health and Safety procedures on site.
Contractors' Negligence
Whilst certain contract conditions between you and the contractor may mean that you are responsible for insuring certain aspects of cover in joint names with them, meaning that you or your insurer cannot pursue a negligent contractor causing loss from a contract specified cause, there may be circumstances where you or your insurer are able to pursue a recovery from a contractor.
You should check that any contractor working for you has adequate Public Liability insurance. Contractors would normally have cover, somewhere between a limit of £1,000,000 to £5,000,000. It would be wise to ensure that their cover limit would be enough to reimburse you should they be responsible for causing a total loss at your property e.g. if your house is worth £2,000,000, it would be sensible to insist that they have Public Liability cover in force for at least £2,000,000.
You should check that any contractor working for you has adequate Public Liability insurance. Contractors would normally have cover, somewhere between a limit of £1,000,000 to £5,000,000. It would be wise to ensure that their cover limit would be enough to reimburse you should they be responsible for causing a total loss at your property e.g. if your house is worth £2,000,000, it would be sensible to insist that they have Public Liability cover in force for at least £2,000,000.