Renovation Insurance
that won't be beaten

Renovation Insurance is specialist cover designed to protect a property while building or refurbishment works are being carried out. Standard home, landlord, or buildings insurance policies typically restrict or exclude cover during renovation, particularly for major structural works or when the property becomes unoccupied as a result of the project.

If you’re carrying out anything beyond minor cosmetic improvements such as redecorating, and especially if the property will be vacant during the works, you almost certainly need specialist renovation cover to ensure your property is properly protected throughout the project.

Renovation Insurance can protect your property against a wide range of risks during building and refurbishment works, including fire, flood, storm damage, theft of materials, accidental damage, and structural damage arising from the works themselves. It can also include property owners’ liability cover, protecting you if a member of the public or a visitor is injured as a result of the works, for example if materials fall from scaffolding.

Cover can be arranged for a wide range of project types including extensions, conversions, loft conversions, structural alterations, and full property refurbishments.

In most cases, standard home or buildings insurance will cover minor cosmetic improvements such as redecorating, fitting a new bathroom, or routine maintenance.

However, once works become structural, such as an extension, loft conversion, rewiring, or major plumbing works, most standard policies either exclude the works entirely or restrict cover significantly.

If the property also becomes unoccupied during the project, cover may be further reduced.

It’s essential to speak to your insurer or broker before any significant works begin, rather than assuming your existing policy is sufficient.

The two products address similar but distinct situations.

Unoccupied Property Insurance is primarily designed for properties that are empty and not undergoing significant structural works. For example, a property between tenants, awaiting sale, or going through probate.

Renovation Insurance provides additional cover that is specific to the risks created by active building works, including cover for materials on site, partial structures, and liability arising from contractor activity. As a general guide, if the works are cosmetic and low-budget (typically under £25,000), unoccupied property insurance may suffice.

For larger structural projects, specialist renovation cover is more appropriate. RightSure For Business can help you identify which product, or combination, is right for your situation.

Not fully. Your contractor should hold their own public liability insurance, which covers damage or injury they cause to third parties. However, this does not replace your own policy as property owner.

Contractor insurance typically does not cover the existing structure of your building if it is damaged during the works, nor does it cover your own liability as the property owner to members of the public.

As the property owner, you remain responsible for ensuring the building itself is adequately insured throughout the project.

Before works begin, always verify that your contractor holds appropriate public liability cove, many specialist renovation policies require this as a condition.

Yes. Renovation Insurance can be arranged for properties that will be unoccupied while works are carried out, which is very common for larger projects where the property cannot be safely lived in during the build.

It’s worth noting that even if tradespeople are working on the property during the day, insurers generally still classify it as unoccupied if no one is residing there overnight.

If your project is expected to run for more than three months with the property vacant, you may need a specialist policy that combines renovation cover with longer-term unoccupied property protection. RightSure For Business can arrange cover for both scenarios.

It can, yes, and this is something worth planning for.

If your renovation adds significant value to the property (such as an extension, loft conversion, or major structural improvement), the rebuild cost of the property will increase.

If your existing buildings insurance sum insured is not updated to reflect the higher rebuild cost after completion, you could be underinsured, meaning you may not receive enough from a claim to fully restore the property.

Once your renovation is complete, it’s important to review your rebuild value and update your buildings insurance accordingly.

RightSure For Business can help you arrange appropriate cover both during and after your renovation project.

Renovation Insurance policies are typically available on a short-term basis to match the duration of your project, commonly available as three, six, nine, or twelve month policies.

If your project overruns, most specialist insurers will allow you to extend the policy rather than leaving you without cover mid-build. It’s important to keep your insurer informed of the project timeline and notify them promptly if the works are likely to run longer than originally anticipated.

RightSure For Business can arrange flexible renovation cover and help you extend or adjust your policy if your project timeline changes.