Do I need to tell my insurance provider about my extension?
In short, yes. If you build an extension, have a loft conversion or make substantial renovations to your home, you need to let your insurance provider know. If you don’t, it could invalidate your home insurance.
A major building project raises the risk to your property in a couple of ways:
Structural – when you knock through walls or remove floors, there’s an increased chance of something going wrong. If you’re having walls and windows removed, this could make your home’s structure more exposed to the elements and less stable than normal.
Security – having builders and other contractors come and go leaves your home more vulnerable to theft, especially if doors and windows are frequently left open.
When should I contact my insurance provider about building work?
Ideally, at the planning stages of your project – but definitely before you make any significant changes to your home. Check your policy to see how much notice you need to give. Your provider can also update your home insurance once the building work is complete to make sure you have the right level of cover in place.
Your provider won’t need to know about minor projects and cosmetic improvements, such as redecorating or re-tiling your bathroom, and standard kitchen and bathroom refits should be covered unless you’re knocking down walls. But it’s wise to check to make sure.
If you’re adding a new bathroom, en-suite or wet room in your extension, some insurance providers would need to be informed. This is because ‘number of bathrooms’ is used to help calculate your premium.
Will my home insurance cover me during building work?
You should check this with your provider. Some won’t provide any cover during the work and some will limit it. For example, you might not be covered for damage to the existing building or theft of any contents while the work is going on.
If your provider doesn’t cover you during the work, you should look for specialist extension and renovation insurance. This is usually available for projects that cost over a certain amount.
It’s also worth noting that your home insurance doesn’t typically cover any poor or faulty work by your builder. So do your research and appoint a reputable builder who’s fully insured.
What does extension and renovation insurance cover?
Specialist insurance for building works can cover:
Public liability – for example, if your scaffolding falls down and hits someone.
Your existing property – if your builders damage the walls or any parts of the structure that are already in place.
Your belongings – with so many people passing through your home, your possessions are at greater risk of being damaged or stolen. Having insurance in place means you can replace them.
Building materials – you may end up with expensive items lying around outside your home, such as roof tiles. These are at risk of being stolen, so you should make sure they’re insured.
Alternative accommodation – if your property becomes uninhabitable because of loss or damage from the building works.
Unoccupied property – where your home is empty for more than 30 days because you’ve had to move out while the work is being completed. Cover can be for longer or shorter as policies vary.
Check any policy carefully to see what’s covered.
Please note that you can’t compare specialist extension and renovation insurance with Comparethemarket.
If I have an extension, will I have to pay more for my home insurance?
Potentially yes. Adding an extension could mean you’ll pay more for your buildings insurance. That’s because your home will have an increased square footage, so it would cost more to rebuild.
You might also need to increase your contents insurance if you buy extra furniture or have new carpets fitted, for example.
How else might an extension affect my home insurance policy?
As well as making your property bigger, an extension might affect your home insurance policy in other ways too. Here’s a few things to think about:
Building materials – if you’re using non-standard materials in your extension, they could be harder to source if you need repairs. This can make your premiums more expensive.
Roof type – flat roofs or low-pitch roofs tend to cost more to insure than traditional sloped roofs. That’s because they collect more water, so are more prone to damage and leaks. They can also give thieves easier access to your property.
Locks – make sure any doors and windows in your extension are fitted with insurance-approved locks to protect against theft.
How can I reduce my home insurance premium?
You could do this by increasing your voluntary excess - the amount you choose to pay towards a claim - but make sure you can afford to pay it if you need to make a claim. Building up your no claims discount can also help, as can improving your home security by having an alarm fitted, for example.
How do I check I have the right home insurance?
Even if you’re not planning big changes, it’s worth reassessing your home insurance cover every now and then. You may find that changing costs of raw materials have affected your home’s rebuild value or that you have more or fewer possessions and need to look again at how much contents insurance you need.
Start a quote with us today and we’ll help you find the right level of home insurance at a price you can afford.
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FAQs
What happens if I need temporary accommodation during my building works?
You won’t be covered if you get fed up with all the building work and decide to move out. But if something goes wrong during your project, you might find yourself needing temporary accommodation.
Some insurance policies will cover you if your home becomes uninhabitable during building works, so it’s worth considering whether this is something you might need.
Will my contractor’s insurance cover me if something goes wrong?
Builders and other contractors should have their own insurance in place, which will likely cover any work going on in your home. But this could have certain limits or exclusions. It’s a good idea to check that they’re covered for:
Demolition work
Damage to your original property
Use of heat (such as blowtorches)
Negligence or mistakes.
If I’m building an extension, do I have to take out a new insurance policy? Or can I extend the one I already have?
You may be able to add renovation and extension insurance to your existing policy, or you may need to take out a standalone policy. As always, it’s worth shopping around to see who offers the right deal for you.
What home improvements do I need to tell my insurance provider about?
You’ll need to let your provider know if you’re:
Carrying out substantial or structural work, such as knocking down load-bearing walls
Extending a room
Adding a conservatory
Converting the loft or basement
Replacing the roof.
This can vary among providers, so see what your policy says. For example, some providers need to be told if you put up scaffolding.
You don’t need to tell your provider about cosmetic changes to your home, such as redecorating your lounge or re-tiling the bathroom. If you’re not sure, to be cautious and tell your insurance provider.
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As well as writing for Churchill and Privilege insurance websites, Karen’s CV includes working with M&S, Debenhams, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and John Lewis. With over 20 years of editorial experience for big household names she leads a talented content team with a focus on simplifying personal finance for everybody.
Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
Helen’s our resident home insurance expert, as the former Head of Home Insurance at Compare the Market. She's also experienced with car insurance and pet insurance from her previous roles across commercial, partnerships and as a freelance consultant, working with more than 100 insurers across a variety of insurance products.
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