Self Build / Site Insurance

Degag

Hi,

Hoping to start building soon and presume i have to insure the site even though any tradesperson who enters would need their own presumably?

Anyone know what type i should get. Google surprisingly not very helpful, there doesn’t really seem to a ‘site insurance’ and i doubt it would be house insurance due to lack of said house. Maybe there is some sort of general public liability insurance?

silverwood

I organised mine through a broker. It was about €800.

Also my mortgage company wouldn’t let me draw down without proof of it.

It all felt a bit pointless IMO. I think it was called Course of Construction insurance.

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121624289#Comment_121624289

That's interesting, i certainly didn't have any or was requested to but that was 20 years ago.

Like the OP i'd have assumed any contractor would have their own PLI once on site.

silverwood

That’s what made it all so pointless. The contractor (and all of his subbies) had their own PLI. The contractor had full control of the site during the build so any public liability claim would have gone through him. So I couldn’t understand why I also needed it on top of all that. The bank wouldn’t budge.

Degag

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058331601/self-build-site-insurance

For various reasons haven't started yet but have gotten quotes from a couple places for insurance.

The more competitive place has given me two quotes, one for "All Risks including Liability."

The other is "Liability Only (Employers & Public Liability)" This is €400 less than the first quote.

Can i ask if this is sufficient from the bank's (Haven) point of view if anyone has any experience?

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121625986#Comment_121625986

The contractors insurance covers his liability only. If they were head contractor, insuring the whole site until completion is his responsibility.

In a self build, you are the head contractor. The fact tradesmen have their insurance doesn’t mean you can just claim off them, no more than you can claim off other drivers on the road. There’s a lot that can go wrong for a head contractor.

mike_2009

There are a few companies out there that offer policies. Not all will offer you a policy - I only found one as I had a subsidence risk. This one didn't cover plant insurance ( I can't hire in plant without a driver) which was annoying. I also have to have any contractors listed on my policy before they step onsite. There's a few options per policy, the broker will go through them. You're mainly getting public liability and if there is damage to adjacent structures / the building goes up in flames during construction etc so you're not left with a mortgage and nothing to show for it! Any ground issues / non standard construction / anything that might be different and the insurer will run a mile, do the homework now!