Is damage incurred during a renovation covered?
There is a lot involved in renovating a house. You can choose to do the work yourself or to outsource it to a contractor. Either way, you want your home to be properly insured during the renovation. But what if damage actually occurs during the renovation; is it covered by the building insurance?
Home insurance: coverage during renovation
The coverage of a building insurance is often limited when renovations are carried out. An insurer usually sets a number of conditions for a renovation. Firstly, you have to inform your insurer as soon as possible when you are going to renovate, even if it is only a partial renovation. In addition, the insurer assumes that you are not living in a construction pit. If, for example, you suffer leakage damage while the extension has not yet been made watertight, this is not insured. Your home must be occupied and wind and watertight during the renovation. If you meet the conditions of your insurer, your home is insured for the basic coverage during a renovation. Building materials and other items in the home that still need to be installed are usually insured as well. These include materials required for the renovation or a kitchen that still needs to be installed.
Do it yourself or have it done?
If damage occurs during a renovation, the insurer can recover the damage from the person who has carried out the renovation. Did you have a contractor carry out the renovation? Then the contractor can be held liable for the damage. In that case, submit the claim to the insurer. The insurer will then take over the recovery process. Are you going to renovate yourself? Then the insurer can reject the claim if they can demonstrate that the damage was caused by the renovation.
All-risk building insurance
Nowadays many people choose the comprehensive buildings insurance. With an all-risk building insurance you are insured for fire damage, burglary and vandalism, damage caused by adverse weather conditions such as storm, lightning and hail, damage caused by sudden unforeseen events.
The policy conditions mention a number of exclusions from coverage. If the damage is not excluded, it is therefore insured in the building insurance. Damage caused by your own mistakes during the renovation is therefore insured.
When is there no cover?
There are some in which you will have no cover or limited cover. For example, if:
- Your property is unoccupied during the renovation
- Your property is not wind and watertight, for example because roofs, walls, windows or doors are missing
- If you do not inform your insurer about the renovation within 30 days and you have a claim after the renovation is finished
In the first two situations, you are only insured for damage caused by fire, explosion, lightning, storm and hail. Damage caused by burglary, theft and vandalism is only insured if there are traces of break-in visible on the house.
Get property insurance through Alpina
Have you not yet taken out building insurance for your (new) home? Do so immediately on Alpina.nl! By comparing home insurance policies, you can easily find out which policy best suits your needs. Do not only look at the price, but also at the content. In the policy conditions you will find how you are insured during a renovation.
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