Question 1

What is SelfBuild insurance?

Accepted Answer

Self-build insurance is the name for a collection of insurance covers required by people building their own home.

It’s also the name of our core self-build insurance product. Our SelfBuild Insurance is designed for self-builders, and covers from the point the build phase starts, until build is complete. Our SelfBuild site liability policy can also cover your site liabilities before work starts.

Building your own home is likely to be a once in a lifetime project. Being a one-off, much of the project is likely to be unfamiliar, especially your insurance obligations and needs.

Given what a complex subject self-build insurance can be, we have provided two guides we hope you’ll find useful:

This information is provided as a guide only, and if you’ve got any questions, please give our expert team a ring on 0800 230 0225.

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Question 2

Who is SelfBuild insurance designed to cover?

Accepted Answer

Our SelfBuild insurance is designed for self-builders, who are building their own home ‘from the ground up’, and plan on living in the property once it is complete.

Question 3

Do you need site insurance for a self-build?

Accepted Answer

Self-builds are an amazing opportunity to create something completely unique, but they usually present a few challenges along the way. One of the most important things you need to consider is what sort of insurance you need.

Read more about if you need site insurance for a self-build

Question 4

I don’t know when building will start. Can I still buy Selfbuild insurance?

Accepted Answer

If you have a self-build plot but work hasn’t started, Site Liability insurance is designed to cover your site before work has started, and can be converted into a SelfBuild policy before the build phase begins.

Read more about when you can buy a SelfBuild policy

Our policies only cover sites where it can be clearly demonstrated there’s intent to use the land for a self-build project. This can be proven with either plans being drawn up for construction taking place on the land or a submitted application for planning permission applying to the land.

Question 5

I’ve started my build. Can I get self-build insurance from you?

Accepted Answer

If you’ve already started the build phase, we’ll need to discuss your project with you before we can organise any cover.

Please ring us on 0800 230 0225, or leave your details in our Call Me form and one of our team will call you back during office hours.

Question 6

Can I extend my policy?

Accepted Answer

In many situations, we should be able to extend your policy. If things don’t go as planned and you need to extend, please ring us on 0800 230 0225.

Question 7

What does SelfBuild insurance cover?

Accepted Answer

SelfBuild insurance policies are designed to cover from the point the build phase starts all the way through to completing the build. Covers available include:

Public Liability: Your liabilities if someone is killed or injured while on your self-build site.
Employers’ Liability: Your liabilities if someone you employ is killed or injured while working on your site.
Contract Works: The cost of replacing or repairing the structure being built.
Contractors All Risks: A different name for Contract Works.
Tools: The cost to replace stolen portable tools, owned by your employees.
Personal Belongings: The cost to replace your belongings stored on site while you complete your build.
Buildings: The cost to repair or replace the finished property.
Contents: The cost to replace contents in the finished property.
Materials: The cost to replace materials you own that get stolen from your site.
Hired-in Plant: The cost to replace or repair plant you’ve hired, including hire charges you may be liable for.
Owned Plant: The cost to repair or replace plant you own, if it’s stolen or damaged.
Temporary Buildings: The cost to repair or replace temporary buildings (like portakabins), that are damaged while on site.

Question 8

How many sites can I insure?

Accepted Answer

You can insure one site per policy.

Question 9

How long does a SelfBuild insurance policy last?

Accepted Answer

It depends. A SelfBuild policy is designed to last from the start of construction through to completion.

Every self-build project is different, so you have the option of 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 or 24 months of cover. If you have a plan or schedule for your self-build project, you should be able to determine how long construction will take and know how long you need insurance for. If the build phase isn’t completed within the initial policy period, the policy can be extended by up to a maximum of 3 years from inception.

This information is provided as a guide only, and if you have any doubts or questions, please give our team a ring on 0800 230 0225.

Question 10

When might self-build insurance be needed?

Accepted Answer

It’s a simple question that doesn’t have a simple answer unfortunately. We look at cases for what insurance you might need on a case by case basis.

Read more about the need for self-build insurance

Arranging finance – If you’re going to borrow money to finance your self-build, you may need a mortgage. Before they will lend money for a self-build project, most lenders require that a structural warranty policy is in place, or will seek assurance one will be in place from the completion of build.

Buying a structural warranty policy at the start of your project can be cheaper than buying it at the end.

Looking for a plot – At this stage, you might not need specialist self-build insurance, but if you’ve purchased equipment, materials or fittings in preparation, you should make sure you have an insurance policy with sufficient cover in case of theft or damage.

Owning land – Once you’ve bought land, you have insurance liabilities.

People visiting your land, with or without permission, could be injured or killed. That’s where public liability insurance covers you. Without it, you could be liable for injuries on your site.

Owning a plot – SelfBuild site liability insurance is designed to protect your plot and your site liabilities once you’ve started the process of applying for planning permission.

The build – Once work starts, you have more of a need for self-build insurance. With builders, suppliers, materials, tools, plant and machinery all on site, there are lots to consider. The new building itself will start to have a value as well, and should be insured before completion.

Completing the build – As you move through final fix, decorating and installing appliances, you may start thinking about moving in. As the value of items within the property increases, be sure to check that everything is covered, and that limits are high enough.

Moving in – You’re finished!

Now you need to consider having buildings and contents insurance in place. Some self-build policies automatically provide a level of home insurance cover, so be sure to check before you buy.

After completion – Once finished, a structural warranty policy is designed to cover the costs of making good if the build was defective because of design, materials or workmanship. Mortgage lenders usually require this to be in place prior to lending, but it comes into effect at build completion.

Question 11

Am I required to have self-build insurance?

Accepted Answer

With a self-build project, the only insurance you legally need to have is employers’ liability insurance, which is required if you directly employ people.

However, given the financial sums involved, and the potential risks you’re likely to face during the project, saving money by not having a self-build insurance policy could prove to be a false economy.

Question 12

What’s the difference between ‘land’ and a ‘self-build plot’?

Accepted Answer

The difference is based on whether or not it can be demonstrated there‘s a clear intent to use the land for self-build purposes.

Land is an area you’ve purchased, but where it can’t be adequately demonstrated that there’s intent to build on it.

A self-build plot is land that’s been purchased where it can be clearly demonstrated there’s intent to use the land for a self-build project.

This intent can be demonstrated through:

plans being drawn up for construction that will take place on the land,
a submitted application for planning permission that applies to the land,
or work taking place on the land.

Our policies don’t cover land that has been purchased and where this intent cannot be proven. If you’re not sure, please get in touch on 0800 230 0225.

Question 13

Who underwrites SelfBuild policies?

Accepted Answer

Our SelfBuild insurance policies are provided and underwritten by Zurich Ltd.

Partnering with an insurer as recognised and trusted as Zurich Ltd means you can be confident that if you ever need to claim, you won’t be left worrying about whether the insurer is reliable.

Our product with Zurich Ltd is unique to SelfBuild, and you can’t find it anywhere else.

SelfBuild FAQs

What is self-build insurance?