| If you are refurbishing or extending your building or | | | | contractor, get evidence in writing (and keep a copy!) |
| erecting a new one, you will need insurance to be in | | | | that they carry Contractors All Risks insurance with a |
| place from the moment work starts to when it | | | | limit of cover adequate to cover the contract price |
| finishes. The type of policy that covers loss or | | | | with you. You should also obtain in writing (again, |
| damage to the new work is known as "Contractors | | | | keep a copy) that they carry Public Liability insurance. |
| All Risks" or sometimes "Contract Works". | | | | Don't forget that as the person instructing the work, |
| We have dealt with this type of cover for many | | | | you are the "employer" and so if anything goes |
| years and know from experience that many | | | | wrong, the buck stops with you. Furthermore, it does |
| property owners believe that their current insurance | | | | make the contractors appear more responsible if |
| policy for a building being refurbished or extended will | | | | they are able to demonstrate that they carry the |
| automatically cover them for all new work whilst in | | | | appropriate insurances. Do you really wish to deal |
| progress. | | | | with cowboys? |
| Sadly, this is not usually correct - although you must | | | | With all this cover in place, you can be confident that |
| remember to inform your current insurers of any | | | | should there be a flood, fire, storm or vandalism |
| work being undertaken before it starts. Plus, when it | | | | (check the policy wording to see what the extent of |
| is completed, advise them of any changes and any | | | | cover is) that the builder will be in a financial position |
| increase of rebuilding costs. | | | | to either repair or restart the project. |
| Before works commence, if you are using a main | | | | |