I am not an insurance intermediary, and do not hold myself to be an expert on insurance, so let that be the grain of salt taken with the advice below
Given the role self-builders using direct labour play, self-builders should ensure that they are carrying similar insurances to a main contractor.
The below are all Allianz products, a reasonable well-respected insurer with whom I have no dealings AFAICR.
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I included Public Liability General primarily as a comparator - look at the level of exclusions!
In this post - 9/11 and post AIG-near-collapse world, its important to look at the small print of insurance contracts to see what's excluded.
I posted the links NOT to encourage people to use Allianz productsbut to show self-builders the level of EXCLUSIONS you may get in standard insurance cover.
Self-builders should therefore take professional insurance advice to ensure there is no "gap" in cover, for example, "all risks insurance" does not in fact cover all risks.
One other of insurance I came across is [broken link removed] - for when everything is done correctly by all involved yet something still occurs, often damage by vibration to an adjoining property.
In addition self-builders may need specialist insurances when dealing with
- Demolitions/ damage to adjoining properties
- Hazardous substances/pollution/waste
- Unsafe ground/ Hidden services
- Unstable adjoining buildings
Do NOT make the mistake in thinking that because a salesman offered you a single product at a favourable price point that he has correctly assessed your particular needs, because these needs/risks are dependent on experience, competence, qualifications, trades, training, site conditions and quality of site personnel.
Do NOT make the mistake in assuming that this single product covers all self-builders needs - it may do so, but self-builders are obliged to check that it does so, because if you're not covered you may find you've paid out your hard earned cash for nothing! What has happened to us that we career from accepting loans from banks that are unsustainable to buying insurance from people at trade fairs!
But dealing with risk should not just be left to insurance - avoidance of risk depends in large part on the self-builders competence as a contractor.
What happens for example when Johnny from the next town, who came highly recommend as a blocklayer by his brother whom you know from your local pub, turns out not to have a clue and you find this out when the build is at 1st floor level because a guy you took on as a labourer knows more about building in blockwork than Johnny does and tells you the problem?
These are additional issues for the inexperienced self-builder to address that an experience contractor would see straight off. Self-builders have a tendency to put their faith in people in my experience and this can sometimes be misplaced.
The above is not exhaustive advice on insurance for self-builders, which is a growing and developing market.
Competent professional advice should be sought for the self-builders particular needs taking into account constraints of the site and inexperience
ONQ.
[broken link removed]
All advice on AAM is remote from the situation and cannot be relied upon as a defence or support - in and of itself - should legal action be taken.
Competent legal, insurance and building professionals should be asked to advise in Real Life with rights to inspect and issue reports on the matters at hand.