Extra insurance when using a main contractor

[AliG]

I tried to look for this last night, but couldn't find anyone offering it.

 

I have a main contractor, so anything he buys is covered by his insurance.

 

But about 15-20% of the build will be contractors I have nominated separately and so not covered by his insurance.

 

Does anyone know of someone offering supplementary insurance for this situation?

 

Thanks

 

[joe90]

I also am struggling with site insurance, no one wants to insure a house till it's finished, I can't even get insurance on my finished workshop!!! Currently I am taking a gamble and not insuring but understand the risk, luckily it's a very rural area with a low crime rate.

[SteamyTea]

Any good.

http://www.buildstore.co.uk/finance/buildcare.html

 

 

[joe90]

Thanks ST. Actually I am not one to always insure everything, I believe in assessing risk and don't mind taking a gamble. Insurance companies main aim is to make money (for themselves). Having looked at that site I wonder why you need public liability if the public are not allowed on your site ? My main contractor has his own insurance for his chaps and his kit ( and public liability). I would like to insure my workshop and the tools in it but the stuff outside is not worth insuring in my opinion, nor is my old caravan.

Edited December 13, 2016 by joe90

[PeterW]

Public liability is still required in case someone trespasses and injures themselves... 

 

barking mad but true ..!!

 

 

[AliG]

Proaktiv called me up, they had quoted for full build and site insurance.

 

They said they are not aware of anyone who would insure just things I order up so the only way to insure them would be for me to insure the whole job again even though the main contractor has insurance. I might just wing it.

[DeanS]

I am in the same boat.  Main Contractor 70% of build, 20% for specialist we appoint (windows, kitchen, solar, etc), 10% of client costs (fixtures / fittings)

 

If employing contractors / specialists separately I thought you needed Employee Liability cover (is this not a legal requirement)?  Those specialists would have insurance for their kit / services.  I am not concerned about the client costs and would consider winging it.  But as the site owner I thought we needed Public Liability and as an employer I thought we also needed Employee Liability cover?

 

Did you ever find a solution that provides PL/EL and just cover for the specialist / client costs?  It does seem crazy to be doubling up on the insurance for 70% of the build value.

[AliG]

I think the only solution is to pay twice.

 

I don't believe that you need liability insurance.They are subcontractors who should have their own insurance, not employees. I haven't checked this but I don't see why and they would be covered by the contractor's liability insurance also probably. The issue is what happens if items that you have paid for are damaged or stolen from the site.

[ProDave]

My site is insured on a self build policy. All I know is the builders that I contracted to build and erect the frame insisted on seeing my employers liability certificate (which is part of the self build policy). As far as they were concerned, I was employing them for part of the job so they needed to see it. 
 

[AliG]

It seems like this area is quite hard legally and I am not expert on it.

 

It appears Dave that if you contract for just labour, so maybe in your case it was a kit you purchased elsewhere, then the subcontractors are treated as employees and need to be covered. But if subcontractors provide their own material and tools then they are "bona fide sub contractors" and shold have their own insurance cover.

 

I found this guide to it here

 

http://www.macbeths.co.uk/2010/10/sub-contractors-to-insure-or-not-to-insure/

[Steptoe]

17 minutes ago, AliG said:

It seems like this area is quite hard legally and I am not expert on it.

 

It appears Dave that if you contract for just labour, so maybe in your case it was a kit you purchased elsewhere, then the subcontractors are treated as employees and need to be covered. But if subcontractors provide their own material and tools then they are "bona fide sub contractors" and shold have their own insurance cover.

 

I found this guide to it here

 

http://www.macbeths.co.uk/2010/10/sub-contractors-to-insure-or-not-to-insure/

That's pretty much what is on my PL as a Ltd co, labour only is not classed as bona-fide subby, and, my payments to them are limited to a certain % of my turnover, (mine is 15%) , using that example, if you are using them on a 50k project it would be limited to 7.5k, or they come under your employers insurance. My % is based on annual turnover, so in a 200k year I can only use subbies to the value of 30k, but perhaps a self builder is limited to each part of the contract, ?

[DeanS]

We looked at so many options for PL/EL only cover.  In the end, it was easier to take our own Site insurance for the entire works.