Insurance for garage demolition by family

[Jane W]

A bit of advice needed please! We have sent in a notice for Intended Demolition to building control to demolish a double garage and single garage on the plot. I've called them today and they said they haven't got it, but that's a different story. They said the contractor would need to complete the form and supply 'other necessary' paperwork. I said we were going to demolish the garages ourselves. She asked if the garages were under 50 cubic metres, and then said they won't be as that's only 1 single garage size. She said we would need to send in our insurance and employer's liability. We don't have any employees and we (and our adult son) were planning on doing the demolition to ground level, with contractors taking over to deal with the foundations as part of the groundwork.

Anyone been in a similar situation and have any advice regarding insurance for the demolition and ensuring cover for family demolition members? 

Also the plot is at the rear of a house and before the purchase of the plot the sellers disconnected the electricity.

Do I  still need to have official confirmation that no electricity or gas is connected for demolition? 

We've had an asbestos survey which said there was none so thats one thing hopefullyticked off.

Any advice regarding insurance or communications with building control would be very much appreciated, thanks.

[Russell griffiths]

If you own a plot you should have self build insurance from the day you purchased the plot

if someone walks on to your plot(even if not invited) and hurts themselves you could potentially be liable. 
take out a self build policy and check it covers you for demolition. 

[saveasteading]

I don't recall the demo notice being that complex.

It was online and a matter of fact thing. I'd a notice of intent so that tge authorities were aware, and might have a lot.

 

Insurance and bco are a different matter.

 

Demolition should be seen as dismantling, to minimise risk. It is risky because things can move suddenly and collapse.

Are you competent to this as diy?

What is the construction?

 

You need insurance.

 

Also you should write up a method statement and risk assessment. If you can't write it down, you haven't thought it through enough.

It's not necessarily formal: 

 

Put a fence round it and tell the neighbours, the children to keep out, and lock the dog indoors.

How to do it

How do you stop it falling over. 

Access and working at height safely 

Never stand under it

Safety wear.

Etc

 

 

[Jane W]

On 23/05/2026 at 06:16, Russell griffiths said:

If you own a plot you should have self build insurance from the day you purchased the plot

if someone walks on to your plot(even if not invited) and hurts themselves you could potentially be liable. 
take out a self build policy and check it covers you for demolition. 

Our plot insurance does not cover demolition. I have now heard that it is often an add on or an extra and not typically included as standard. As we have had our plot for almost a year now we will be looking to change the insurance to make sure we're covered, so hoping to see how anyone else had negotiated it.

[saveasteading]

Unless you are dozing it, use the term dismantle and it may help.

[Nickfromwales]

I would have gone for asking forgiveness vs permission, if DIY’ing.  

[crispy_wafer]

2 hours ago, Nickfromwales said:

I would have gone for asking forgiveness vs permission, if DIY’ing.  

Same, what they going to do if you forget the digger isn’t a zero tail swing jobbie and you accidentally take out a wall, then because safety reasons the whole structure had better come down.

[Onoff]

On 23/05/2026 at 09:03, saveasteading said:

Also you should write up a method statement and risk assessment. If you can't write it down, you haven't thought it through enough.

 

Just download ChatGPT and take all the effort out of it.