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April 2017

Pitfalls in contract works insurance

21 Mar 2017, Featured, Insurance, Prove Your Know How

Builtin highlights three important issues that could affect your contract works insurance cover

As with any contract of insurance, the devil is in the detail and it’s important you read and understand the terms and conditions contained within it. Below are three things you may not be aware of that could affect your cover.

Cessation of Work

Most policies exclude cover for loss or damage caused by, or connected to, cessation of work, which could occur for a number of reasons.

You could be building your own home in stages; have a bust up with the owner and walk off site; get injured and can’t work; or any other delay. If it results in you not being able to continue work on site for a period of time, the policy may not cover any damage or loss that subsequently occurs.

The interpretation of whether work has ceased, and whether the damage or loss is connected to it or caused by it (directly or indirectly), is down to your insurer. Different insurers have different wordings around cessation of work, so if it’s likely that your project will be interrupted by periods where no work is going on, speak to your insurer about how it may affect your cover.

Existing Structures

If you have an annual contract works policy, it may not include any cover for damage to existing structures.

If you’re doing a new build and there is a garage, retaining wall or septic tank on site, your contract works policy would not cover loss or damage to these.

The same applies to project specific contract works policies if you do not include cover for any existing structures on the site.

Make sure before you start any project that you consider what existing structures on site may need to be insured during the build.

Earthworks and foundations

All too often we hear from builders who want to arrange contract works insurance because “we’re ready to put the framing up”. They did not think they needed insurance for the earthworks or foundations because “what could happen to these?” However, significant flooding, landslips, collapse and earthquakes are all hazards that could substantially damage earthworks, retaining and foundations, and therefore should be insured for during this phase of the work.

Secondly, there is no significant saving to be had by arranging the cover later in the job, as the premium is largely based on the total value of the work, not the length of the policy.

Not arranging cover until after the work has started can also be more expensive, more difficult to arrange and can cause banks to delay releasing progress payments. So save yourself the hassle by doing it before the work begins.

In a nutshell

  • Consider the effect on your insurance cover if you have to cease work on site for any reason.
  • If there are existing structures on site before you start work, determine whether they need to be insured.
  • Remember to arrange cover before you start work, as there’s usually no benefit or saving in delaying it.
Remember to arrange cover before you start work, as there’s usually no benefit or  saving in delaying it

Remember to arrange cover before you start work, as there’s usually no benefit or saving in delaying it

 

Builtin is New Zealand’s trade insurance expert. For more information visit www.builtininsurance.co.nz or contact Ben Rickard at ben@builtin.co.nz or call him on 0800 BUILTIN.


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2 Comments

  1. dpmal@slingshot.co.nz says:

    Nice quiz

  2. jimpember51@gmail.com says:

    good one

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