Non-standard home insurance

It all depends on the individual property. For instance, empty house insurance and steel frame insurance are two very different situations to cover, and so the ease with which you can find insurance for non-standard constructions will vary.

Many standard insurers do not provide cover for non-standard constructions because of their added risks, but at HomeProtect we can offer cover for a huge number of non-standard situations online.

There are a huge number of non-standard materials being used in modern constructions, such as asphalt, concrete, timber, glass and steel. Older properties are also made with non-standard materials like wattle and daub or flint. When in doubt, check with a builder, surveyor or your home insurance provider.

Yes, self-build insurance is a must-have to safeguard your building project from risks like flood and fire. You should also research whether you need employer’s liability insurance or public liability insurance if you are responsible for builders on-site. In some cases you may not be able to find cover until the build is complete, so it’s best to approach insurers before work starts.

If you have recently purchased a property then you should refer to the home buyer’s guide or survey; this should include the rebuild cost. If not then you should have a professional surveyor carry out an assessment and provide you with an accurate rebuild cost.

For standard construction properties, use the free online BCIS rebuild calculator.