Improvement work changes the risk immediately
The moment tools come out, insurers start thinking differently. Not emotionally. Practically.
Renovations alter structure, services and exposure to damage, sometimes in ways that are temporary but still material.
Why insurers ask about building work
It is not curiosity. It is risk control.
Open roofs, removed walls, altered wiring and plumbing all increase the chance of water damage, fire or structural failure.
Not all improvement work is treated the same
Painting a room and knocking through a load-bearing wall do not sit in the same box.
- Decorating and cosmetic changes
- Kitchen or bathroom refits
- Electrical or plumbing alterations
- Structural changes and extensions
Claims during undeclared building work
This is where problems usually start.
If significant work was underway and not disclosed, insurers may question whether the policy terms were breached at the time of loss.
What insurers usually still cover
Damage is not automatically declined because work was happening.
Unrelated insured events, such as storms or external fires, are often considered separately from the renovation itself.
Damage caused directly by the work
Claims become more difficult when the improvement activity caused the loss.
- Flooding from incorrectly installed plumbing
- Fire caused by faulty electrical work
- Structural damage from removed supports
DIY versus professional contractors
Insurers draw a clear distinction here.
Work carried out by qualified, insured tradespeople is viewed differently from DIY, particularly for electrics, gas and structural changes.
Contractor insurance and liability
Where a contractor caused the damage, their public liability insurance is often expected to respond first.
Home insurers may pay initially and recover costs later, or may redirect the claim entirely.
Partially completed work
Incomplete projects create grey areas.
Exposed pipework, unfinished roofs or temporary supports can fall outside normal policy assumptions.
Increased excesses and temporary conditions
Some policies apply special terms during renovations.
- Higher escape-of-water excesses
- Limits on theft during building work
- Requirements for the property to remain occupied
Unoccupied periods during improvements
Many renovation projects involve moving out.
Unoccupied property conditions often apply, even if the absence is short and practical rather than permanent.
Value changes during improvement work
Building works can increase the rebuild cost quickly.
If sums insured are not adjusted, underinsurance can surface at claim stage rather than earlier.
Damage discovered after completion
Not all issues appear immediately.
Cracks, leaks or electrical faults found months later are still assessed against how and when the work was done.
Why insurers ask for details rather than intentions
Plans matter less than reality.
Insurers assess what actually happened, who did it, and whether the risk was known at the time.