House Insurance with Garage as Part of Dwelling

eoin

Registered User
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Hi

Applying for planning over the next couple of weeks perc test being done this Friday.

The garage is not commercial just your standard sized one

The question I have: does having a garage in the house cause issues with insurance? When I say in the house there are also rooms over it. The solicitor dealing with the site transfer commented regarding insurance issues.

The garage will be built to building regs fire protection etc.

Could this cause any issues? tks
 
insurance won't get into fire regulations. there won't be a problem with the a garage forming part of the house. Its the building regs where the concern comes in.
 
Hi

Applying for planning over the next couple of weeks perc test being done this Friday.

The garage is not commercial just your standard sized one

The question I have: does having a garage in the house cause issues with insurance? When I say in the house there are also rooms over it. The solicitor dealing with the site transfer commented regarding insurance issues.

The garage will be built to building regs fire protection etc.

Could this cause any issues? tks

Offhand, I would not have thought so but this is on the assumption that this is for domestic use as distinct from any element of home office or the like.

However, given the legally strict - sometimes slippery -nature of insurance proposals it would be a good idea to obtain verification in writing from the underwriters that the proposed development would fall within the ambit of policy cover. Personally, I would send the insurers a photocopy of the relevant architectural drawings with my query.

Also, you need to be sure that all the correct insurances are in place to cover any potential losses sustained during the course of construction. Most builders will that they have full employers' liability and public liability insurance - aka as the "yeah, we're fully insured" routine. It oft turns out that they are fully insured for their legal interests / liabilities but maybe not yours. Also, you need to be sure that the relevant material damage insurance is in place to cover the entire premises against the usual events like fire, storm and so on which could happen during course of construction.

This all probably sounds like overkill. However, my dealings with some insurers tells me that you just cannot be too careful with them and that you really need to nail them to the floor before any potential problems arise.

I endorse your solicitor's caution about insurance issues.

Finally, be sure that your sums insured are adjusted suitably to cover everything adequately.
 
There's no slippery nature of insurance proposal and no prospective underwriter is going to give you a letter stating that should you go ahead with a policy the garage is covered. Not unless you are an existing client of an insurer who specialises in High Net Worth clients like Hiscox or Chubb. Otherwise the likelihood is they will direct you towards the definition of buidings within their policy wording online.
 
There's no slippery nature of insurance proposal and no prospective underwriter is going to give you a letter stating that should you go ahead with a policy the garage is covered. Not unless you are an existing client of an insurer who specialises in High Net Worth clients like Hiscox or Chubb. Otherwise the likelihood is they will direct you towards the definition of buidings within their policy wording online.

I did not suggest the seeking of prior approval from an insurance underwriter. The simple point was to convey to the underwriter a clear impression of the risk to be proposed - something that avoids the retrospective contractual problem of mistake as to subject matter.
 
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