Insurance for Occupied/Unoccupied Property
JCT Insurance Expert can provide a quotation for occupied and unoccupied properties even if the work is not being done under a JCT contract. Please click here to download our proposal form.
In many cases work that will be carried out under a JCT contract will be to property that is unoccupied during the course of the works. This can present a problem when buying insurance as most mainstream underwriters are not prepared to offer cover to property that is vacant for the length of time that such works will take.
If the property has previously been occupied and is covered by an insurance policy the most cost effective method of covering the existing structure will be to advise the holding insurers about the work and ask them to extend the cover whilst the work is being done. In some cases, insurers will restrict cover to what is called FLEA perils only (Fire, Lightning, Explosion and Aircraft impact). This is a very limited basis of cover and would exclude risks such as theft or wet perils such as storm and flood. Your insurer may be prepared to extend the cover to include these, but will probably want an additional premium. There is a good possibility that theft cover will be restricted to forcible and violent entry.
If your existing insurer is not prepared to continue cover (or cover is limited to a 30-day unoccupied clause) then you will need to arrange special insurance to cover the existing structure of the property. JCT Insurance Expert can provide a quotation for this type of cover, even if the work is not being done under a JCT contract. Please click here to download our proposal form.
Note that this cover only protects the existing structure of the building, not the work as it is done. Contract works cover needs to be arranged for this, which may be arranged under the same policy as the cover for the existing structure or on a separate policy. JCT Expert would always recommend that a joint policy is arranged to avoid any gaps in cover and there is less chance of an argument between insurers should a claim arise. Also, only one excess will apply.
Forms & Fact Sheets
Proposal Form For Property and Works In Progress
Proposal form for unoccupied properties