11 March 2026
When you undertake major works to your home, you are not simply improving a property - you are altering one of your most valuable assets.
That is why it is important to review your insurance before any renovation or structural works begin. What many homeowners do not realise is that standard home insurance is not designed to cover properties undergoing building works. During renovations, the level of risk can increase significantly. Incidents such as fire, escape of water, structural damage and theft are all more likely to occur while works are in progress.
Crucially, most household insurance policies require you to inform your insurer before any renovation or building works start. If works are not disclosed, your policy may not respond to a claim - even if the damage is unrelated to the renovation itself. This condition is standard across household insurance policies, and failing to notify your insurer could leave you responsible for significant financial loss.
To help protect our clients during renovation projects, we work closely with Renovation Underwriting, market-leading specialists in renovation and contract works insurance for property owners. Their policies are specifically designed to cover properties undergoing renovation, extension or structural construction works, helping to remove the uncertainty that standard home insurance can leave during a project.
Our partnership with PlanTrak
We are pleased to share that we have partnered with PlanTrak, a leading planning application monitoring platform. PlanTrak provides us with visibility of residential planning applications linked to properties we insure. This allows us to identify when works may be planned and contact you to ensure your insurance remains appropriate before any project begins. When PlanTrak alerts us to a planning application associated with your property, we may get in touch to discuss the works you are considering and confirm whether your current insurance arrangements remain suitable. This additional oversight is designed to help ensure that important insurance requirements are not overlooked during what can often be a busy and complex time for homeowners.
Supporting you through your renovation
Whether you are planning a kitchen extension, loft conversion, basement excavation or a full renovation, reviewing your insurance early helps avoid unnecessary risks or complications. Where specialist cover is required, we can work with Renovation Underwriting to arrange appropriate renovation and contract works insurance tailored to your project.
Our aim is simple: to ensure your home and your investment remain properly protected throughout every stage of your project.
Speak to our Private Clients team
If you are planning renovation works, or would like us to review your current insurance arrangements, our Private Clients team would be happy to assist.
Please contact us on 0330 010 0013 or email clientservices@verlingue.com.