Housing association developments, whether new build projects or wholesale renovations, adaptations or conversions all need to be covered by an appropriate housing associations insurance policy to protect against the risks of structural defects being found in a property after completion.
Properties that are being developed for social housing, whether for rent, shared ownership or other housing schemes, need housing association insurance to protect against the risk of future losses if the home is found to have inherent defects. The right policy essentially provides peace of mind against structural problems for 10 years.
Without this protection, the housing association would be liable for any costs of remedying the property if a serious structural problem comes to light, or even total demolition and rebuild costs if required.
Many housing associations will simply buy cover from the provider listed on the HCA requirements without any thought. However, by not shopping around for cover, they run the risk of paying for cover that they don’t actually need, or paying above the odds for the insurance policy they do require. Housing associations are under no obligation to choose that specific provider for their construction project cover, so it makes sense to look around and see what else is available that could potentially save money or provide a more suitable level of cover.
Some of the features to look out for when choosing a policy provider include:
- Reputation of insurer and level of experience in construction insurance specifically
- Cover for part completed projects, if needed
- Cover for already completed projects, if needed (retrospective housing association insurance)
- Cover that includes renovations and conversions as well as new-builds
If you’d like to take a proactive approach to your housing association build project, you can get a no-obligation quote from our team to help you decide on the right provider for your needs. Get in touch today.
