Construction insurance through Nationale-Nederlanden

The works themselves, whoever is at fault

The works section pays for physical damage to the works under construction, even where nobody is at fault. That is the difference from liability: there does not have to be anyone liable. Storm, frost, collapse, vandalism and fire fall under it, up to completion. The sum insured has to follow the full contract sum including extra work; if the project grows, the declaration grows with it.

Existing property in a refurbishment

If you are working on or in an existing building, that building is not part of the works. If the existing facade cracks because of your excavation, that is covered only where the section for existing property is included with an adequate amount. For the client this is the most important part of the whole policy and at the same time the part most often forgotten when applying.

The maintenance period after handover

After completion a maintenance period runs during which you put defects right. If you damage something during that repair work, it can still fall under the policy, provided the maintenance cover is included and the period has been declared. Without that section the cover ends at the handover of the keys. Liability on the site also stops then. What comes after that is a matter for your liability insurance.

What the construction insurance does not pay for

Putting right work that was carried out defectively is at your own cost. The consequential damage from it can be covered, your own performance cannot. Design faults are covered only where a separate clause has been included. Beyond that, loss from delay, contractual penalties, normal wear of plant and theft of tools left unattended remain outside the cover.

Retroactive cover (prior risk)

Retroactive cover (prior risk) Included for your staff during work.

Defence & legal costs