Retrospective structural warranties
Started building without a warranty, or finished and now find you need one to sell? Cover may still be available for island developments - the key is the evidence of how the work was done.
- Instant response
- Insurer quotes usually within one working day of your proposal
- UK FCA Regulated Broker
- 10 and 12 year cover
- Large and small Island sites welcome
Cover after work has started
Already on site without a warranty
It happens more often than you might think. A small scheme starts before the warranty is sorted, a lender's condition is missed, or a buyer's advocate asks a question nobody expected. The good news is that some providers will still offer a structural warranty once work is under way.
Because their surveyors did not see the early stages, the provider needs other evidence that the foundations and structure were built properly. The further the build has gone, the more they will ask for - and in some cases they may need parts of the work opened up so they can inspect it.
That is why the most important thing is to ask as early as possible. Every week on site is another stage the provider cannot inspect for itself.
Cover on completed properties
Finished, and now you need a warranty to sell
If a home was built or converted without a warranty and a buyer's lender now wants one, cover for a completed property is sometimes possible. The provider will want a survey of the building and good records of how it was built, and there are usually limits on how long ago it was finished.
It is not always available, and it is always more expensive than registering before the start - but it can be the difference between a sale going through and falling away.
What you will need
Information providers ask for on a retrospective warranty
You will not need all of this for every project, but the more you can provide, the more providers will look at it and the better the terms are likely to be.
- Planning permission and building control approvals, with any inspection records and completion certificates
- Architectural drawings and specifications for the work as built
- Structural engineer's calculations, drawings and any site inspection reports
- A ground investigation or site survey, if one was done
- Dated photographs of the foundations, frame, roof and other stages as they were built
- Details of the main contractor and key sub-contractors
- A timeline of the work - when it started and what stage it has reached
- Any reports from an architect or surveyor who monitored the build
Already started? Talk to us today
The sooner a provider sees your project, the more of the build it can inspect for itself - and the more options you have.
Retrospective structural warranty questions
Can I get a structural warranty after building has started?
Often, yes. Some providers offer retrospective cover once work is under way, subject to evidence of the work already done and inspections of the remaining stages. The premium is usually higher than registering before the start.
Can I get a warranty on a property that is already finished?
Sometimes. A few providers will cover a completed property after a survey and a review of the build records, usually only if it was finished fairly recently. Availability depends heavily on the evidence.
Will the provider need to open up the work?
Possibly. If there is not enough evidence of something that is now hidden - foundations or a wall construction, for example - the provider may ask for a small area to be opened up so it can be inspected.
Why does retrospective cover cost more?
Because the provider carries more uncertainty. Its surveyors did not see the early work, so it relies on records and spends more time reviewing them.
Ask about retrospective cover
Tell us where the build is up to. We will come back with whether retrospective cover looks possible and exactly what the providers will want to see.
- Takes under a minute
- Instant reply by email with your reference
- Insurer quotes usually within one working day of your completed proposal
- Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Jersey and the Isle of Man
- Free and no obligation
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