Personal accident cover
This will help you cover any medical expenses if you’re involved in an accident during the building work
Self-build home insurance
Find insurance for your home-in-progress
MoneySuperMarket does not offer specific insurance for buildings under construction. Please check details of your policy carefully, as there could be some limitations. Make sure the cover is what you're looking for and is appropriate for your needs.
What is self-build insurance?
Self-build insurance is a type of home insurance policy that covers you specifically while your home is still under construction.
A normal home insurance policy won’t be enough to cover you. This specialist self build home insurance will protect you against damage to your home, tools and equipment, plus employers' liability and public liability insurance, which can help cover legal expenses if needed.
Some policies will also include a warranty that covers repairs to your home after it’s been fully renovated.
How does self-build insurance work?
You’ll only need self build insurance if your home is still under construction. You can take out build site insurance protection as soon as you have the land, and it can last from three to 24 months, depending on how long you think it’ll take to finish your new home.
If the building work takes longer than expected, you can always extend your policy to cover any contract works on your self build project.
Self-build home insurance isn’t offered by most ordinary insurance providers, so you’ll need to get a specialist insurer. New build insurance is a similar type of specialist home insurance policy.
Do I need self-build insurance?
Thousands of people build their own homes and the latest government data shows that between October 2021 and October 2022, 6,374 planning permissions were granted for plots of land suitable for self and custom builds.
If you’re taking on a self-build project, you’ll need to think about insurance to protect your property while it's being built. If you’re using a contractor, they should have their own insurance but this will only protect them, not yourself or your home when they’re off-site.
While self-build insurance is an extra expense – without it there’s the chance something could go wrong on your building site and wreck all your plans.
What does self-build insurance cover?
A good self-build insurance policy should fully cover you and your new home while it’s being built. Build site insurance should include just about everything that could go wrong until the building is complete. Some of the major things you’ll want your self-build insurance to cover include:
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What it should cover:
Damage to your building, tools, materials, equipment and any temporary buildings
Your policy will cover any damage that happens, protecting everything from the structure of your new home to fixtures like power outlets, pipes, and lighting.Theft
As with a standard insurance policy, theft of any belongings will be covered.Employer’s liability
Employer’s liability covers you against any claims made by people working on your home and it’s a legal requirement.
Public liability
Public liability insurance provides cover in case a member of the public is injured because of your building works, or if they damage someone’s property.Non-negligence cover
Also known as JCT 21.2.1 insurance this keeps you protected against damage to surrounding properties near your new home.
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What it won't cover
Existing damage
Any problems that already existed before the policy was taken out won't be covered by insuranceWear and tear
Damage caused by gradual wear and weathering is rarely covered by home insuranceVermin or pests
Infestations of vermin from rats to wasps.Deliberate damage
You won't be covered for any deliberate damage by you or the workersDamage from extreme weather to a building open to the elements
During the build your home may be damaged by storms or floods.
How much does self-build insurance cost?
The price of self-build insurance will depend on what kind of house you’re building, what materials you’re using, and how risky the building site is. The following things can all affect the price you pay:
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Location
Local crime statistics will affect how much you pay, if you live in a high-crime area there will be more risk of theft or damage and you’ll pay more for insurance
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Property value
The higher the property value, the more it’ll cost an insurer if you make a claim and therefore the more you’ll pay for your policy
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Type of construction project
What you’re having done and how extensive the project is will make a big difference to your insurance bill
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The estimated time length
Longer building projects will usually cost more as there is more risk something might go wrong
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How many workers will be involved
If you’re hiring workers, you’ll need to make sure they are protected. This could be under their own policy or your insurance and the more people, the higher the price
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Cost of the building work
How much you pay for the work being done will depend on the type of materials used, the building company, and what’s being done. The more extensive the project and equipment, the more you’ll pay for your insurance
Our expert says…
If you’re embarking on your own Grand Designs-style project and building a new property, self-build insurance may seem like an extra expense you don’t want to shell out for. But if something went wrong during construction, you could be left with a big bill for repairs and building work which is likely to cost a lot more than the insurance policy.
According to our recent survey, the average settled claim for a fire was £16,102.88 between August 2023 and August 2024. When you compare that with £206.89
^ , which is the average cost that 51% of our customers paid for annual buildings insurance in July 2024, it makes financial sense to invest in a policy.Before you buy cover though, always check the terms and conditions carefully, as there are many common exclusions to these policies. It’s also worth speaking to your builder, if you’re hiring one, to see what insurance they have in place.
David McDermottroe Insurance & Personal Finance Expert
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What optional extras can I get with self-build insurance?
The extra cover options you can choose from will depend on your provider and policy, but there are a few that are worth looking out for if you want to put together a policy with comprehensive cover:
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Self-build warranty
A structural warranty can last up to 10 years and covers the cost of any repairs you’ll need to make once the house is finished
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Completion of work to a high standard
You’ll be protected in case your contractors don’t do the job as well as you’d expect and means you won’t have to pay more to have the work redone
Guides and expert tips for self builders
Keep up to date and find out all you need to know with our latest guides.
What is public liability and employers’ liability insurance?
Public liability covers you in case a member of the public is injured because of your building works, or if they damage someone’s property. Employer’s liability covers you against any claims made by people working on your home.
When should I buy self-build home insurance?
Self-build home insurance offers you protection for your home throughout the process of building it, so it may be a good idea to buy self-build home insurance at the start of the project so it’s in place as soon as your work begins. You can even buy it as soon as you buy the plot of land to protect it against damage.
Will my self-build insurance still cover me once building is complete?
You may be covered for up to 10 years under a self build insurance warranty but you’ll need to buy a new home insurance policy to cover the building once it’s finished.
What other kinds of insurance do I need to build my home?
It's usually the case that tradespeople and building companies have their own insurance to cover certain events like accidental damage and injury, but it's worth it to consider taking out your own insurance policies as well. A lot of business policies have exclusions for damages that happen to property that's being worked on.
Contract works insurance, site insurance, and public liability insurance are three other insurance products that can give you and your property extra protection throughout the project of building your own home.
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Reviewed on 12 Dec 2025 by
