Home renovations can come with unexpected costs beyond materials and labour. Since the focus remains on better interiors and improved safety features, you may overlook how these improvements can directly affect your house insurance premium. Any structural change, extension or upgrade alters the value of your home, which changes the coverage you need. For instance, adding a sprinkler system can reduce risks and potentially lower your insurance premiums.
This guide explains the impact on home insurance while renovating, which improvements require policy updates and how you can protect yourself against costly surprises during renovation.
Do home renovations impact insurance premiums?
Yes, home renovations can change the premium you pay. In fact, every change you make to your property that increases its value affects your coverage in some way. Your insurer calculates your premiums based on your home’s current condition, value and risk level.
When you renovate, these three factors change. Premiums may go up or down. The key is understanding which changes can affect the premium and planning your home renovation insurance needs accordingly.
Reasons why renovations impact home insurance premiums
Here are several factors that explain why the house insurance premium changes during renovation:
- When you add luxury bath fittings or install a modular kitchen, the replacement value of your home rises, which affects your premium.
- New structures like swimming pools increase the liability risks as the chances of someone getting hurt increase. Meanwhile, updating electrical systems or installing fire extinguishers reduces fire hazards. Your insurer weighs these risk changes when calculating the premium for house insurance during renovations.
- Using premium construction materials such as quartz washbasins, marble countertops or teak wood furniture costs more to replace and repair than standard options.
- Your old policy may not adequately cover the new upgrades and additions. In such scenarios, you may need to update your coverage for comprehensive protection.
Which home renovations impact home insurance premiums?
Different renovation projects affect insurance in different ways. Here’s what you need to know:
- Security systems: Changing electrical wiring and installations, such as digital locks, CCTV, sprinkler systems, smoke detectors and alarms, can qualify for discounts as better security reduces theft risks.
- Changing the structure: Renovating the roof with quality materials or reconstructing the outer walls to make them weather-resistant might lower premiums due to reduced risks.
- Kitchen and bathroom upgrades: These can increase premiums because kitchens and bathrooms contain expensive appliances, boiling water-resistant plywood, laminates and luxury fixtures, which can increase costs.
- Home extension: Adding a room or a floor can increase your property’s square footage and value, which raises the building cost and may impact your house renovation insurance
Home insurance cover options to consider while renovating
To increase your protection, you can opt for home and contents insurance while renovating, especially if installing expensive fittings and electronics.
Some insurance providers allow increasing the sum insured mid-term, which can help you cover any unexpected financial loss.
Standard home content coverage might not adequately protect high-value additions, such as an imported showpiece. Always check if the insurer has separate home insurance cover for valuables, personal belongings and other possessions.
Choose home insurance plans that cover temporary relocation expenses, such as hotel and rental costs, if or when your home becomes uninhabitable.
You can also opt for workmen's compensation coverage, which protects you from liabilities if construction workers get injured on your property.
Things to remember while renovating your home
Here are a few practical points to remember while renovating your home:
- Always inform your house insurance provider before renovating, even if it's a small change.
- Hire licensed contractors, architects or interior designers, as their professionalism and experience reduce risks.
- Preserve all receipts, documents and bills of the renovation work as proof of new value. They will also be helpful during claims.
- Maintain safety standards throughout the renovation process.
Conclusion
Renovating your home can be exciting, but it changes how your insurance works. Understanding what affects home insurance premiums during renovations and reviewing your policy on time will give you coverage against perils such as fire, cyclone, lightning, flood, riot, and (in some cases) theft.
The key is to track property value changes proactively, inform your insurer beforehand and use the right house insurance plan and add-ons.
FAQs
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Can I protect my jewellery and precious stones during renovation with house insurance?
Yes, you can buy home contents insurance to cover jewellery, ornaments, gemstones and any other high-value personal belongings during renovation.
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Is my furniture covered during renovation?
It depends on your policy terms and insurer. Please read the policy wording or contact your provider for clarification.
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What affects home insurance premiums the most?
Some factors that affect home insurance premiums are location, type and age of building, safety features, replacement cost, credit score, deductibles, and more.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It may contain outdated data and information regarding the topic featured in the article. It is advised to verify the currency and relevance of the data and information before taking any major steps. ICICI Lombard is not liable for any inaccuracies or consequences resulting from the use of this outdated information.
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