Stage 4 of 7
Insure the build checklist
Arrange the cover your lender and the law expect, before any work starts on site.
Need the full explanation? Read about this stage in the self-build stages guide.
Your checklist
Stage complete
What happens
- You arrange contract works and public liability cover for the build period.
- Your lender asks for evidence of cover, and later for structural defects cover.
- You check who is covered if you project-manage the build yourself.
Typical time: A few weeks, but it must be in place before work starts.
Put this stage into practice
- What insurance do I need?
Six quick questions about your build. See each policy it needs, why, and when it has to start. Check my cover →
Guides for this stage
Start with the first guide, or choose the part you need help with.
Arranging your cover
- Self-build insurance in Ireland: what you need and when
What self-build insurance covers in Ireland, how to get a project-specific price, and what to check before accepting a quote. Insurance · 21 min read
- What insurance does a self-build mortgage lender require?
Check the building insurance, life cover and certificates your self-build lender needs before drawdown, with a worked example of one lender’s conditions. Insurance · 8 min read
- Insurance when you project manage your own build
Hiring trades directly instead of a main contractor shifts insurance checks to you. What to ask each trade, what to ask your insurer, and what to keep. Insurance · 9 min read
Protecting the build and finished home
- Structural defects cover for a new home in Ireland
What structural defects insurance covers, how it differs from a completion certificate, and how to check whether your one-off self-build is eligible. Insurance · 6 min read
- Making a claim on your self-build insurance
What to do when something goes wrong on site, what your insurer must do under the Consumer Protection Code, and why under-insurance cuts payouts. Insurance · 9 min read
- Securing your building site: theft, trespassers and what your insurer expects
How to secure a self-build site in Ireland: Garda advice, the security conditions insurers attach to theft cover, and what to do after a theft. Insurance · 8 min read