Owner builder insurance

bepcanh · Mar 03, 2020 8:47 pm

Dear All,

I have just got the Owner builder permit in NSW. Before starting the construction work on my property. Which insurance company covers a owner builder work?

I really do not know. I checked NRMA, GIO on their website I do not see they insure a owner builder work? Anyone known please share with me.

Thank you very much in advance
Bep Canh

MClark · Mar 04, 2020 6:10 am

bepcanh

Dear All,

I have just got the Owner builder permit in NSW. Before starting the construction work on my property. Which insurance company covers a owner builder work?

I really do not know. I checked NRMA, GIO on their website I do not see they insure a owner builder work? Anyone known please share with me.

Thank you very much in advance
Bep Canh

Call the VMIA for information.

bepcanh · Mar 04, 2020 8:54 am

Thank you very much . I will call them. It seems this VMIA is in Victoria

Thanks again
Bep Canh

DamNita · Mar 04, 2020 2:49 pm

HI there - both my husband and I are Insurance Brokers in NSW. Happy to assist should you need it. Austbrokers, Corey - 0416278697 and we could provide you with a quote.

Best of luck with your build.

MClark · Mar 04, 2020 9:41 pm

bepcanh

Thank you very much . I will call them. It seems this VMIA is in Victoria

Thanks again
Bep Canh

Sorry, disregard that...

Bamboo-1410 · Apr 03, 2020 9:07 pm

Try Allrisk.com.au, I have used them for couple times, the price is very reasonable for home owner project.

ACLaverton · May 20, 2020 3:37 pm

I'd love some info in Vic as well. I need to get some owner builders insurance. Thanks!

Debunk · Jul 19, 2020 2:49 pm

bepcanh

Dear All,

I have just got the Owner builder permit in NSW. Before starting the construction work on my property. Which insurance company covers a owner builder work?

I really do not know. I checked NRMA, GIO on their website I do not see they insure a owner builder work? Anyone known please share with me.

Thank you very much in advance
Bep Canh

Hi Bep what insurance did you end up getting? Im in the same boat as you, in NSW about to start a small extension value around $25K. What about the fine print, and what sort of Public Liability is the recommended level? Also Im interested if there is any coverage if I am injured on the project if I am working FT voluntarily (unpaid) on this.
Will appreciate any tips thank you,

benny black · Jan 26, 2021 8:24 pm

bepcanh

Dear All,

I have just got the Owner builder permit in NSW. Before starting the construction work on my property. Which insurance company covers a owner builder work?

I really do not know. I checked NRMA, GIO on their website I do not see they insure a owner builder work? Anyone known please share with me.

Thank you very much in advance
Bep Canh

hi, you dont need owner builder insurance in nsw , it is not a legal requirement, and if you are owner building you will not have anyone on site but yourself.

aussieta · Jan 27, 2021 3:51 pm

" you will not have anyone on site but yourself."
so the council inspector or private certifier trips and impales himself on some forming then sues you for $10 million
the electrician electrocutes himself, his wife sues you for $10 million
the plumber explodes some oxy acetalyn whilst brazing your lines then sues you for $10 million
so far you are out of pocket $30 million
you need a reality check before posting bs on the internet

benny black · Jan 27, 2021 4:44 pm

aussieta

" you will not have anyone on site but yourself."
so the council inspector or private certifier trips and impales himself on some forming then sues you for $10 million
the electrician electrocutes himself, his wife sues you for $10 million
the plumber explodes some oxy acetalyn whilst brazing your lines then sues you for $10 million
so far you are out of pocket $30 million
you need a reality check before posting bs on the internet

you are only at fault if you cause the accident through your own deeds, none of the scenarios you have described would be your fault.
you are the one posting bs.
i have built 6 houses for myself in 2 different states in the last 15 years and never required home insurance or any insurance for that matter.
it is misleading to state that i am posting bs and that any of your fantasy scenarios are the owner builders fault.
plumbers dont braze by the way....and if a sparkie electrocutes himself how is it my fault ?
if a council inspector isnt looking where they are going and trips it is not my fault either.
please do not post nonsense.

chippy · Jan 27, 2021 7:19 pm

Construction sites are by their nature dangerous working environments.
As an owner builder you take on the full responsibility of the builder, that includes insurance.
It's like driving a car without insurance, it's all great until something goes wrong. You can role the dice and not get insurance but quite frankly it can cost you everything you have if one little thing goes wrong.

benny black · Jan 27, 2021 7:24 pm

chippy

Construction sites are by their nature dangerous working environments.
As an owner builder you take on the full responsibility of the builder, that includes insurance.
It's like driving a car without insurance, it's all great until something goes wrong. You can role the dice and not get insurance but quite frankly it can cost you everything you have if one little thing goes wrong.

it is not a legal requirement to have insurance on an owner builder site.
why pay for something you do not need ?
this is why owner builders end up spending a fortune on building their own home , because they get suckered in by scare stories planted by industry lobby posters.

chippy · Jan 27, 2021 7:33 pm

Mate, I'm not an industry lobby poster. I've built two OB houses in the last 10 years and I wouldn't even think of doing it without insurance.
I work in the building industry and just like I expect that if something was to happen to me on a worksite that was not my responsibility (and it happens all the time) I or my family would have a form of recourse for any accidents that aren't of my doing, I'd also accord the same level of care to anyone working on my own build.
If you want to role the dice good luck to you but it can very easily come back to bite you on the backside.

benny black · Jan 27, 2021 7:46 pm

chippy

Mate, I'm not an industry lobby poster. I've built two OB houses in the last 10 years and I wouldn't even think of doing it without insurance.
I work in the building industry and just like I expect that if something was to happen to me on a worksite that was not my responsibility (and it happens all the time) I or my family would have a form of recourse for any accidents that aren't of my doing, I'd also accord the same level of care to anyone working on my own build.
If you want to role the dice good luck to you but it can very easily come back to bite you on the backside.

yes, i also am a tradesperson who has worked in the construction industry in 3 states here and several countries overseas and have built many homes for my family.
the fact is ,you do not need insurance of any kind to build a house here in the council shire i am in in NSW or the previous council shires in 3 states i have built in, maybe your council shire requires it , but if they do, i suspect they are not behaving legally.
and i would take it up with your state LGA.

If you want to walk down the street uninsured there is a very small risk that you may be found liable for something that goes wrong, but it is still your right to walk down that street uninsured.
stating you have to have insurance for owner building when it is not a legal requirement and many of us have never purchased such a thing is misleadin ,that is all i have said, but it seems to irk many for some reason ...
maybe they realise they have spent a lot of dosh on something they do not need.

chippy · Jan 27, 2021 8:07 pm

Do you have insurance on the finished house?

JB1 · Apr 12, 2021 12:03 am

benny black

chippy

Mate, I'm not an industry lobby poster. I've built two OB houses in the last 10 years and I wouldn't even think of doing it without insurance.
I work in the building industry and just like I expect that if something was to happen to me on a worksite that was not my responsibility (and it happens all the time) I or my family would have a form of recourse for any accidents that aren't of my doing, I'd also accord the same level of care to anyone working on my own build.
If you want to role the dice good luck to you but it can very easily come back to bite you on the backside.

yes, i also am a tradesperson who has worked in the construction industry in 3 states here and several countries overseas and have built many homes for my family.
the fact is ,you do not need insurance of any kind to build a house here in the council shire i am in in NSW or the previous council shires in 3 states i have built in, maybe your council shire requires it , but if they do, i suspect they are not behaving legally.
and i would take it up with your state LGA.

If you want to walk down the street uninsured there is a very small risk that you may be found liable for something that goes wrong, but it is still your right to walk down that street uninsured.
stating you have to have insurance for owner building when it is not a legal requirement and many of us have never purchased such a thing is misleadin ,that is all i have said, but it seems to irk many for some reason ...
maybe they realise they have spent a lot of dosh on something they do not need.

Disregarding the public liability insurance... geez I'd definitely want insurance against theft or vandalism. I can't afford to see $500k down the drain if kids start a fire in an unoccupied property.

I just finalised an insurance claim against scratched windows glass. $6k to replace glass.

Policy was underwriten by Vero. Broker was All Risk.

Berek · Apr 12, 2021 7:51 pm

OB insurance is a state requirement not council (as your license is governed by the state’s building authority). It is definitely required where I am.
Theft on my vero policy has an excess of $2500.

Cox007 · Apr 21, 2022 5:11 pm

Just had Lake Macquarie Council tell me if i don't provide the owners builder's insurance certificate they won't come to site to do the inspections. Sound's like it's a have to have item to me.

benny black · Apr 21, 2022 8:57 pm

i am currently building my own home again ,and our NSW council requires no such thing.