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Self-Build

The Build-Zone Self-build Warranty is available online via our specialist company, Self-Build Zone Limited. Quotations are available and cover can be incepted at any time via the Self-Build Zone website (www.selfbuildzone.com) together with Site Insurance.

The structural warranty, backed by an ‘A’ rated insurer, is an alternative approach to relying on Architect's Certification, NHBC or Premier Guarantee products and is designed for new builds or conversions.

For a typical project there are two options available; "with Building Control" or "without Building Control".

"With Building Control"
Many people are unaware that you do not need to use your Local Authority Building Control (LABC) to obtain building regulation approval and carry out building control inspections. We can arrange this for you through a national network of Approved Inspectors.

This has many advantages:-
From initial notification we can normally have a surveyor to site within 5 working days and following on from this, in relation to future survey requirements, your surveyor can be on site within 2 working days. Your surveyor will usually look after you from start to finish and will be available to communicate with you at all times.
A formal plan check is carried out along with calculations and if there are any problems arising from this they will be highlighted in a report.
The surveyors are qualified and experienced individuals used to working with self-build projects and because of their background they are in a good position to offer advice should you require it.

"Without Building Control"
If you have already made your building regulation application to LABC you will need to request a warranty "without building control". We then arrange for a programme of technical audits to be made during the project alongside the LABC inspector. You will still need to allow us a minimum 5 days notice.

Is a structural warranty a requirement?
Apart from the peace of mind gained with the Build-Zone Structural Warranty you are more than likely to find your lender requires it as part of their own lending criteria. Also if your circumstances change and you should want or need to sell the property in the next 10 years you will find that your buyer's lender will also need to see evidence of a structural warranty for the building before they commit to lending any money.

There is a huge difference between the cover provided by the Build-Zone Structural Warranty and that afforded by an Architect's Certificate.

In order for a claim to succeed against an Architect’s Certificate the client has to prove negligence against the architect. Proving negligence can be a very lengthy and costly process. What is needed is the Build-Zone Structural Warranty which will respond immediately in terms of payment of claim (subject to the policy excess) and then recover from the responsible parties concerned, so that payment is ‘immediate’.

Summary of Cover
The insurers will indemnify the policyholder against all claims discovered and notified to the insurer during the period of insurance in respect of :-

1) The cost of complete or partial rebuilding or rectifying work to the housing unit which has been affected by major damage attributable to a defect in the design, workmanship or materials, provided always that the liability of the insurers does not exceed the reasonable cost of rebuilding each housing unit to its original specification.
2) The cost of making good any defect in the design, workmanship or material in the drainage system which was newly constructed by the builder in connection with the housing unit and for which the policyholder is responsible.
3) The necessary and reasonable costs incurred in repairing, replacing or rectifying any part of the waterproof envelope within the housing unit as a result of ingress of water caused by a defect in the design, workmanship, materials or components or the waterproofing elements of the housing unit.
4) The cost of repairing or making good any defects in the chimneys and flues of the housing unit causing an imminent danger to the health and safety of occupants.

Combine Technical Audit and Building Control Service
We have linked together the technical audit requirements of a structural warranty and our Building Control Service to offer you a dedicated and prompt service with a qualified and experienced surveyor. This is extremely cost effective and will facilitate a faster turnaround of Stage Payment Release Certificates for your lender.

The Site Audit Surveyors
A network of Approved Inspectors are used to carry out condition surveys, all of whom are appropriately qualified and have a minimum of 5 years experience.

For further information and a quotation (even if you have already started or completed your build) then please call us on 0845 230 9874.

For a quote click here or for more information, or to download our documentation just use the links on the left of this page.