Liability insurance for holiday let

[Dubya]

Hypothetically..if I built a shepherds hut or similar and rented it out for holiday letting would my liability insurance be invalid if I didn't have planning permission? I always intended to go for retrospective planning (which I have been told by a retired planner that I will almost certainly get) as my local planning office take up to 12 months to process applications and I need to crack on.

 

[Ozzy]

My uninformed opinion is yes it will be invalid, but @Frank the Insurance guy may be able to give an informed opinion

 

[Frank the Insurance guy]

Hi @Dubya ,

Actually, having planning permission or not is not a risk factor when arranging insurance.

This should not present any issue to insurers.

I would suggest you first contact your home insurer to see if the policy can be extended to include letting part of your home to paying guests. If they cannot accommodate this, you will need a separate insurance policy.

Any liability policy will require that you take all reasonable precautions to ensure safety and to prevent an injury etc. Not having planning permission does not change this, or increase the risk and therefore should have no impact on the availability of insurance.

 

[Newchodge]

Hi @Dubya ,

Actually, having planning permission or not is not a risk factor when arranging insurance.

This should not present any issue to insurers.

I would suggest you first contact your home insurer to see if the policy can be extended to include letting part of your home to paying guests. If they cannot accommodate this, you will need a separate insurance policy.

Any liability policy will require that you take all reasonable precautions to ensure safety and to prevent an injury etc. Not having planning permission does not change this, or increase the risk and therefore should have no impact on the availability of insurance.

Does a lack of planning permission imply a lack of building regs control?

 

[Dubya]

Does a lack of planning permission imply a lack of building regs control?

That is a good question. I will follow best practice in the build - e.g. the electrics and gas will be installed by qualified trades and signed off by them. Likewise the log burner will be installed by a HETAS company. I will also make sure that my insurer is aware that planning and formal building regs are absent. They already insure one unit for us and didn't ask for buildings regs.

 

[Dubya]

Hi @Dubya ,

Actually, having planning permission or not is not a risk factor when arranging insurance.

This should not present any issue to insurers.

I would suggest you first contact your home insurer to see if the policy can be extended to include letting part of your home to paying guests. If they cannot accommodate this, you will need a separate insurance policy.

Any liability policy will require that you take all reasonable precautions to ensure safety and to prevent an injury etc. Not having planning permission does not change this, or increase the risk and therefore should have no impact on the availability of insurance.

Thanks very much Frank. I will be completely honest with my insurer and hope they will provide cover. If I provide them with the gas, electric and wood burner installation certificates I hope they will be happy.