The location of your renovation has a bearing on how liability insurers perceive your project.

A smart town-house renovation covered with scaffolding.

As an example, a policy holder in central London recently submitted an insurance proposal in which he noted no unusual risk features relating to liability.

In reality, along the rear of his unoccupied property there was an alleyway leading to a nightclub which had a record of civil disturbance and drug offences. The property concerned was not due to be renovated for some months and an underwriter could reasonably expect that an area to the rear of the property could be used by party goers from time to time.

The location of your renovation has a bearing on how liability insurers perceive your project.

In this situation the insurer considered that the presence of the nightclub was a material fact and should have been disclosed at the point of proposal. Not unreasonably an additional premium was charged for this exposure because it was likely that anyone trespassing on the site could be expected to be either under the influence of drugs or alcohol, making the likelihood of personal injury higher.

In a rural situation, the presence of wells, ponds or outbuildings in poor condition could be factors that effect an insurer’s decision to accept the risk.

In the past, proximity to a school boarding house, for example, has also been considered as grounds for an increased liability exposure on a site.