If there’s a break-in on your site and materials or plant go missing, are you covered for the cost of those items or any damage caused during the forced entry?
Did you know that in the last 6 months alone, 43 of our members have made a claim through us for the theft of either tools, plant or materials. Of those, the average Contract Works Theft claim was worth £7,559.96, with many claims reaching over £22,000.
According to specialist police unit PANIU (the Plant & Agricultural National Intelligence Unit) there were 1,256 construction or agricultural plant thefts in mainland UK in the first 6 months of 2018. A survey conducted by the Chartered Institute of Building in 2017, revealed that 92% of respondents were directly affected by petty crime; of those, 21% stated that their construction sites were robbed on a weekly basis. In that year, theft and vandalism cost the UK construction industry £800 million. These figures only reflect the number of claims made. Many thefts are never actually reported, meaning the figures are potentially much higher.
FMB member and former National President, Dave Bentley, has had insurance through FMB for the last 3 years. In 2018 he made a claim after suffering a break-in and having 3 central heating boilers stolen from the premises he was working on. “The claim was continually monitored by the team”, says Dave. “I would highly recommend all builders both large and small, to call and get a quote for all their requirements. We have continued to use FMB for all our insurance requirements because the service we received was fast, friendly and very efficient.”
Having Contract Works Insurance is vital and is often a policy that many builders neglect to take out. It’s surprisingly affordable and gives you that extra peace of mind. It covers your entire site for the duration of the build; from the building itself, to your tools, plant, personal affects and stock. The policy includes cover for damage from events such as fire, theft, flood, storm and vandalism, as well as accidental damage to on-site materials.
Find out how we can tailor a policy to meet your own requirements here