FMB building Work Guarantee* is an insurance backed guarantee (IBG) that provides valuable protection for home improvement projects such as extensions, loft conversions and roofing work.
Structural issues like a leaky roof or uneven floors might not be noticeable until a few years after the builders have swept up and packed their van. An FMB Building Work Guarantee offers protection for up to a decade after the work has finished and provides full repayment for everything that needs to be fixed if the builder has ceased trading.
Many of us buy insurance for our mobile phones, so why wouldn’t we do the same for structural work on our home which costs thousands?
*This policy is administered by FMB Insurance, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
WHY BUY AN FMB BUILDING WORK GUARANTEE?
Many contractors will be happy to guarantee their work against defects in workmanship or materials for up to 10 years, which will be set out in their written guarantee. Although this guarantee sets out their obligation to rectify defects in work carried out by them, it cannot guarantee that they will always be around. They might have:
- Ceased to trade though financial difficulty
- Retired
- Become ill
That’s where an FMB Building Work Guarantee comes in – it’s designed to honour the terms of the written guarantee if the contractor has stopped trading, covering the reasonable costs to fix the defect.
WHEN SHOULD I BUY MY POLICY
Your policy needs to be in place before the completion of your building work, so it’s a good idea to get a quote as soon as you know which builder you’re going to use and how much the job will cost. Call us for a quote and one of our friendly team will help to guide you through a quote. You won’t need to know any technical details about the build, but it helps to have the following to hand:
- Your written building quote
- Your builder's company name and contact information
Call us on 01353 652760 for a quote, email [email protected], or request a quote online.
To find out more, read our FAQs below and download the FMB Insurance IBG Guide for Homeowners.
Homeowner FAQs
How long does my policy last?
Please refer to the section on your policy titled “The Period of this Insurance” to confirm the terms of your policy. Depending on the product, the term of cover provided varies.
Is the policy transferable to subsequent homeowners?
The policy of insurance is only transferable if the contractor’s written guarantee is. In the event it is transferable, we will be happy to transfer the benefits of this policy if you have recently taken ownership of the property.
In some cases, a small administration fee may be applicable for the transfer – please refer to the “Transferability” section on the reverse of your policy for the full conditions applicable and confirm the fee.
What should I do if I find a defect in my building works?
If you identify a defect within the building works, you should firstly try to make contact with the original contractor to advise them of the issue and request they attend to your property.
Please ensure you keep records of all communications you have with the contractor and any remedial works undertaken.
How do I make a claim?
If you need to make a claim, please contact the FMB Insurance team on 01353 652760 or by emailing [email protected].
Along with the completed Claims Form we will need:
- Copies of the Policy Certificate/Policy of Insurance.
- The Sales Contract, invoice and receipt from the contractor including terms and conditions – usually located on the back of contracts.
- The written Guarantee provided by the contractor – sometimes located within terms and conditions or as a separate document.
If you do not have a copy of your Policy documents, contact us on 01353 652760 or [email protected].
All contractor's guarantees look different and you will find very few follow one format and can sometimes be included within your contact terms and conditions. You will be required to provide this in the event of a claim being submitted, so it’s important to have this in your file.