General Insurance
Verified Answer
3 min read • Updated September 2026
How long does contract works insurance last?
IB
Insurance Bhaiya General Group
Verified Answer
Reviewed by Licensed Claims Adjuster & Actuarial Auditor•Updated September 2026•3 min read
Zero Commission Bias
Quick Answer / Executive Summary
Contract works insurance normally runs from the start of works until practical completion or handover, with an option to extend through a defects or maintenance period, commonly 12 months, so that damage arising from rectifying snagging items is also covered. It can also be extended if a project overruns its original completion date.
Key Takeaways at a Glance
Cover starts on the agreed commencement date, not the date the policy is purchased.
It ends at practical completion unless a defects-period extension is added.
A defects/maintenance extension of around 12 months is common and worth confirming upfront.
Project overruns need an active extension request — cover doesn't automatically continue past the original end date.
Multi-phase projects may need cover structured in stages rather than a single continuous period.
The core cover period
The base period of a contract works policy matches the construction programme: start on site to practical completion. This is the period when the works are most exposed, since they're incomplete, often unsecured overnight, and not yet covered by a finished building's standard insurance.
Why the defects period matters
After handover, contractors typically remain responsible for fixing defects for a set period. If rectifying a defect (say, replacing a leaking roof detail) causes further damage to finished work, a defects-period extension on the contract works policy is what responds — without it, that damage could fall into a coverage gap between the expired contract works policy and the building's new standard insurance.
What happens if the project runs late
If a project overruns its planned completion date, cover does not automatically extend — most insurers require the contractor to request and pay for a formal extension before the original expiry date. Requesting it after the fact, or after a loss has already occurred, is where problems arise.
Real-Life Case Incident & Precedent
Precedent: Extensions requested and confirmed in writing before the original expiry date keep continuous cover in place; requests made after expiry typically cannot be backdated.
Extension request made just in time
Scenario: A contractor's renovation project ran six weeks over its planned finish date due to a materials delay, with the original contract works policy due to expire before the new estimated completion.
Resolution & Judicial Outcome: The contractor contacted their broker two weeks before expiry, paid an additional pro-rata premium, and secured a formal extension, meaning a subsequent storm during the extra six weeks was still covered.
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