How can I check a renovation contractor’s insurance claims and incident history?

Two sources give the full picture. The insurer’s record shows the claims it handled, while the company’s own log shows incidents that never reached a claim: a flooded basement, a damaged neighbour’s fence, an injured worker. Compare them. A large gap between the two can mean the seller is handling things informally, which may leave open exposure that you could inherit.

Read the details of each case. What caused it? Was it a one-off or part of a pattern, such as a particular trade, site type or subcontractor? Did the company fix the cause, retrain the crew or change the process? How the seller reacted tells you as much as the incident itself.

Next, look at what is still open. Ask whether any claims are unresolved and whether any work completed before the sale could still bring one. Find out how subcontractors’ insurance was verified. Talk to your insurance broker about what the history means for your cover. Ask your lawyer who is responsible for pre-closing incidents, and have your accountant check that the statements show the costs. Ask also whether the company has ever been refused cover or had a policy cancelled, and why that happened.

Key takeaways

• Compare the insurer’s claim history with the company’s own incident log.
• Read each case for cause and what the seller changed afterward.
• Settle with your lawyer who is responsible for incidents from before closing.