New agricultural property law highlights need to get insurance right

The new regulations and updates to the law came into force on 6 April
The new regulations and updates to the law came into force on 6 April

Farmers and landowners are being advised to ensure the correct insurance cover is in place when converting agricultural buildings into residential homes.

Amendments to development laws introduced earlier this month are set to incentivise more farmers to convert agricultural buildings into residential homes.

However, farmers and landowners are being advised to ensure the correct insurance cover is in place, or face the threat of policies not being relevant.

The new regulations and updates to the law came into force on 6 April, and include the intention to increase the numbers of properties that can be converted from existing agricultural farm buildings up to five.

Existing development rights only permitted a maximum of three properties to be built without express planning permission.

With the increased development opportunities, it is anticipated more farmers will take advantage, and a rise in the number of conversions will follow. Before work starts or planning begins, farmers are being encouraged to ensure they are aware of insurance implications.

Contractors’ All Risk

“If a property is insured as a farm building, as soon as any residential development work commences, the farm policy will no longer be relevant,” explains Nigel Wellings, director of agricultural insurance broker, Farmers & Mercantile (F&M).

Mr Wellings adds: “If you are using an outside contractor for the full conversion work, they must have Contractors’ All Risk (CAR) insurance, and this will cover all work in progress, materials, public and employee liability.

“Farmers also need to inform their own insurers of all work in progress, and the insurer should then cover the existing shell, providing they are fully aware of the plans.”

To ensure HSE obligations are met, the Construction (Design & Management), or CDM regulations, must be signed over to the contractor. The CDM regulations are the main set of regulations for managing health, safety and welfare of construction projects. Once signed over to the contractor, the owner will no longer be responsible for the work.

“If you are acting for yourself as the overseer of the build, employing separate bricklayers, plasterers, roofers etc., you will personally require Contractors’ All Risk insurance,” continues Mr Wellings.