Advantage holds the Shield of Approval when it comes to providing structural defects insurance

Advantage is fundamentally a business that provides structural defects insurance – operating nationally with offices in Warrington, Horsham, Birmingham and Dublin. We offer various forms of development-related insurances and a service designed primarily to give you peace of mind as we understand that choosing the correct structural defects insurance can seem overwhelming

Structural defects insurance

Structural defects insurance is a type of insurance that is considered a requirement by the majority of UK mortgage lenders before lending on any property under 10 years old. We also supply a 12-year provision for housing associations on request.

The policy is designed for any organisation or person who is constructing a new property and protects the owner from any rebuild costs that can arise as a result of defective design, workmanship or damage to materials that occurs during the build period but is not discovered until after completion.

We can cover:

• Self-build properties.
• New builds.
• Conversions.
• Renovations.
• Extensions.
• Insolvency situations.
• Part-completed properties.
• Completed properties with defects.
  

  Our policies include:

• Professional fees
• Demolition costs
• Remedial work
• Moving and storing
• Alternative accommodations
• Developer insolvency
• Land contamination
• Major damage

Structural defects insurance, also known as latent defect insurance or a building warranty, covers a development for defects or faults in construction that do not become apparent or detectable until the construction project is completed, thus it is to your advantage to have latent defects insurance in place before work on the development starts to avoid unnecessary costs.

The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) and the funder of the development will almost always insist on an approved and acceptable provider of structural defects insurance, which is why it is essential to choose a credible and reliable company to work with. At Advantage our policies are underwritten by a range of insurers, including industry-leading rated and AA-rated insurers – our job is to provide you with peace of mind so that you can focus on your development.

Road & sewer bonds

Road bonds are required by the highways authorities for any development where roads are being constructed and will be adopted by the council after completion. If the road is not completed to the specification outlined in the planning approval, the council has the resources via the bond to bring it up to standard.

S38 Agreements cover new roads and S278 Agreements cover work done on existing roads. The amount of security required is determined by the council and is often higher than the developers’ own budgets for the work.

Advantage offers:

• Unique insurance-based product
• Secure obligations under Section S38 and S278 Road and S104 and S106 Sewage Agreements
• Traditional bond solutions
• Completion and deposit bonds
• General insurance packages
• Existing and completed schemes
• About Advantage

Who are Advantage? Armed with an expert team who have decades of experience in the industry, Advantage is committed to building partnerships with people and businesses in order to protect your property investments and shield you from unnecessary costs.

We operate a Trading Standards-approved Consumer Code, to which all developers must adhere as part of their obligation to the Advantage membership scheme, which can help protect new homeowners in the process of purchasing their properties.

Our policies also include a five-stage inspection process in which our technical department will put an inspection schedule together based on the development’s specific needs. We have an in-house team of surveyors and a panel of independent inspectors who are highly qualified and equipped to deal with the tight deadlines that builders are often faced with – which is why we are able to arrange inspections promptly, efficiently and with your convenience in mind.

Who do we work with?

• Builders
• Developers (both residential and commercial)
• Solicitors
• Architects
• Housing associations
• Fixed-fee administrators
• Development funders
• Independent building control bodies

Advantage understands the complexities of the property sector – which is why our system is designed to be as smooth as possible, with a dedicated relationship manager guiding you every step of the way.

In the unlikely event that you will need to call upon your insurance, we offer concrete solutions for your current and future developments. Our team work closely with you, supporting you throughout your project and offering real, tangible solutions.

Advantage is the safe choice when it comes to construction insurance:

Stability: Our policies are underwritten by industry-leading insurers with access to AA-rated insurers, giving you guaranteed peace of mind when it comes to choosing the right insurance.

Ability: Our processes include a single point of contact with a dedicated account manager – making us able to deal with your needs quickly and efficiently.

Flexibility: Our projects cover both commercial and residential properties, and range from individual one-off houses to developments with a build cost over £50m.

Experience: We have over 40 years of industry experience, making us equipped to deal with the challenges faced on and off-site and proactive in our approach to helping move your project forward with a fast turnaround.

If you are looking for a reliable and trustworthy provider of structural defects insurance then you can count on Advantage.

Contact us on 01925 850 765 to get the ball rolling.

Please note: this is a commercial profile