Work in or adjacent to other buildings

A contract for insurance may cover damage to property caused by an insured risk, for example buildings insurance or contractor’s all risk insurance. The insured risk may be an act of God, or it may be caused by negligence.

Alternatively, an insurance policy will cover liabilities incurred in law, for example causing injury, death or damage to property by negligence. The insured event must be something which creates a liability in law, ie a tort. Public liability policies do not cover accidental damage, unless negligence is present. Public liability policies also commonly exclude liabilities undertaken under contract which would not have existed absent the contract.

In order to insure a building, the person taking out the insurance must have an insurable interest in the property. Generally the insurable interest is ownership of the building or, in the case of a mortgagee, a financial interest in the building. See Practice Note: General principles of insurance contract law.

In the case of a contractor, its insurable interest in the works is its