Insuring a container home: what policies cover and what they miss

Insurance is a practical question that people often leave until the house is finished. Some insurers are comfortable with container homes, others need more information, and a few will not write a policy at all.

Ask the right questions

• Do you insure container homes, and under which type of policy?
• Does the cover include the structure, the contents and liability?
• How do you value the building if it has to be rebuilt?
• Is any part of the build excluded, such as an extension or an outbuilding?

Document the build

Keep the plans, the approval records, the invoices for insulation and the photos of the build. This helps an insurer understand what they are covering and makes a claim faster.

Think about weather

Insurers ask about flood, wind and snow exposure. Be honest about the site, and check whether the foundation and roof meet the local requirements for those risks.

Compare more than price

A cheaper policy may exclude the very risk you worry about. Read the exclusions and the valuation terms before you choose.

The cost calculator gives a total build figure to share with an insurer, and the UnedPod configurator can produce a 3D view of the house for the file.