Damage to works (DO)

Damage-to-works insurance is a mandatory cover taken out by the project owner before a site opens, enabling fast financing of repairs under the decennial guarantee without waiting for a court ruling on liability.

It works as pre-funding: when a decennial claim arises, the damage-to-works insurer indemnifies the project owner then recovers against the responsible contractor's decennial insurer. That avoids leaving the owner years without a solution while litigation sorts liability among the various parties.

Although the project owner — not the construction company — buys this cover, it is a natural complement for a broker focused on decennial liability — especially for developers, planners and private clients in self-build or off-plan sales.

McLer can support project owners in placing this cover alongside decennial policies for the contractors on site.