The short answer
Insurance can be relevant to party wall works, especially complex or high-risk ones, but it is not the same as security, compensation or an automatic guarantee — and a policy schedule alone tells an adjoining owner very little.
Why it matters
Older awards often required the building owner to maintain public liability insurance, but a policy schedule does not show whether the relevant risk is covered, whether exclusions apply, whether the limit is sufficient, whether the adjoining owner can claim directly, or whether funds will be available quickly if works are abandoned. Party wall surveyors are not insurance brokers; if they try to approve policy wording they may create false reassurance and take on responsibility outside their expertise. Often more direct protections exist — security for expenses in particular is intended to make funds available if needed.
What to do now
- Identify the specific risk you are trying to protect against, rather than just asking whether there is insurance.
- Consider whether security for expenses is justified.
- Ask who has access to funds if works stop, whether the contractor has suitable cover, and whether the method and programme are credible.
- Get specialist insurance advice where cover genuinely matters.
Common mistakes
- Treating a policy schedule as proof of protection.
- Expecting the surveyor to vet insurance wording.
- Overlooking security for expenses as a more direct safeguard.
When to call Coburns
If you are weighing insurance against security for expenses on a higher-risk project, get in touch and we will help you focus on the protection that actually works.