'Don't worry, I'm insured.' Insured for what, by whom, and for how much? How to check a builder's actual cover before you sign.
Your builder tells you: "Don't worry, I'm insured."
That's great. But insured for what? By which company? For which works? In which country? Up to what amount? And most importantly: is the insurance valid for your project?
This is a check that many people forget to do before signing a quote.
Yet, whether it's a €15,000 renovation, a €40,000 roof, or a €150,000 extension, the consequences of a claim can be substantial.
And contrary to popular belief, having "an insurance policy" doesn't necessarily mean the work you're entrusting to the company is covered.
In 2026, here are the essential checks to carry out in Belgium, France and across Europe.
1. Start by asking for the certificate, not a promise
Don't just ask: "Are you insured?" Instead, ask: "Can you send me your valid insurance certificate before I sign?"
You should be able to identify, at a minimum, the name of the insured company, the insurance provider, the policy number, the validity period, the activities covered and, where applicable, the geographical scope of the cover.
In Belgium, for projects subject to mandatory ten-year liability insurance, the contractual documents must state the name and company number of the insurer, as well as the policy number. The certificate must be given to the client before the work begins.
2. The name on the insurance must match the company working for you
Your quote is from DUPONT CONSTRUCTION SRL, but the certificate mentions DUPONT SERVICES SRL: this is not the same company.
The same director, address or logo is not enough. Check that the legal name and company number truly match the professional you are signing with.
What matters to you is knowing who is contractually responsible for the work and which insurance policy covers that liability.
3. Above all, check the insured activity
This is probably the most important check. A company might be insured for interior painting and decorating, then accept a project that includes waterproofing a flat roof.
The existence of a policy does not automatically mean this additional activity is covered.
In France, the ten-year liability certificate must specify the activities or tasks carried out by the insured party, the techniques involved and the geographical scope of the cover.
So don't just check: "Do they have insurance?" Check: "ARE THEY INSURED FOR THE WORK THEY WILL BE DOING AT MY HOME?"
4. Call the insurer directly if in doubt
A PDF certificate could be outdated, incomplete or relate to a policy that has since been amended.
For a major project, contact the company or broker mentioned on the certificate directly and ask for confirmation that the policy exists, is valid and that the company named is indeed insured.
For a €100,000 project, spending a few minutes on this check is a reasonable precaution.
5. Public liability and ten-year liability insurance: they are not the same thing
Professional or public liability insurance can cover certain damages caused during the course of professional activities.
Ten-year liability insurance relates to a more specific liability for certain serious defects affecting the structure. The exact conditions vary according to national legislation.
In Belgium, the FPS Economy distinguishes between mandatory ten-year liability insurance and professional liability insurance, which apply to certain categories of professionals and situations.
Therefore, professional liability insurance is not an automatic substitute for ten-year liability insurance when the latter is legally required.
6. Belgium: when is ten-year liability insurance mandatory?
In Belgium, mandatory ten-year liability insurance does not automatically apply to every small project.
It applies to certain construction or renovation works on a home in Belgium where the involvement of an architect is legally required and the building permit was issued after 1 July 2018.
The professionals concerned can include the architect, the builder and certain other construction sector service providers.
The mandatory cover mainly targets certain serious defects relating to the soundness, stability and watertightness of the closed structural shell, where these defects jeopardise its soundness or stability.
7. Belgium: who must give you the certificate?
For a project subject to this obligation, the builder and other relevant service providers must give their certificate to the client and the architect before the work begins.
The professional may be covered by an individual policy or by a collective policy covering several parties involved in the project.
If the builder tells you, "The architect has the insurance," ask how your builder is specifically covered for your project.
8. France: this check is particularly important
In France, builders subject to ten-year liability must take out the corresponding insurance.
The professional must give the certificate to the client before the project starts, and the certificate must be attached to quotes and invoices.
The cover applies to certain defects that appear within ten years of handover and which may compromise the structural integrity of the building or render it unfit for its intended purpose.
Failure to have ten-year liability insurance when it is mandatory can expose the builder to significant penalties.
9. France: check the project start date
A company sends you a certificate valid from 1 January to 31 December 2026, and your project starts in November 2026: the period seems consistent.
But if they send you an old 2025 certificate, don't assume that everything is automatically in order.
Always check: PROJECT DATE ↔ INSURANCE PERIOD.
10. Also check the geographical area covered
A French company comes to work in Belgium, a Spanish company in Portugal, or a Belgian company in Luxembourg: are they insured to work abroad? Not automatically.
Within the European Union, professional insurance obligations and the recognition of cover can depend on the host country.
If the company is working outside its usual country, ask explicitly: "Does your policy cover work carried out in this country?"
11. Check the cover limits
Your project is worth €250,000. The certificate exists, but does the applicable cover include limits, sub-limits, excesses or exclusions?
On a major project, don't just settle for the word "insured". Also look at how much is covered and under what limits.
12. Check the techniques used
A company may be insured for traditional work, whereas your project uses a special technique or process.
In France, the official certificate template specifically requires the identification of the nature of the techniques used and the works, products and processes covered.
This is particularly important for certain innovative or unusual types of work.
13. What if the company subcontracts the work?
Your main contractor is fully insured. But who will actually be getting up on your roof?
Ask: who is the subcontractor? Who is invoicing? Who bears the liability? Does the subcontractor have the necessary insurance?
On a major project, you need to understand the actual chain of contractors involved.
14. Insurance does not guarantee that the builder will do a good job
An insurance certificate is not a quality certificate.
A company can be properly insured, legally compliant and have a valid policy, yet still do a poor job.
Checking the insurance is therefore only one part of the process. You also need to examine the company, the quote, the prices, the skills, the references, the materials and the contractual terms.
15. A valid policy doesn't mean "everything is covered"
In the event of a leak, the insurer may examine the nature of the damage, its cause, the date, the work carried out, the declared activity, the exclusions, the excesses and the legal conditions for establishing liability.
The existence of an insurance policy therefore never means that every defect will be automatically compensated.
16. Beware of a simple mention of "insured"
Some quotes simply state "Company with PL insurance" or "Ten-year guarantee". This is not enough to carry out a proper check.
You should be able to identify: INSURER, POLICY NUMBER, INSURED COMPANY, VALIDITY PERIOD, COVERED ACTIVITIES and, where relevant, TERRITORY + LIMITS + SPECIAL CONDITIONS.
17. The ECV checklist before you sign
Before entrusting a major project to a company, check:
- The exact company name on the certificate
- The company number/SIRET or national identifier
- The insurer's name
- The policy number
- The validity period
- The activities covered
- The country or territory covered
- Any cover limits
- The techniques or works involved, where applicable
- The existence of ten-year liability insurance where legally required
- The subcontractor's insurance, where relevant
- Direct confirmation from the insurer if in doubt
This check can take a few minutes. A major claim, on the other hand, can drag on for several years.
18. What does an insurance mistake cost?
It's not the annual price of the builder's policy that should concern the client. It's the amount of the uncovered risk.
Example: a €45,000 roof renovation. A major leak appears. Roof repair: €18,000. Interior damage: €12,000. Potential total: €30,000.
Or a €180,000 extension with a major structural problem.
Construction costs have risen sharply in Europe in recent years, which automatically increases the financial stakes of many claims and repairs in 2026.
19. The Google searches people make
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Behind all these searches lies the same concern: "IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG, WHO WILL PAY?"
20. The ECV test: a very simple question
Before you sign, ask the builder: "Please send me your insurance certificate that covers the work specified in my quote."
Answer A: "Of course, I'll send it over right away." Normal.
Answer B: "I need to request it from my broker, I'll send it to you tomorrow." Perfectly plausible.
Answer C: "That's not necessary, I've been insured for twenty years." Not good enough.
Answer D: "I'll give it to you after you've paid the deposit." Why wait?
The insurance should be one of the key things you check before making a major financial commitment.
21. ECV: check the company before a problem arises
A consumer often looks at Google reviews, the price and photos of previous projects. This is useful information.
But it doesn't answer a fundamental question: WHO IS FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR MAJOR DAMAGE?
This is why the approach at Euro Construct Verify – ECV isn't just about seeing if a quote looks expensive or cheap.
Analysing a project means putting into perspective the company's identity, the available information on its reliability, the quote, the work, the prices, the risks and the relevant insurance policies.
Because a builder can have 4.9 stars online and still have an insurance policy that doesn't cover the specific work you are hiring them for.
In summary: don't ask "are you insured?"
Ask: "SHOW ME THAT YOU ARE INSURED FOR MY PROJECT."
Then check who is insured, by whom, for what activity, for which period, in which country and with what limits.
For a small job, the level of scrutiny will naturally be different from that for a €150,000 renovation.
But for major works, asking for the certificate before signing should become as natural as asking for the price.
Official European and national sources
- Belgium — FPS Economy: Assurance responsabilité civile décennale; Assurances obligatoires des professionnels de la construction.
- France — Service Public / Entreprendre Service Public: garantie décennale des constructeurs et modèle officiel d’attestation d’assurance décennale.
- European Union — Your Europe: Professional liability insurance et prestations transfrontalières.
