Barn conversion warranties
Structural warranty and latent defects insurance for stone, brick and timber barns and farm buildings converted into homes - from a single barn to a whole courtyard.
- Instant response
- Insurer quotes usually within one working day of your proposal
- UK FCA Regulated Broker
- Change of use specialists
- A certificate for each home
Barn conversions
Structural warranty for a barn conversion
Barns were built to shelter animals, crops and machinery, not people. The walls may sit on shallow footings, the roof may have been patched for generations, and there is rarely a damp proof course. Turning one into a home asks those old elements to do more than they ever have - carry new floors, hold new windows and keep a warm, dry house standing for decades.
A barn conversion warranty has to account for all of that. The provider will want to know how the existing barn will perform once it is a home, which is why a structural condition survey is usually needed before it offers terms. We can normally tell you early on whether yours will need one and what it should cover.
Most mortgage lenders treat a newly converted barn much like a new build. If you plan to sell, your buyers' lenders will usually want a warranty from a provider they accept. If you are converting a barn to live in yourself, your own lender may ask for one too.
What providers look at
The parts of a barn that matter most
No two barns are the same, but a warranty provider will usually focus on these areas when it reviews the survey and your plans.
Walls and footings
Old walls often have little or no foundation by modern standards. The engineer may propose underpinning, or a new internal frame that takes the load off the old walls.
Roof structure
Existing trusses, purlins and rafters are checked for rot, insect damage and past repairs, and for whether they can take new insulation and coverings.
Damp and the ground floor
Most barns need a new ground floor and a way of keeping damp out of the old walls, along with proper drainage around the building.
Timber framed barns
Historic oak and softwood frames can convert beautifully, but repairs, joints and movement all need to be understood and recorded.
Modern farm buildings
Steel and concrete framed agricultural buildings are converted too. Some providers are more cautious with these, so it pays to know who will look at them.
Courtyards and groups
Several barns converted together get a certificate for each home, and the scheme can often be registered and inspected as one.
Planning
Class Q, full planning and the warranty
In England, Class Q permitted development allows some agricultural buildings to become homes, subject to prior approval from the council. Many barns are converted with full planning permission instead, and a listed barn will usually need listed building consent as well. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own rules.
Which route fits your barn is a question for your architect or planning consultant - we do not give planning advice. The warranty provider will simply want to see that the right approval is in place and that the design works with the building you have.
What we usually need to quote
- Planning permission or prior approval
- Architect's plans and elevations, existing and proposed
- A structural condition survey of the barn
- Structural calculations, and a ground investigation where there is underpinning or new foundations
Barn conversion warranty questions
Can I get a warranty for a barn I am converting to live in myself?
Yes. Cover is available for a single barn converted for your own use. Your mortgage lender will often want one, and because the warranty stays with the property it can also help if you sell within the policy period.
Will the old stone walls be covered by the warranty?
Usually to some extent, but it depends on the provider and on the condition survey. Walls may need underpinning or repair before they are included, and some elements may be excluded. See covering the existing structure.
Can I get a warranty on a Class Q barn conversion?
Yes, provided prior approval is in place and the design is sound. Some providers are more cautious with certain kinds of agricultural building, particularly lightweight frames, so we approach the ones likely to say yes.
What if I have already started converting the barn?
Some providers will still look at it, but they will want evidence of the work already done and may ask for parts to be opened up. The price is usually higher. Our sister brand Retrospective Warranties specialises in these cases.
Get a quote for your barn conversion
Tell us about the barn and what you plan to do with it. We will come back with the providers likely to cover it and whether a condition survey will be needed.
- Takes under a minute
- Instant reply by email with your reference
- Insurer quotes usually within one working day of your completed proposal
- Conversions anywhere in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Free and no obligation
Already filled in a proposal form? Email it to us or send it on WhatsApp with any drawings you have and we will take it from there.
