When managing a homeowners’ association, one of the biggest challenges is keeping the common elements in good condition by dealing with the small repairs and fixes that arise day to day.
Fortunately, many insurers have included in their community insurance policies a very useful and practical cover, commonly known as DIY cover, handyman service or similar names.
What Is DIY or Handyman Cover in Community Insurance?
This cover is designed to facilitate the repair and maintenance of small faults or defects in the building’s common areas, as a separate guarantee from typical covers such as pipe breakage, theft, glass breakage and others. It is widely used for plumbing, electricity, locksmith work, masonry, painting, glazing, intercom systems, antennas and similar tasks. Its purpose is to avoid high costs for small interventions and speed up repairs so that the community can operate smoothly.
Which Insurers Include This Guarantee?
More and more companies include this cover in their community insurance policies. In many cases, the guarantee must be taken out as an optional extension if the community wants to have it. We are not going to list every insurer that includes this guarantee, but examples include Mapfre, Ocaso, Helvetia, Mutua de Propietarios, Santalucia, Generali, Allianz, Catalana Occidente and Zurich, among others.
What Names Is This Guarantee Given?
Although the concept is similar, each insurer names it differently and includes it under its own conditions. Some of the most common names are: Building DIY, Community DIY, Basic Maintenance, Exclusive Community Assistance, Handyman Service, DIY, Brico-handyman and similar terms.
What Should You Consider When Comparing This Guarantee?
Below are the most objective points to consider when comparing this guarantee between insurers. In addition, it is very important to know how efficient each insurer is when these services are used. If you consult an insurance brokerage specialised in community insurance, you can obtain a very valuable opinion. In any case, you can analyse and compare them using the following criteria:
- Number of interventions: Most insurers limit repairs to 2 or 3 per year, which may be enough for small everyday emergencies.
- Hours per service: Labour is usually limited to a maximum of 2 or 3 hours per intervention, focusing on quick repairs.
- Materials: Many policies do not include materials, or cover them only up to a low limit, so there may be additional costs for the community.
- Policy format: In many cases, this guarantee is not included by default, but is an optional extension within the community policy.
Why Take Out This Guarantee?
Having DIY cover or a handyman service brings peace of mind and savings to the community, because it avoids having to hire small repairs separately, possibly at a higher cost. It also speeds up intervention, improving general maintenance and residents’ satisfaction.
DIY or handyman cover is increasingly used in homeowners’ association insurance, and many insurers include it or offer it as an extension. The ideal approach is to compare insurers, review limits, conditions and prices, and choose the option that best fits the community’s needs.
Would you like us to help you compare policies and obtain personalised quotes for your community? Contact us.