Homepro
Introduction
As a home owner you should always make sure that any home improvements carried out by a contractor carry a HomePro Insurance Backed Guarantee. Good contractors will automatically offer you a HomePro Insurance Backed Guarantee.
HomePro Insurance Backed Guarantee offer three levels of cover:
- Value Policy – If you have a HomePro Value Policy, you will be covered for the “Guarantee Period”.
- Value Plus Policy – If you have a Value Plus Policy, you will be covered for the period of deposit, as well as being covered for the “Guarantee Period”.
What is Covered?
The level of cover provided by HomePro Insurance Backed Guarantees will be dependent on the type of policy you are offered – you should refer to your policy document – but the following can be covered:
- Deposits – If the contractor ceases to trade following the receipt of the Deposit and before work has started, the policy will enable you to recover the deposit.
- Guarantee Period – If the contractor ceases to trade during the guarantee period, and you have reason to make a claim against the guarantee for faulty workmanship or materials, the policy will provide for an approved contractor to remedy the work. The cost of the work will be covered under the Insurance Backed Guarantee policy.
What Is The Period Of The Cover?
The period of cover provided by HomePro Insurance Backed Guarantees is different depending on what you have covered. The following provides a guide to cover periods – but always check your policy document to be sure:
- Deposits – Deposit cover lasts for a max 90 days from receipt by the contractor. Always ensure you have a written receipt of the payment on headed paper or order form. Deposit protection will stop when work starts on site.
- Guarantee Period – The guarantee period can be anything up to 10 years on most home improvements. The policy you have will back the guarantee provided by the contractor – therefore if the contractors guarantee is 5 years – the cover period will also be 5 years.
What is TrustMark
TrustMark is a quality mark which operates a framework under which 30 plus scheme operators work in the RMI (repair, maintenance and improvement) sector, including trade associations, local government trading standards teams, and independent scheme operators. These schemes are approved to carry the TrustMark logo and recruit reputable and trustworthy tradesmen. This enables the TrustMark scheme operators to promote improved RMI sector standards, and tackle related issues such as better enforcement. All of these scheme operators are audited annually by TrustMark, to ensure processes, standards and complaint procedures are being maintained.
What makes selecting TrustMark tradesmen so worthwhile?
1. A firm’s technical skills have been independently checked through regular on-site inspections, as well as checks on their trading record and financial status;
2. Firms have signed up to a code of practice that includes insurance, good health and safety practices and customer care;
3. The approved scheme operator has checked and will continue to monitor the firm’s quality of work, trading practices and customer satisfaction;
4. Firms are able to offer an Insurance Backed Warranty;
5. Deposit Protection Insurance is available for consumers in the event a firm should cease trading;
6. Firms will be able to tell you about any building regulations you must comply with and may also be able to provide appropriate certificates;
7. If you have a problem or disagreement with the firm, there will be a clear and user-friendly complaints procedure to help resolve the issue;
8. The scheme is fully supported by Government, the building industry and consumer protection groups.
9. All of these checks will give you – Peace of Mind
If a firm displays our TrustMark logo you know that we have approved and inspected the firm through one of our scheme operators and found that the firm meets the required Government endorsed criteria as described above.
Important Note: When employing a TrustMark tradesman always check they are ‘licensed’ for all the trades / work you are asking them to carry out. This can be done by looking on our website by searching under the ‘trade’ then ‘their company name’ and finally ‘more information’ – you will then see a list of the ‘only’ trades that the firm is licensed for under the protection and standards offered by TrustMark..
