HSE’s guidance emphasises protecting people outside the workforce and controlling access to construction areas. [1]
Review the changing site, not just the starting layout
Ask the contractor to explain how occupied rooms will be separated from work areas at each stage. Consider the route to the entrance, stairs, bathroom and kitchen when an opening is formed or services are disconnected. HSE identifies the need to prevent unauthorised access and protect the public, including children, from construction hazards. [1]
Use that discussion to identify any periods when moving out is necessary. Record the trigger and the notice you need rather than relying on a general assurance that the house will remain usable throughout.
Protect escape routes and control dust
HSE’s fire guidance requires escape arrangements to remain available and unobstructed and highlights the risks of interfering with existing fire precautions in occupied buildings. Ask how the work affects your actual escape route, alarms and separation from construction activities. A temporary arrangement needs to be assessed, not improvised when the usual route becomes blocked. [2]
Construction dust can present a health risk, not merely a cleaning problem. HSE promotes assessing the task and using suitable controls to prevent or reduce exposure. Ask how dusty operations will be isolated and controlled; do not treat a promise to clean at the end of the day as the whole solution. [3]
Agree a workable daily arrangement
For the occupancy plan, ask for clear answers on:
- the rooms and access routes available to the household;
- planned interruptions to water, power, heating and sanitation;
- the location of site boundaries and storage;
- safe arrangements for children, visitors and pets;
- the contact and procedure if conditions become unsafe.
Include the agreed arrangements in the construction planning discussion. The principal contractor’s CDM role includes managing the construction phase and coordinating the contractors; the household should not be left to devise site-safety controls between trades. [4]
Check insurance and the fallback plan
Tell your insurer both about the building work and any intended period away. Aviva’s published guidance makes clear that significant alterations need to be discussed with the insurer; the response must be specific to your policy and project. [5]
Prepare a fallback budget for temporary accommodation, storage and any extra commuting, using actual quotations rather than an assumed allowance. At each progress meeting, ask whether the next phase changes the agreed occupancy arrangement. Moving out can reduce the household’s exposure to disruption, but it does not remove the contractor’s responsibility to manage the site safely. [4]