> Would insurance even cover a fire? ... And would insurance cover any of that? (leaks, etc.)
Yes. Insurance is a contract, and the standard insurance contracts used by nearly all insurers do not contain exclusions for permits, code violations, or things like this. They would absolutely not renew you after a loss caused by something like this, and would probably report the loss to the industry databases. Insurance companies will often try to impose liability on other parties when losses happen, but they don't sue their own customer, as the whole point of an insurance contract is that they are assuming liability for loss in exchange for your premium. (If you believe this to be otherwise, try to find a recorded instance of an insurer denying coverage for code violations or un-permitted work. I've never been able to do so, and would be very interested in reading the case study.)
If you want to be sure, just ask your insurer for a copy of your contact, and read it. They aren't that complex.
Yes. Insurance is a contract, and the standard insurance contracts used by nearly all insurers do not contain exclusions for permits, code violations, or things like this. They would absolutely not renew you after a loss caused by something like this, and would probably report the loss to the industry databases. Insurance companies will often try to impose liability on other parties when losses happen, but they don't sue their own customer, as the whole point of an insurance contract is that they are assuming liability for loss in exchange for your premium. (If you believe this to be otherwise, try to find a recorded instance of an insurer denying coverage for code violations or un-permitted work. I've never been able to do so, and would be very interested in reading the case study.)
If you want to be sure, just ask your insurer for a copy of your contact, and read it. They aren't that complex.