Public liability insurance for caretakers

In case your caretaking business causes an injury or property damage.

What’s typically covered by public liability insurance?

Claims against your business for:

• damage to someone’s property, caused by your work
• injuries caused by your business activities
• accidental damage or injury caused by your employees, if you have any

For example:

• a child slips on a floor you’ve just cleaned, fracturing their knee
• you damage your client’s wall while removing some lighting, and they raise a claim for compensation

Read more about public liability insurance

Employers’ liability insurance

In case an employee gets sick or injured because of working for you.

What’s typically covered by employers’ liability insurance?

Claims against your business for:

• an employee, including a contractor or casual labourer, suing you after falling ill because of working for your caretaker business, or
• making a claim for an injury they’ve had while working for you

**Employers’ liability insurance is required by law if you have people working for you. Without it, you could be fined up to £2,500 a day for each employee.**

For example:

• a trainee employee falls off an incorrectly set-up ladder, breaking their shoulder
• your employee receives an electric shock from a socket you’ve just installed, causing nerve damage

Business and office equipment insurance

In case essentials like your laptop or phone are lost, stolen, or damaged.

What’s typically covered by business and office equipment insurance?

• theft, flood, fire, or accidental damage to the equipment you use to run your business
• operational equipment like your laptop, rather than the trade tools you take out and about

For example:

• two ladders and your laptop are stolen from the back of your van while you’re parked at a local builders’ merchants
• your phone and two-way radios are damaged in a flood on your client’s premises

Read more about business and office equipment insurance

Tools insurance

In case your work tools are lost, stolen, or damaged.

What’s typically covered by tools insurance?

• loss, damage, or theft of your hand tools, power tools, and specialist equipment

For example:

• your tool kit is stolen from your parked, locked van during an overnight break-in
• an employee accidentally leaves your drill on a neighbouring site, and it’s never recovered

What you’ll need additional cover for

• larger plant items you use to carry out your work, like a cherry picker – these may require specific plant cover Read more about tools insurance

Stock insurance

In case something happens to the stock you keep in supply.

What’s typically covered by stock insurance?

• loss, damage, or theft of your work materials, or items you’re planning to sell

For example:

• you pick up new paint and aggregate for you client and it falls out of your truck
• a stock of bulbs, light fittings, and paint you’ve ordered for a school client are damaged in a flood

Read more about stock insurance

Legal expenses insurance

In case you’re faced with legal costs in connection with your business.

What’s typically covered by legal expenses insurance?

• legal costs attributed to your caretaking business
• property damage, nuisance, or trespass – specifically, the associated legal claims and compensation payouts
• tax and compliance disputes and investigations you need help with
• includes a tax advice helpline, a 24/7 confidential legal helpline, and crisis support to help you protect your reputation as a trusted trade professional

For example:

• a client breaks the terms of your contract and you need to pay for legal representation
• you incur legal costs when a neighbouring business claims your employee has trespassed on their property

Read more about legal expenses insurance

Personal accident insurance

In case anyone you’ve covered is accidentally injured, at or away from work.

What’s typically covered by personal accident insurance?

• accidental injury or death at work or elsewhere, for anyone covered on the policy
• lost income, medical costs, and hospitalisation benefit

For example:

• your insured employee breaks their knee while running a half marathon, and needs time off work
• you trap your leg in some collapsed scaffolding, and can’t work as normal for at least three months

Read more about personal accident insurance

Can I just cover my most expensive tools?

Make sure you cover the total cost of replacing all your tools or you’ll only get a proportion of your claim paid out if something happens to them. Learn about tool cover.

Which type of workers do I need insurance for?

Employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement if you employ people.

If you have people working for you, including bona fide subcontractors (BFSC), labour-only subcontractors (LOSC), part-timers, or full-time staff, employers’ liability insurance is required by law.

Read on for our simplified guide to the difference between labour-only subcontractors and bona fide subcontractors.

Will tools insurance cover all my equipment?

Depending on what you use to do your work, you may need other covers.

You may need more than tools insurance – for example, business equipment insurance if you have a work laptop, plant insurance if you use machinery.

Does caretaker insurance cover my work correctly?

Make sure you’re picking the right cover to protect you properly. It’s important to know that if you have another trade or job, you’ll need additional cover. For example, do you need to consider cleaning insurance or window cleaning insurance?

Do I need cover for other types of work?

If you provide these services alongside building work, make sure you’re covered:

• Cleaning business insurance uk
• Handyman insurance
• Electrician insurance
• Builders insurance
• Tradesman insurance
• Joinery insurance
• Painter and decorator insurance
• Agricultural contractor insurance

Other types of insurance

• Limited company insurance
• Self-employed insurance
• Freelance insurance
• Consultant insurance
• Contractors insurance
• Sole trader insurance

Which public liability cover limit should I choose?

Think about the maximum possible loss your business could face in the event of a claim, and make sure you take legal fees and damages into consideration. You can choose from three levels of coverage – £1 million, £2 million, or up to £5 million.