Tradesman insurance for every trade

As soon as your business starts working in clients' homes, on commercial sites, or in any public space — even if you're just starting out. Whether you're a sole trader or running a small team, if something goes wrong and someone is injured or their property is damaged, you could face a significant compensation claim. It's far better to have cover in place from day one.

No — it isn't a legal requirement in the UK. However, many clients, property managers, and contractors will require you to have it before allowing you on site. It's also worth considering what a significant compensation claim could do to your business financially if you're not protected.

It covers the cost of compensation claims and legal fees if a member of the public is injured or their property is damaged as a result of your trade work. Common examples include a client tripping over your tools or equipment, accidental damage to a customer's flooring or fixtures while carrying out work, or a passerby being injured near your worksite. It covers both the compensation payment and your legal costs, even if a claim turns out to be unfounded.

Public liability insurance covers claims from members of the public — it doesn't cover claims from your own employees (that's employers' liability), losses caused by professional mistakes or bad advice (you'd need professional indemnity for that), or damage to your own tools and equipment. Always check your policy wording carefully to understand exactly what's included.

Yes — even if you work alone and only take on small jobs, you're personally liable for any injury or damage caused by your work. There's no company structure to protect you, which makes public liability insurance particularly important for sole trader tradesmen. A single claim could otherwise have serious consequences for your personal finances.

Cover is available for a wide range of trades including carpentry, decorating, plastering, tiling, and general maintenance. The specific work you carry out will be assessed when you get a quote to make sure your policy accurately reflects your activities. If you carry out work in more than one trade, make sure you declare all of them.

The right level depends on the nature of your work and your clients' requirements. Standard cover starts at £1 million, but many organisations — particularly local authorities, schools, and government contracts — will require a minimum of £5 million or £10 million. Higher-risk trades working on larger contracts often find £5 million the practical minimum. When in doubt, check your contract requirements before getting a quote.

Yes — business insurance is an allowable expense, which means you can deduct the cost when calculating your taxable profit. Make sure you keep your policy documents and receipts as records for HMRC. If you're unsure, speak to your accountant.

Yes — you'll receive proof of cover instantly when your policy is in place, which you can share with clients straight away. If you also take out employers' liability cover, a Certificate of Employers' Liability will be issued immediately for display at your premises.

We've been arranging insurance for over 50 years — now trading as insurd — and we're authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm Register Number: 308508), and over a thousand real customers have shared their experiences with us on Trustpilot.

You can verify our status directly on the FCA register.