If you are a builder, you probably face a lot of risks and health and safety issues especially if you work in public areas. You may also do a lot of your work in members of the public’s homes which leaves you at risk of damaging their property.
Therefore, public liability insurance is essential for builders as it protects them from claims from the public for injury or damage to their property as a result of their work.
We have explored what insurance options are available to builders below whether that is standalone public liability insurance or combined cover.
The table below gives a quick price comparison of the top UK providers for builders’ public liability insurance
| Company | Minimum cover | Maximum cover |
|---|---|---|
| Aviva | £1 million | £5 million |
| RSA | £1 million | £5 million |
| AXA | Not stated | £5 million |
| Direct Line Group | £1 million | £10 million |
| Zurich | Not stated | £10 million |
| Allianz | Not stated | £5 million |
| Ageas | Not stated | Not stated |
| QBE | £1 million | £10 million |
| NFU Mutual | Not stated | Not stated |
| Lloyds Banking Group | £1 million | £5 million |
| Chubb | Not stated | Not stated |
| Covéa | Not stated | £5 million |
| Hiscox | Not stated | Not stated |
| NIG | £1 million | £10 million |
| Churchill | £1 million | £10 million |
| ARO Insurance | £1 million | £10 million |
| Glemham Insurance | Not stated | £10 million |
* The facts and figures included here come from each company’s website and were accurate at the time of writing but may have since changed. Also, please keep in mind these may not be apples to apples comparisons as each provider offers different solutions. This guide should be used as a starting off point for more research on your part.
Below we profile each of the companies’ services and features in a bit more detail.
Note companies are ranked in no particular order and this no way indicates one solution is better than another.
Topics
1. Aviva
Some of the features and benefits of Aviva’s builders’ public liability insurance.
- Self-employed business insurance
- Includes public liability insurance
- Covers injury or damage to property
- Includes legal expenses and compensation costs
- Choice of cover from £1 million to £5 million
- Suitable for builders and contractors
- Can also combine it with tools, stock and business equipment cover
- Can add professional indemnity insurance
- Tailored cover
- Can be purchased directly from them
Aviva is an insurance provider that offers a broad range of insurance products that are designed for small to medium-sized businesses. They cover a wide variety of risks and businesses with their general and specialist products, which includes public liability insurance.
Aviva’s public liability insurance is designed to meet the needs of a variety of professions, but they target it towards the self-employed and contractors as well as businesses. Public liability insurance gives protection against claims for injury or damage to property from members of the public and it will cover the cost of legal expenses and compensation payouts.
2. RSA
Some of the features and benefits of RSA’s builders’ public liability insurance.
- Offered as part of Contractors’ annual insurance
- Included in Tradespeople and Homeworkers insurance
- Standard cover of £1 million
- Option to increase cover to £5 million
- Covers legal defence costs up to £250,000
- Protection against injury and damage to property
- Compensation costs
- Both products offer additional cover
- Can tailor the cover to your needs
- Available only through a broker
RSA offers a variety of business insurance designed to protect businesses from risks and incidents as either standalone products or combined packages. They offer two insurance packages that meet the needs of builders which include public liability insurance.
RSA’s Contractors’ Annual Insurance and Tradespeople and Homeworkers’ insurance both include public liability insurance with a range of optional extras. These packages can be tailored to meet your needs with a minimum of £1 million public liability cover as standard and the option to increase it to £5 million. These products offer peace of mind coverage in the event of a member of the public being injured or property being damaged.
3. AXA
Some of the features and benefits of AXA’s builders’ public liability insurance.
- General public liability insurance
- Suitable for builders
- Protection from claims from the public
- Covers injury and damage to property
- Includes legal defence costs and compensation
- Up to £5 million cover
- Compensation for court attendance
- 24-hour legal hotline
- From £58 per year
- Can pay by monthly instalments
AXA is an insurance provider that offers a wide range of business insurance products that cater for small to medium-sized businesses as well as sole traders and the self-employed. They offer tailored insurance products that can meet the needs of most businesses. Their products include liability cover such as public liability insurance which is suitable for builders.
AXA’s public liability insurance offers cover up to £5 million for claims from members of the public for injury or damage to their property. It covers legal defence costs and any compensation payouts. In addition, it offers compensation for days spent in court and temporary staff cover.
4. Direct Line for Business
Some of the features and benefits of Direct Line for Business’ builders’ public liability insurance.
- Tradesman insurance
- Includes public liability insurance
- Flexible cover
- Offers a range of optional extras
- Covers injury or damage to property
- Minimum cover of £1 million
- Increase cover to £2m, £5m or £10m
- Can add employer’s liability, business stock, plant cover and contract works
- Available to businesses with up to 15 staff
- Guarantee to beat your renewal quote
Direct Line for Business is an insurance provider that offers a wide range of business insurance products that are tailored to the needs of specific professions. Their insurance products include tradesman insurance which has public liability at its core.
Direct Line for Business’ tradesman insurance offers a variety of public liability protection which starts at £1 million as standard and can be increased up to £10 million. It provides protection for businesses against claims for injury or property damage from the public. It is a flexible policy that is suitable for businesses with up to 15 staff and it offers a range of optional extras.
Direct Line for Business website
5. Zurich
Some of the features and benefits of Zurich’s builders’ public liability insurance.
- Tradesman insurance
- Trades and Profession insurance
- Both include public liability as the core cover
- Choice of the level of cover
- Cover up for £5 or £10 million
- Caters for builders and other tradesmen
- Includes product liability
- Offers a range of optional extra cover
- Suitable for businesses with up to 15 employees
- Can add personal accident, contractors all risks and business contents
Zurich is an insurance provider that offers a range of business risk and health-related insurance products which includes packages that are designed for specific professions. They offer two products suited to builders that include public liability insurance which are Tradesman and Trades and Professions insurance.
Zurich’s Tradesman insurance offers a choice of cover with protection up to £5 million on public liability insurance with extra cover for tools and personal accident available on the different packages. Their Trades and Professions insurance includes public and product liability cover at £2 million with the option to extend it to £10 million and add other cover.
6. Allianz
Some of the features and benefits of Allianz’s builders’ public liability insurance.
- Complete Contractor insurance
- Includes public liability as standard
- Cover of £2 million
- Can extend protection to £5 million
- Also includes commercial legal expenses
- Caters for the building trades
- Suitable for sole traders, partnerships and limited companies
- Offers a range of additional cover
- Suitable for up to 9 people
- Available only through a broker
Allianz is an insurance provider that offers a range of business insurance products that are designed to cater for a variety of businesses and professions which includes the building trade. They offer insurance packages such as Complete Contractor which includes public liability insurance as standard. It is designed for smaller businesses with up to 9 employees.
Allianz’s Complete Contractor insurance includes £2 million public liability cover as standard with the option to increase it to £5 million. It also offers commercial legal expenses as standard and a range of optional extras such as employer’s liability, tools, contracts work, personal accident, business interruption and property damage.
7. Ageas
Some of the features and benefits of Ageas’ builders’ public liability insurance.
- Tradesman insurance
- Designed for the self-employed, partnerships and limited companies
- A flexible policy that can be tailored to your needs
- Option to include public and product liability insurance
- Employer’s liability
- Tools
- Contractors all risks
- Legal expenses
- Personal accident
- Available only through a broker
Ageas specialises in providing combined insurance packages that are designed for businesses as generic products or for specific sectors or professions. Their tradesman insurance is designed for smaller businesses, sole traders and the self-employed.
Ageas’ tradesman insurance is a tailored insurance product that is flexible in its design so that you can build the cover that you require from a range of optional cover. Although public and product liability is optional, it is a staple and core part of the insurance. Other cover can include employer’s liability, tools all risks, stock in transit, contractors all risks including contract works and plant, legal expenses, personal accident and business interruption.
8. QBE
Some of the features and benefits of QBE’s builders’ public liability insurance.
- Tradesman insurance
- Contractors Combined insurance
- Comprehensive policies
- Suited to builders
- Includes public liability and legal expenses as standard
- Offers a range of extras
- Employer’s liability
- Business interruption
- Tradesman insurance is suited to businesses with up to 25 employees
- Contractors Combined insurance caters for larger businesses
QBE is an international insurance provider offering a broad range of business insurance products that cater for a variety of business types. They offer a selection of combined packages and standalone insurance products. Their product range includes Tradesman insurance and Contractors Combined insurance which covers the needs of builders.
QBE’s Tradesman insurance is suited to smaller businesses with under 25 employees and turnover under £2.5 million. Contractors Combined insurance caters for larger businesses. Both policies include public liability up to £10 million and legal expenses as standard, however, Contractors Combined also includes employer’s and product liability insurance. Additional cover can include business interruption, contract works, material damage and non-negligence.
9. NFU Mutual
Some of the features and benefits of NFU Mutual’s builders’ public liability insurance.
- Tradesman insurance
- Flexible insurance product
- Designed specifically to meet the needs of tradesmen
- Public, product and environmental liability included as standard
- Wide range of additional cover
- Can tailor the cover to meet your needs
- Covers injury and damage to property
- Protection for you, your business and employees
- Their agent will help you identify risks and manage them
- Has a network of 300 agents
NFU Mutual is an insurance provider that is run for the benefit of its members and offers a variety of business insurance. They offer combined packages that are tailored to the needs of specific professions and businesses which are flexible allowing you to choose the cover you want. These packages include tradesman insurance.
NFU Mutual’s tradesman insurance includes public, product and environmental liability as standard and offers a large range of optional extras. These can include employer’s liability, buildings, content and stock, goods in transit, group personal accident, contractors all risks and business interruption. Their network of agents can help you to identify your industry risks and manage them.
10. Lloyds Bank
Some of the features and benefits of Lloyds Bank’s builders’ public liability insurance.
- Tailored public liability insurance
- Designed for tradesmen and self-employed
- Offers a choice of optional cover
- Choice of cover amount from £1 million to £5 million
- Covers legal costs resulting from claims
- Tailor the cover for your needs
- Option to include employer’s liability
- Online quote in minutes
- Cover from as little as £53
- Provided in Arthur J. Gallagher
Lloyds Bank is an insurance provider offering a broad range of business insurance that is available as standalone products or combined products that are tailored to the needs of specific industries. They offer tradesman insurance and public liability insurance designed specifically for tradesmen and the self-employed.
Lloyds Bank’s public liability cover is provided as a standalone product or can be combined with employer’s liability and tools cover. They offer a choice of public liability insurance with cover starting at £1 million but they also offer £2 million and £5 million of cover. A quote can be provided online in minutes and cover starts as low as £53 per year.
11. Chubb
Some of the features and benefits of Chubb’s builders’ public liability insurance.
- Construction All Risks – Builders’ Risk
- Designed specifically for contractors, developers and principles
- Can be purchased as a standalone product or combined
- Public liability can be included
- Can add excess casualty, employer’s liability and environmental impairment liability
- Tailored insurance
- Also sell standalone public liability
- Can include product liability
- Covers legal and compensation costs
- Available directly from them
Chubb is an insurance provider that has a range of business insurance products that are designed to be standalone products or combined insurance packages. They tailor their packages to the needs of specific industries and sectors. They offer two products that meet the needs for public liability insurance which are standalone public liability and Construction All Risks for builders.
Chubb’s public liability insurance is combined with product liability insurance to give comprehensive liability cover. Their Construction All Risks for builders covers contract materials and/or works and offers public liability insurance as an optional cover along with a wide range of other optional cover.
12. Covea
Some of the features and benefits of Covea’s builders’ public liability insurance.
- Tradesman and Professionals insurance
- It is designed for smaller businesses and the self-employed
- Cover to protect businesses from claims
- Core cover includes public and product liability
- Public liability cover up to £5 million
- Offers a range of optional cover
- Cover is tailored to tradesmen
- Can add employer’s liability
- Option to include tools and goods in transit
- Available only through brokers
Covea is an insurance provider that sells business insurance products through a network of insurance brokers or small businesses can be purchased online through their e-trade portal. They offer a variety of combined insurance packages that are tailored to the needs of specific industries which includes tradesmen.
Covea’s Tradesman and Professionals insurance is designed specifically to meet the requirements of smaller businesses and the self-employed. This policy offers public and product liability up to £5 million as its core cover with a range of tailored optional extras. These extras include employer’s liability, tools, good in transit, contract works, own and hired plant equipment.
13. Hiscox
Some of the features and benefits of Hiscox’s builders’ public liability insurance.
- Construction and Tradesman insurance
- Tailored solution
- Offers a range of optional extras
- Includes public and product liability as standard
- Covers injury or damage to property
- Includes financial loss for a third party
- Covers you on your premises and other people’s premises
- Includes legal expenses and compensation costs
- Suitable for start-ups and established businesses
- Can add professional indemnity insurance
Hiscox is an insurance provider that offers a wide range of business insurance products that can be purchased as standalone products or as tailored profession specific products such as Construction and Tradesman insurance.
Hiscox’s Construction and Tradesman insurance is designed specifically to meet the needs of builders and associated trades. It includes public and product liability insurance as standard with the option to include professional indemnity insurance if required. This covers any claims from the public for injury or damage to property on your premises or elsewhere, this includes any financial losses that incur as a result and will pay for the legal and compensation costs.
14. NIG
Some of the features and benefits of NIG’s builders’ public liability insurance.
- Tradesman insurance
- Tailored insurance for the trades
- Public liability insurance included as standard
- Cover up to £1 million
- Option to increase cover up to £10 million
- Offers a range of optional extras
- Employer’s liability
- Tools, equipment, stock, own and hired plant
- Contract works
- Available directly from them
NIG is an insurance provider that offers a range of products that are tailored to meet the needs of specific industries and professions with basic and optional extra cover. They specialise in offering insurance to meet the needs of tradesmen and contractors amongst other businesses.
NIG’s Tradesman insurance offers public liability insurance with cover of £1 million as standard as part of this product but it can be extended up to a maximum of £10 million. They also offer a variety of optional extras tailored to tradesmen such as employer’s liability, tools and equipment, stock, own and hired plant, contract works and personal accident.
15. Churchill
Some of the features and benefits of Churchill’s builders’ public liability insurance.
- Builders public liability insurance
- Suitable for self-employed tradesmen
- Cover from £1 million up to £10 million
- Includes legal and compensation costs
- Often a requirement when working for the public sector or large businesses
- Optional extras available
- Employer’s liability
- Equipment, stock, own and hired plant cover
- Personal accident
- Free 24/7 legal helpline
Churchill is an insurance provider that offers a range of business insurance that is tailored to meet the needs of smaller businesses and the self-employed. Their product range is designed to provide cover to tradespeople including specific Builders insurance which is often a requirement on many works’ contracts.
Churchill’s Builders insurance is designed with public liability insurance at its core with standard cover offering £1 million of protection but it can be extended to £2m, £5m or £10m. They also offer a variety of optional extras such as employer’s liability, personal accident, equipment, business stock, contract works, own and hired plant cover.
16. ARO Insurance
Some of the features and benefits of ARO Insurance’s builders’ public liability insurance.
- Tradesman insurance
- Suited to smaller businesses with up to 10 employees
- Covers a broad range of trades and professions
- Requires a minimum of 1 years’ experience
- Public liability insurance of £1 million
- Option to increase cover to £10 million
- Employer’s liability insurance of £10 million
- A standard excess of £250 for tradesmen
- Competitive rates
- Available only through a broker
ARO Insurance is an insurance provider that specialises in business insurance that is tailored to meet the needs of small businesses and property owners. They offer combined insurance products designed to meet the needs of specific audiences. Their product range includes Tradesman insurance.
ARO Insurance’s Tradesman insurance is designed for smaller trade businesses with up to 10 employees or sole traders in manual or non-manual trades and professions. Their cover includes employer’s liability insurance of £10 million and public liability insurance of £1 million as standard, but this can be increased to £10 million. They offer a standard excess charge of £250 for tradesmen and £100 for professionals.
17. Glemham Insurance
Some of the features and benefits of Glemham Insurance’s builders’ public liability insurance.
- Construction insurance
- Suited to small tradesmen and medium-sized builders
- Only covers those doing house and small commercial works
- Public and product liability up to £10 million
- Contracts works
- Employer’s liability
- Business interruption
- Goods in transit
- Personal accident
- Commercial legal expenses
Glemham Insurance is an insurance provider that offers insurance with a difference as they provide insurance to businesses who demonstrate that they control their risks and understand risk management. They offer a range of packaged insurance products which include Construction insurance which is suited to small tradesmen and medium-sized general builders doing house and small commercial building works. This excludes roofers, scaffolders and structural steel erectors.
Glemham Insurance’s Construction insurance includes cover such as public and products liability up to £10 million, employer’s liability, contract works, property damage, business interruption, goods in transit, personal accident and legal expenses.
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