Builders Insurance

To ensure tool insurance is valid, your tools must be securely stored in a locked vehicle and out of sight, locked site container, or other secure location when not in use. This applies to both owned and hired tools.

No, power tool breakdowns are not included. The policy only covers theft, damage, or loss of tools if you have the relevant Plant & Tools Owned or Hired cover.

No, standard tradesman insurance does not cover work interruption.

Tools and equipment stored in a locked vehicle overnight are covered if you have the Plant & Tools Owned extension (Tools of Trade), which protects your tools off-site under secure conditions.

No, delayed damage claims are not covered. All claims for damage must be reported to us at the point you are aware of any damages or injury occurring.

You will need to select the correct trade you need cover for, when you get a quote, for example electrician’s cover. Public liability insurance can protect against third-party claims. Additionally, Employers’ Liability is required if you employ staff. You may want to customise your policy with optional extras for Contractors Works and Plants and Tools cover.

Yes, Plant & Tools Hired cover includes protection for hired tools and equipment against loss, damage, or theft. You’ll also be covered for any hire charges resulting from the loss.

Materials stored on-site are protected if you include Contractors Works in your policy. This ensures coverage for loss or damage to temporary or permanent works, including materials.

Depending on your project you can choose the appropriate cover that best suits your needs. For commercial projects, you could include Contractors Works for protection of materials and works, as well as Plant & Tools cover for equipment used on-site. Public liability and Employers’ Liability may also be necessary, depending on the size of your operation and workforce.

Yes, if you have Employers’ Liability insurance, apprentices are covered for workplace injuries or accidents, as this is a legal requirement for any employer with staff.

The insurer defines this cover as contractors’ plant, tools and equipment demountable and temporary buildings and/or caravans and/or other items of a like nature and materials and/or stores and/or any other property of whatsoever nature used or intended for use in connection with any contract works. There are conditions and exclusions you need to ensure you adhere with, please ensure you take a view of these before proceeding further.

Contract Works is designed to cover you for Damage and Loss to works whether permanent or temporary, to include materials used for which you are responsible for, being your property whilst you are undertaking works, not including tools, plant and equipment you own or that you have hired in for the works. We are unable to provide cover for materials and stock away from any contract site unless in transit and we cannot consider cover for contract works that exceed 24 months.

Yes, we can cover plant you own and plant you hire in. We have different sums insured that can be selected and the sums selected also have single article limits for plant you own and maximum hire charges for equipment you hire. Please also note that if you own or have hired a single piece of plant equipment that costs more than £10,000, when its not in use it is stored in a securely locked building of standard construction or is immobilised in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations.

This depends on your agreement with your subcontractors. Bona-fide subcontractors will have to have their own insurance cover and cannot be included on your insurance policy and in the numbers requested herein, you will be obligated to retain proof of their insurance. Labour-only subcontractors can be included on your policy of insurance, for work they provide under contract with yourself and your business only and should be included in the total numbers you provide in this application of insurance.

No, not for the majority of trades available to be selected, with the exception of some of the builders trades, landscapers trades and electricians, where there will be an endorsement added to your policy, allowing you to undertake work away from your premises, subject to you complying with a set of conditions outlined in the added endorsement titled ‘Hot Working and Use of Heat Equipment away from your Premises Condition Precedent.

Yes, you need public liability insurance to protect you against claims arising from accidental injury to a client or damage to their belongings.

Yes, at Protectivity we offer tools insurance for tradesmen,  but this is subject to conditions and exclusions. Please make sure to read the conditions and exclusions in full.

This cover is meant for work in the United Kingdom, however it will allow cover abroad temporarily (max 25 days throughout your annual policy), for manual work in the EU and non-manual work anywhere in the world, in conjunction with your Business only.

If you hire cranes or heavy machinery, Plant & Tools Hired cover will protect them against loss or damage, as well as any liability for hire charges if they are damaged. If you own the equipment, Plant & Tools Owned cover provides similar protection. We do not cover any claims arising from tandem lifting operation or any lifting operation which involves the use of two (2) or more cranes or other lifting devices used in tandem to lift any item(s).

As long as you adhere to the additional “Underground Services Condition” within the policy, then cover is included for the cost to repair and replace of underground pipes or cables only. Any additional damages, penalties and/or fines are not covered under our policy.

If scaffolding is hired, it may be covered under Plant & Tools Hired cover. If you own the scaffolding, Plant & Tools Owned cover will protect against loss or damage.

If you employ apprentices, you are legally required to have Employers’ Liability Insurance, which covers claims if they suffer injury or illness due to work-related activities.

No, Builders Insurance primarily covers risks during the project. For defects or liabilities arising after completion, you may need alternative cover.

If you have Contractors Works cover, it will protect against loss or damage to your materials, including weather-related incidents, while they are stored on-site or being used in the project.

Yes, Contractors Works cover protects building materials stored on-site, ensuring they are covered against loss or damage during the course of the project.

Yes, if you have Plant & Tools Owned or Hired cover, it includes temporary buildings, caravans, and similar structures used in connection with your Contractors Works.

Your tools can be covered under the Plant & Tools Owned cover, this can protect them even when stored in a locked and unattended vehicle when you add the Tools of Trade extension. This extension must be selected as part of the policy and does not apply as a standalone option.

Public Liability Insurance covers claims from third parties for injuries or property damage caused by your work, but it does not cover damage to the construction site itself. If you are demolishing part of a building as part of a construction project, you will need Contractors Works cover to protect against any loss or damage to the works involved.

Please refer to our policy documents for a full list of exclusions related to our builders insurance policy.

Larger projects may increase the risks and potential liabilities, requiring higher limits of indemnity or additional coverage types (e.g., increased public liability or additional products liability). You should review and possibly adjust your coverage when taking on larger or more complex projects. There is an exclusion within our Contractors All Risks cover that excludes you undertaking contracts which will take longer than two years to complete and/or exceed £2,000,000 in value at inception of the contract.

Our builder’s insurance does not provide a guarantee for the quality of your work. It covers legal liabilities arising from accidents, injuries, or damages caused during your work, but it does not cover poor workmanship or the costs of correcting defective work.

The amount of public liability coverage needed can vary based on the size and nature of your projects. We can offer up to £5m of public liability, although you’ll pay an additional premium for this. As standard, our builder’s liability insurance cover is £1m.

Employers’ liability insurance is typically mandatory if you have employees. If you’re self-employed and do not have employees, or only use bona-fide subcontractors (who provide their own insurance), you are not required to have employers’ liability insurance. However, if you hire ‘labour-only’ subcontractors, they might be considered employees under the law, and you would need employers’ liability insurance for them.

If you select “General Builders” as your trade, cover is included for heat work away from your premises, only when using hot air guns, soldering irons, angle grinders and/or hand held blowtorches, blow lamps, flame guns, hot air guns, electric, gas or other welding equipment, or portable grinding equipment only. You are still required to disclose this to us within your application, where the question requests it.

Please note: This is only when the trade “General Builders” is selected.

Yes, our builders insurance policy for ‘General Builders”, allows you to work up to 10 metres above the surrounding floor or ground level. We are unable to cover you if you work above this height.

Please note: This is only when the trade “General Builders” is selected, each trade has its own height limit.

Our public liability insurance covers bodily injuries to other parties and damages to property you are legally liable to pay for and claimant’s costs, fees and expenses. There are conditions and exclusions relating to this cover and all others selected, you can see the full terms in the policy wording.