Builders Insurance
Builders Insurance from £4.83 A Month
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To give you greater flexibility you will not be charged a fee should you need to cancel
your policy. T&C’s apply.
Why do builders need insurance?
When you’re on a job, the last thing you want to worry about is what might go wrong. That’s where our insurance for builders steps in, giving you the confidence to focus on your work without the fear of financial setbacks from potential claims.
Builders public liability insurance includes the essential liability cover for claims made against you. This protects you if a client or member of the public gets injured or their property is damaged due to your work. Whether it’s an accident or negligence, you’re covered up to the limit you choose, ensuring you’re safeguarded from hefty financial losses.
If you employ workers or use labour only subcontractors Employers’ Liability is a legal requirement. This cover will protect you and your business from claims that arise from workers injuries or illness that occur under your employment.
Our policy is flexible to your needs. You can customise our Contractors All Risk cover to meet your specific requirements. Choose the level you need for contractors works, plant and tools you own and hire. If you select one or all of these extras, employee tools and personal effects will be included, up to £500.
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Why choose us for your Builders Insurance?
Fast & Simple Process
Our aim is to make buying insurance online easy, that’s why you can get a quote for your Builders Insurance policy and buy your cover in just a few minutes.
Trusted by Thousands
We have been providing insurance to UK customers for over 30 years. Today we protect over 60,000 customers each year, and uphold an excellent customer service score based on over 3,000 customer reviews.
Monthly Payment Options
We are one of the only online Builders Insurance providers to offer monthly payment plans with 0% APR. This means you can spread the cost of your cover across 10 months.
Excellent Claims Handling
Our specialist UK based claims handlers aim to deal with any claim you have, minor or serious, quickly, without causing disruption to your business.
What does Builders Insurance cover?
Public Liability
Up to £5 million worth of cover
You can choose up to £5 million worth of Public Liability to cover you against claims arising from accidental injury to a client or damage to their belongings. This could be a client tripping over your equipment, or it could be damage to a household item, such as a piece of furniture. Either way, in the event of an accident like this, you are vulnerable to a substantial compensation claim, as well as other associated costs.
Optional Extras...
Employers’ Liability
Up to £10 million worth of cover
If you employ members of staff (even just one) then it is a legal requirement to have employers’ liability insurance in place. This means that if one of your employees is injured while working, and suffers financial loss as a result, your insurer will cover you (up to £10m) for compensation.
Financial Loss
Up to £250,000 worth of cover.
This covers you should a customer suffer a financial loss that is not caused by injury or property damage that you are legally liable for. Any loss caused by injury or property damages is covered under the Public Liability.
Contractors Works
Up to £250,000 worth of cover
This cover can protect you against loss or damage to any permanent or temporary works you’re responsible for, including all the materials.
Plant & tools owned
Up to £75,000 worth of cover.
Covers your tools and equipment, temporary buildings, caravans, or similar that are owned by you and used in connection with any contract works being undertaken by you.
Plant & tools hired
Up to £50,000 worth of cover.
Covers you for loss of or damage to, hired tools and equipment, temporary buildings, caravans, or similar that you have hired in connection with any contract works being undertaken by you. Cover also includes your legal liability for hiring charges following damage to any hired property.
Employees tools & personal effects
This covers tools and personal items owned by your employees while on any site, or those you’re responsible for under a joint working agreement. It’s not available as a standalone cover but comes with either Contract Works or Own Plant & Tools cover, with protection up to £500.
I was really pleased with how my claim was settled. It gave me great confidence that Protectivity covers me when the worst happens.
Fantastic claims handling
Whilst the risk is low, there is always a chance of an unexpected incident, you might have to deal with. That’s why we’re committed to making our claims process as smooth and efficient as possible.
If you need to make a claim, just click the link below, select the relevant form and fill in the details and we’ll take it from there.
How much does Builders Insurance cost?
The cost of builders insurance can vary widely depending on several factors, including the size and scope of the construction project, the location of the project, the type of coverage needed, the insurer, and the risk factors associated with the project.
For example, if you employ staff then your policy will need additional cover in Employers’ Liability, at a higher cost. At Protectivity prices start from just £4.83* a month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I include liability cover for subcontractors, who I use to aid my business?
A. 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.
Q. Does your policy allow me and my staff to provide work using Heat away from our Premises?
A. A. No, not for the majority of trades available to be selected, with the exception of Property Maintenance, Landscape Gardener and General Builder, where if you tell us you’re doing heat work away, we will add an endorsement 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 ‘Burning and Welding Condition (applicable to Liability sections)’.
Q. Can you cover my tools for damage, loss and theft?
A. Yes but this is subject to conditions and exclusions. For example we are unable to cover loss due to disappearance or shortage and theft from unattended vehicles unless the vehicle is stored in a garage, locked building or secure compound. Please make sure to read the conditions and exclusions in full.
Q. Are you able to cover the plant I use for my trade?
A. 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.
Q. What does Contract Works cover?
A. 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.
Q. Are my tools and equipment covered?
A. No, cover is not included as standard, however you can request this cover by selecting Own Plant cover or if you hire your tools you can opt for Hired in Plant cover, both of which cover tools as well as plant machinery. You will also get cover up to £500 for tools owned by your employees whilst they are working on your site.
Q. Does your insurance cover me for working overseas?
A. This cover is meant for work in the United Kingdom, however it will allow cover abroad temporarily , for manual work in the EU and non-manual work anywhere in the world, in conjunction with your Business only.
Q. What exactly does public liability insurance cover for builders?
A. 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.
Q. Does my policy cover me for working at height?
A. 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.
Q. Am I covered for using heat (e.g., welding, blow torches) on site?
A. 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.
Q. Is employers’ liability insurance mandatory if I’m self-employed or only use subcontractors?
A. 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.
Q. How much public liability coverage do I need as a builder?
A. 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.
Q. Is my work guaranteed under this insurance policy?
A. 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 wor
Q. How does taking on larger project affect my insurance needs?
A. 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.
Q. Do I need professional indemnity insurance as a builder?
A. Professional indemnity insurance is necessary if you provide design, advice, or consultancy services as part of your building work. This insurance covers claims arising from professional errors or omissions, which are not covered by our standard builder’s insurance.
Q. Can I get insurance if I’m a new building company with no track record?
A. Yes, we can offer to new building companies – we ask instead how many years of relevant industry experience you have to help us provide an accurate quote for you.
Q. Are there any exclusions in builders’ insurance polices I should be aware of?
A. Please refer to our policy documents for a full list of exclusions related to our builders insurance policy.
Have a question? Contact us...
If you have any other questions regarding our Builders Insurance, then feel free to get in touch on 01494 887909. Our phone lines are open 9am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday.
More information on what we can cover on this policy can be found on our FAQs page.