Handyman Insurance
Specialist liability cover for handypeople from £4.50* a month.
- Join over 150,000 customers**
- Get a quote in under 60 seconds
- Public Liability for Maintenance
- Tools and equipment cover
- Employers’ Liability and more
From £4.50* a month
What does handyman insurance cover?
Our specialist handyman insurance provides comprehensive protection designed specifically for multi-skilled tradespeople who tackle diverse property maintenance tasks. With public liability insurance as standard, you’re protected against accidental damage claims and injury compensation costs that could arise from your varied work activities.
As a handyman, your work spans multiple trades from general building work to property maintenance. Our flexible policy recognises this diversity, allowing you to choose the services you provide and can be tailored with additional cover including employers’ liability for your staff, Contractors All Risks protection for materials and work in progress, and comprehensive plant and tools cover for your extensive equipment collection.
Whether you’re a sole trader handling domestic odd jobs or running a larger maintenance company servicing commercial properties, our handyman insurance adapts to your business size and scope. The policy covers everything from small repair work and property maintenance through to larger renovation projects, giving you the confidence to accept varied jobs knowing you have appropriate protection.
Our Contractors All Risks extension can be customised to match your specific requirements, allowing you to select the precise level of cover needed for work in progress, owned equipment, and hired plant. When you add these optional covers, we automatically include protection for employee tools and personal effects up to £500, ensuring comprehensive coverage for your entire operation.
Make sure you have the correct insurance for your trade and be sure to check if any exclusions are relevant to what you have planned in policy documentation.
Public Liability
Employers' Liability
Contractors Works
Plant & Tools
Financial Loss
Public Liability
- Up to £5 million available.
Protection against claims from third parties (e.g., a member of the public) who suffer injuries or have items of their property damaged due to your actions. This does not include third-party property that forms part of the working contract site.
Claims for damage to property that is part of the construction or worksite itself are excluded under public liability. For instance, if the contractor is working on a site owned by someone else and the property forms part of the construction project, such damage would not be covered by this insurance. However, this can be included by adding Contract Works cover.
Employers’ Liability
- Up to £10 million available.
- If any employee suffered physical injury or a fatality because of the employer’s negligence. If that staff member sought compensation, the insurer would handle the cost of the claim.
- If you employ any staff members, Employers’ Liability is a legal requirement.
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 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.
Plant & tools owned
- Up to £75,000 worth of cover.
- Covers your tools and equipment, temporary buildings, caravans, or similar on-site that are owned by you and used in connection with any contract works being undertaken by you.
- Covers your tools and equipment off-site if locked in an unattended vehicle. This is only available as an extension of plant & tools owned cover and covers your own portable tools, including power driven portable tools and business equipment, when kept in a locked vehicle and left unattended.
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 Owned or Hired Plant & Tools cover, with protection up to £500.
Financial Loss
- Up to £50,000 per claim available.
- Protection from claims from other parties relating to financial losses not directly consequent upon bodily injury or damage.
- Cover for bona fide subcontractors, who should have their own insurance.
- Claims for financial losses relating to non or late delivery of products to third parties.
For information on exclusions in your cover please refer to policy documentation.
Why you need handyman public liability insurance?
As a handyperson you’ll be working on a wide range of different tasks, no doubt managing your time from one job to another. The last thing you want to worry about is what might go wrong.
That’s where our handyman insurance can help, giving you the confidence to focus on your task list without the fear of financial setbacks from potential claims.
Here are a few scenarios to help explain why you need tradesperson insurance:
Protection from claims if a client suffers injury.
Whether you’re repairing, installing, or carrying out general handyman tasks, there’s always a risk of an accidental injury to clients, visitors, or even bystanders—which could lead to a claim against you.
Having public liability insurance in place protects you as a handyman from costly claims, covering incidents such as injuries caused during your work.
Accidental damage caused to plant and tools you own or hire.
As a self-employed handy person, you may need access to specialist tools and plant equipment, to assist with work you are undertaking. These tools could be subject to damage and loss.
Without Plant and Tools insurance, you’d have to cover the cost of replacing these expensive tools, which could impact your earnings. However, with the insurance in place, the cost of repairing or replacing your tools would be covered, allowing you to continue your work without financial worry.
Protect your tools from theft, even in locked vehicles.
Sometimes it’s necessary to leave your tools, locked in your van, which leads them vulnerable to theft and consequently could lead to loss of earnings or costly replacements.
When you select owned plant and tools cover you can add cover for tools in a locked unattended vehicle (called tools of trade cover), including valuable protection from intrusion.
Our experts explain why...
“Our Handyman Insurance is designed to protect professionals providing light domestic maintenance work across the UK. Our specialist cover goes beyond standard liability insurance, offering protection against workplace accidents, damage claims, and equipment losses.
We cover your tools, materials, and contracted work—whether owned or hired—along with protection for your equipment and potential claims from clients or third parties. This includes public liability insurance to cover accidental damage to a customer’s property and equipment cover to protect against the loss, theft, or damage of your essential tools.
Our policy is specifically tailored to the needs of handymen, covering a wide range of small-scale repair and maintenance jobs. With the right insurance in place, you can work with confidence, knowing you’re protected against unexpected risks while delivering reliable service to your customers.”
Chris Trotman, Protectivity Underwriting Manager
How much does handyman insurance cost?
Specialist handyman business insurance, from £4.50 a month.*
The cost of insurance for handyman services can vary widely depending on several factors, including the size and scope of the work and other resources required. For example, if you need to hire in additional equipment, you might need to select a higher coverage level.
Prices from
£3.89* a month
Explainer Quote
Policy cost
£4.50* a month
Policy type
Tradesman
Activity
Property Maintenance / Handyman
Duration
Annual
Turnover
Up to £250,000
Public Liability
Up to £1,000,000
This example is based on a real quote from our website on 31/03/2025. If your circumstances and cover needs differ, your quote may be more or less expensive than the above example. The quote you receive will reflect the information you share about your event. The quoted price may vary from those displayed here.
Have a question?
For further information on your policy, renewals, making a claim and contacting us, you’ll find an extensive list of FAQs on our Help & Support page.
Why choose Protectivity for your handyman insurance policy?
Let the reviews of over 3,500 customers explain why you should choose us.¹
Trusted by over 150,000 customers.
Experienced insurance providers for over 30 years.
Over 3,500 highly rated reviews.
Proof of our excellent customer service.
Experienced Claims Handling
A smooth and efficient claims process.
UK Based Customer Support
Our UK sales team are here to help.
Frequently
Asked Questions
Am I covered for plumbing, electrical, and carpentry work?
Yes, your policy can cover light, domestic plumbing, basic electrical tasks (non-certified), and carpentry, provided these trades are included in your declared business activities and within your skill level. For more specialised work (e.g. major electrical rewiring or gas work), additional qualifications and policy updates may be needed.
Am I covered if I accidentally cause damage while diagnosing a problem?
Yes, accidental third-party property damage caused during fault-finding (e.g. accessing pipes or removing panels) is typically covered under Public Liability, provided the damage wasn’t due to negligence or unsafe practices.
What happens if my repair work fails and causes further damage to the property?
Your policy won’t cover poor workmanship or the cost to redo faulty repairs. However, if your work fails and causes accidental third-party damage (e.g. a leak damages furniture), Public Liability may cover the resulting damage — not the original work itself.
Does my policy cover me for emergency call-out work outside normal hours?
Yes, your cover isn’t limited by the time of day. Emergency work is covered as long as it falls within your declared trade and is carried out safely and within the scope of your competence.
Are ladder accidents and working at height incidents covered?
Yes, working at height is covered up to the policy’s height limit (up to 10 metres). Accidents involving ladders or falls are covered under Employers’ Liability for staff and Public Liability if someone else is injured.
Do I need additional cover when carrying out landlord maintenance contracts?
Not necessarily, as long as the work fits within your declared activities. However, if you’re regularly working under contracts with commercial landlords, you may need to ensure your policy includes cover for commercial properties and higher liability limits.
What happens if I discover additional problems that weren’t part of the original job?
Discovery of additional issues is not an insurance matter unless it results in a claim (e.g. exposing asbestos or causing accidental damage while investigating). Always document and quote separately for extra work, as disputes over scope are not covered.
What insurance do I need when working on both domestic and commercial properties?
Your existing policy can cover both, as long as you’ve declared you work in mixed environments. If you only declared domestic work when taking out the policy, inform your insurer so they can ensure your cover is valid for commercial jobs too.
Am I covered if weather conditions prevent me from completing outdoor maintenance work?
No, insurance doesn’t cover delays or financial loss due to weather interruptions. If materials are damaged due to weather while stored on-site, you may be covered under Contract Works, provided reasonable precautions were taken.
What happens if my maintenance work uncovers health and safety issues?
While discovering hazards isn’t itself a claimable event, you’re expected to act responsibly. If a safety hazard causes injury or damage and you failed to act or report it, this could affect liability in a claim. Insurance won’t cover fines or regulatory action.
Are cleaning materials and maintenance supplies covered if damaged or stolen?
Yes, consumables and supplies (like paint, sealant, or cleaning fluids) may be covered under Contract Works or Owned Tools, when they are being used as part of a job and stored securely.
Does my policy cover accidental damage to decorative finishes during repair work?
Yes, if you accidentally damage items like wallpaper, flooring, or paintwork during repair work, this can be covered under Public Liability. Deliberate or avoidable damage is not covered.
What cover do I need when working alone in customer properties?
Your current policy covers work in customer homes, even if you’re working alone. However, for your safety and legal protection, it’s good practice to log visits, use sign-off forms, and ensure you’re insured for any tools you take with you (via the Tools of Trade extension).
Am I insured for disputes over the quality or standard of my handyman work?
No, insurance won’t cover disagreements over subjective quality or dissatisfaction with work, unless they result in a legal liability (e.g. property damage or injury).
Do I need additional cover when using customer-supplied materials or parts?
No, you’re still covered under your liability insurance for damage or injury caused during installation — even when using client-supplied parts. However, if the item itself is faulty and causes damage, the manufacturer or supplier may be liable, not you.
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This page content has been created for general information and should not be taken as advice.
*Prices quoted refer to a quote raised from our website 06/03/2025. Prices will differ depending on requirements. Make sure you have the correct level of cover for what you need. For the most accurate pricing, please get a quote and for full details on what is covered refer to our policy documentation with your quote.
** Based on Protectivity sales data from 2007 to Sep 2024
¹Based on live Feefo data