Plumbers’ Insurance Quote

What is plumbers' insurance?

Plumbers’ insurance is a catch-all term for several insurance policies that you may need as a professional in the plumbing industry. Usually it includes plumbers’ public liability insurance, plus additional cover options.

Public liability insurance covers you for harm to members of the public or damage to their property while you are working. For example, if a client tripped over a stray pipe and injured themselves while you were fixing their sink. Public liability insurance can help cover your legal fees and compensation you may have to pay.

It’s not a legal requirement to have public liability insurance, but you should consider whether you would be able to stump up the cash to pay legal fees and compensation if someone did make a claim against you.

What’s more, some clients may request evidence that you have public liability insurance before working with you.

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If you’ve given a client advice and something goes wrong as a result, they may make a legal case against you. Professional indemnity insurance can cover your legal fees as well as the compensation costs you may have to pay out.

Insurers can also offer a tools and equipment policy that covers the cost of replacing your equipment in the event of damage, loss or theft. You may have to pay extra to cover your tools overnight, so it’s worth checking with your insurer.

If you employ anyone – except for close family members or staff working abroad – as part of your plumbing business, you are legally required to take out employers’ liability insurance with a minimum of £5 million cover. Employing people without this is illegal and could prove expensive, as you can be fined £2,500 a day if you don’t have the correct cover.

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Personal accident insurance covers you if you suffer an injury, or even die, whether you’re at work or not. You could get a lump sum if you are injured, and it could cover loss of income if you can’t work because of your injury. If you are in a fatal accident, your next of kin could get compensation.

Personal accident cover is included in some plumbers’ insurance packages as standard, while other insurers may offer it as an add-on.

What does plumbers' insurance cover?

Plumbers’ insurance is varied and can be tailored to fit your needs. Many insurers will provide a set package of policies, with additional cover available if it applies to your business. Below, we look at what is usually covered under plumbers’ insurance, and which types of insurance you may need to add on or take out separately.

What is usually included in plumbers’ insurance?

Plumbers’ insurance packages can vary depending on your insurer, but usually include plumbers’ public liability insurance alongside some, or all, of the following:

• professional indemnity insurance
• employers’ liability insurance (if required)
• personal accident insurance
• tools and equipment insurance

If you’re taking out a package, you should check what is included to make sure the cover is appropriate for your business. It is possible to customise your package, and add-ons may be available if the cover does not fully meet your requirements.

On the other hand, many insurers will let you create a bespoke insurance package to ensure that you’re only paying for the cover your business needs.

What isn’t usually included in plumbers' insurance?

As plumbers’ insurance cover can be tailored to your business needs, what is and isn’t included is usually decided by you when you purchase a policy. You should consider which costs you could afford to pay up front if you didn’t take out cover for them.

If you choose not to take out professional indemnity insurance, for example, and then a client makes a claim against you because of advice you’ve given, you will have to foot the bill for the legal fees and any compensation they may be owed if the court rules in their favour.

You will need to take out insurance for your vehicle, if you use one for work. It is a legal requirement for your vehicle to be insured if you’re driving on UK roads. Business van insurance is not usually included in plumbers’ insurance packages, so you should look to take this out separately.

There may also be exceptions to your cover. For example, if you take out tools and equipment insurance, you may only be covered for theft or damage if you leave your tools in a secured place.

Omissions or mistakes when you take out your policy could also affect what is covered. For instance, if you underestimate the value of your tools when you get a quote, you may find that your insurer may not pay out the full value of the item if you make a claim later on.

And if you pay monthly and miss a payment, your policy could be cancelled, leaving your business without cover.

It’s important to keep to the terms of your insurance policy to ensure you are fully covered.

How to choose the best plumbers' insurance policy for you

To find a plumbers’ insurance policy to suit your needs, you should first take stock of your business activity and consider the risks. You can then think about which insurance policies you may want to take out that ensure your business has appropriate cover.

Once you’ve decided the level of cover you need and which policies you want to include in your overall package, you can click through to our partner to find the best deal for your business.

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