Plumbers' public liability insurance

If you employ anyone who isn't a family member, you’ll need to have employers’ liability cover – it’s the law. It’s something you’d want in place anyway, as it offers you protection if someone who works for you falls sick or gets injured as a result of their work.

Employers’ liability insurance is especially important if you employ tradespeople. According to the Government Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 2.4% of workers in the construction industry suffered an injury between 2016 and 2019. Plumbers, in particular, are at risk from injuries resulting from using cutting and joining tools.

It’s also worth remembering that, once your policy is in place, you’ll need to keep up to date with current health and safety rules. If you don’t, it could be invalidated.

The tools of the plumbing trade are valuable, and if you had to replace them all at once you could find yourself facing a huge bill. Business tools insurance will cover your tools and equipment for all kinds of eventualities, including theft, vandalism, fire and flood.

You can also add tool cover to your van insurance policy.

If you take on big projects for other firms – let’s say you're doing the plumbing for a large-scale property development – contract works cover could keep your business afloat in the event of a disaster. It covers you for events such as fire, flood, storms and vandalism – where your work forms part of a bigger project.

So if, for example, a storm damages the new building you’re working on and you’re expected to redo the plumbing for no extra payment, contract works cover will protect your pay, as well as any tools or materials.

If you own a plumbing business, it’s not just other people’s floods and leaks you need to worry about. It’s vital to understand the risks your company faces, so you can have the right insurance in place to protect you, your employees and your customers.

Different types of cover, including public liability insurance and employers’ liability insurance, can come as part of a business insurance package, tailored to suit your particular needs.

Accidents can happen and working as a plumber does have increased risks. You could consider personal injury cover, which helps to cover any loss of income or medical costs should you be involved in an accident. Or you could add business interruption cover to your policy, to protect against loss of income if your business can’t operate due to an unexpected event, for example a fire or flood damages your business premises and all your equipment.

If you’re working under the supervision of a contractor, you should be covered by their insurance policy. If you’re working unsupervised, it’s your responsibility to make sure you have the right public liability insurance in place. If you don’t, you could be held liable for any damage or injury. Most professional contractors will want to see proof of your insurance before they employ you.

As a plumbing contractor, you’ll need to make sure you have adequate public liability insurance to cover you in the event you cause damage or injury while carrying out your work. With the right cover in place, any sub-contractors you use should be covered by your policy, as long as they work under your supervision. If sub-contractors are working unsupervised, they’ll need their own insurance policy. You should check to make sure they have the right cover in place before they start working for you.

We’re here to take the strain out of finding plumbers’ insurance. We’ll ask you a few simple questions about your business – what tools you have, how many people you employ, etc – so that we can tailor quotes to your needs. It doesn't matter if you’re a one-man band or a big business, we can help you find the right insurance policy. Compare plumbers’ insurance today and see if you could save.

Public liability insurance - Get cover against claims if someone is injured or property damaged as a result or your work.

Employers’ liability insurance - You’re legally required to have this insurance even if you employ just one person.

Business interruption insurance - Insurance to help compensate you for loss of profits, if your business is unable to operate for a period of time due to unforeseen circumstances.

Business life insurance - Insurance designed to help your business carry on if something happens to you, or other key people in your business.

Van insurance - Covers your van, to give you peace of mind

Commercial property insurance - Protect your business premises.

Business contents insurance - Protect your business equipment.

Home office insurance - The insurance you need when you run your business from your home.