Public liability insurance

Why You Should Always Check Your Handyman Has Public Liability Insurance

Hiring a handyman to work in your home? There’s one question you should always ask before the work begins: “Are you covered by public liability insurance?”

It might seem like an unnecessary question, particularly when you're only asking someone to put up a shelf, repair a fence, assemble some furniture or carry out a few odd jobs.

But accidents can happen to even the most experienced tradesperson.

A ladder can slip. A drill can damage a pipe. A piece of equipment can fall and damage your property. Or, most seriously, someone could be injured while work is being carried out.

That's where public liability insurance becomes extremely important.

What is public liability insurance?

Public liability insurance protects a business against claims from members of the public or customers where they are alleged to have been injured or their property damaged as a result of the business's activities.

For a handyman, this could cover situations such as accidentally damaging a customer's property while carrying out work.

For example:

• A drill accidentally hits a concealed water pipe and causes flooding.
• A ladder falls against a wall and causes significant damage.
• A handyman accidentally damages an expensive floor while moving furniture.
• A customer trips over equipment or materials left during the job.
• A fitting or fixture installed by the handyman causes damage to property.
• An accident occurs while tools or equipment are being used in the customer's home.

Public liability insurance is designed to help deal with the financial consequences of legitimate claims, including appropriate legal and compensation costs, depending on the policy.

Is public liability insurance legally required for a handyman?

This is an important distinction.

Generally, no – public liability insurance is not compulsory by law for a self-employed handyman in the UK.

However, that doesn't mean it isn't important.

Some customers, businesses, landlords, contractors and organisations may insist that a tradesperson has suitable public liability insurance before they will allow them to carry out work.

And reputable tradespeople will often choose to have it because they understand the potential financial consequences if something goes wrong.

This is completely different from Employers' Liability Insurance, which is generally compulsory when a business employs people and carries a minimum legal cover requirement of £5 million.

So don't be afraid to ask a handyman about their insurance simply because it isn't legally compulsory.

It's a sensible question.

What happens if a handyman isn't insured?

This is where things can become very serious.

If a handyman doesn't have public liability insurance and causes significant damage or injury for which they are legally responsible, there isn't an insurance policy sitting behind the business to deal with the claim.

The handyman may potentially be personally responsible for the costs.

Depending on what has happened, those costs could include:

• Repairing or replacing damaged property
• Compensation for injury
• Losses resulting from the incident
• Legal expenses
• Other costs associated with defending or settling a claim

A relatively small handyman job could therefore potentially turn into a very expensive problem.

Public liability insurance isn't a guarantee that every claim will be paid – policies have conditions, exclusions and limits – but it provides an important layer of financial protection when something goes wrong.

“But my home insurance covers me, doesn't it?”

This is something many homeowners understandably wonder.

Your own home insurance is designed primarily to protect you and your property under the terms of your own policy. It shouldn't be assumed that it will simply cover damage caused by an uninsured tradesperson.

If a tradesperson damages your property, there may be circumstances where you have to make a claim through your own insurance, potentially involving your excess and affecting your future insurance position.

The circumstances will depend on your particular policy and the nature of the incident.

That's why it's much better to check that the person carrying out the work has appropriate insurance before the job starts.

How can you check that your handyman is insured?

Don't be embarrassed about asking.

A professional handyman should understand why you're asking and should be able to provide evidence of their insurance.

Before work begins, consider asking:

“Do you have public liability insurance, and can I see your certificate?”

You can then check:

1. The business name

Make sure the name on the insurance certificate relates to the person or business you're actually hiring.

2. The policy is current

Check the expiry date. Insurance that expired last year isn't much use today.

3. The work is covered

This is particularly important.

Insurance policies can have conditions and exclusions, so the tradesperson should have cover appropriate for the type of work they undertake.

For example, someone advertising themselves as a general handyman may have different cover from someone undertaking specialist work.

4. The level of cover

There isn't one universal legal minimum for public liability insurance for a handyman.

Many businesses choose several million pounds of cover, but the appropriate level depends on the work and the risks involved.

If you're employing someone to carry out more substantial or higher-risk work, it's particularly sensible to check that they have adequate cover.

Don't just choose the cheapest quote

When comparing handyman quotes, it's tempting to simply choose the cheapest price.

But there's more to choosing a tradesperson than the number at the bottom of the quote.

A professional handyman should be able to demonstrate that they take their business seriously.

That can include:

• Appropriate insurance
• Clear quotations
• Professional communication
• Good workmanship
• Genuine customer reviews
• Proper invoices
• Appropriate qualifications or experience where required
• Safe working practices

A handyman charging slightly more but running a properly insured and professional business may actually represent better value and considerably less risk.

What if the handyman says, “I've never needed insurance before”?

That should make you stop and think.

The fact that nothing has gone wrong previously doesn't mean it can't happen on your job.

Experienced tradespeople know that accidents can happen even when someone is careful and competent.

A professional doesn't buy insurance because they expect to damage your home.

They buy it because they understand that nobody can predict every accident.

A simple question that could save a lot of stress

Before handing over your house keys or allowing someone to start work, simply ask:

“Are you covered by public liability insurance?”

It's a small question that could give you considerably more confidence about who you're allowing to work in your home.

At Thirsk Handyman Services, we believe customers deserve to know that the person working in their home takes their responsibilities seriously.

That's why we maintain appropriate public liability insurance for the work we undertake.

Because accidents can happen – even when you're careful.

Don't be afraid to ask.

Check the insurance. Check the business. Then get the work started with confidence.