What Is Public Liability Insurance for Plumbers and Why Do You Need It?

When you’re working as a plumber, even small mistakes can lead to big problems. That’s why plumbers public liability insurance should be in place to protect you. It’s a type of cover that steps in to keep your finances safe if your work accidentally causes injury to the public or damage to their property.

In this helpful guide, we’ll break down exactly what public liability insurance is, how it works for plumbers and why it’s an important part of plumbers insurance.

What is public liability insurance?

Public liability insurance is designed to protect you if something goes wrong while you’re on the job. It covers claims made by a third party, which is anyone who isn’t you or one of your employees. This includes customers, suppliers or even someone walking past your worksite.

Let’s say you’re fixing a pipe in someone’s kitchen, and it bursts, damaging the walls and flooring. Or a passer-by trips over your equipment on a job and gets injured. Public liability insurance will step in to help you cover the legal defence costs of these allegations. If you are at fault, then the public liability insurance will pay the compensation claim to cover the injuries and property damage repairs, up to the limit of indemnity you have selected.

Why do plumbers need public liability insurance?

Plumbing is a hands-on profession and often comes with real risks. From unexpected accidents to costly damage, things can go wrong even when you’re careful and completed the necessary risk assessments. That’s why having the right protection in place matters. These are our top reasons why you should invest in cover:

 

Mitigating risk

Plumbing usually involves water, pressure systems and gas. So, even with years of experience, accidents can still happen. One misplaced pipe or loose fitting could flood a room, damage a ceiling or worse.

 

Protecting your finances

Even small mistakes can be expensive. If you’re uninsured, you’ll be the one footing the bill, and that could put your entire business at risk. Public liability insurance helps absorb those financial shocks, so one accident doesn’t wipe out your savings or force you to stop trading.

 

Adhering to the law

Some plumbing clients, especially councils or large companies, will only hire plumbers who can show proof of public liability cover up to minimum limits of indemnity before winning and starting a contract. It might also be a condition of joining trade associations or working on building sites.

 

Peace of mind

Having public liability insurance shows clients that you take responsibility seriously. It can help to build trust and give them confidence in hiring you. And for you, it means you can focus on the job without worrying about what might go wrong.

What does public liability insurance cover?

Public liability insurance covers a range of situations where your work might cause accidental damage or injury, even when it’s unintentional. These include:

 

Property damage

If your work accidentally damages someone’s property, public liability insurance can help cover the costs. For example, if you drill into a wall and hit a water pipe, causing a major leak, this cover will help to pay for the repairs or replacement of the damaged property. It will not cover the reinstatement of the defective workmanship which you will be expected to fix.

 

Third-party injuries

If a customer, supplier or member of the public is injured as a result of your work, public liability insurance can help. For example, if a client trips over your toolbox and breaks their wrist, your cover will step in to cover your legal defence costs and where at fault compensation up to the indemnity limit you have chosen.

 

Legal fees and compensation

If someone decides to sue your business over allegations of accidental damage or injury, the legal process can be expensive. Public liability insurance can help to cover the cost of legal defence and ultimately any compensation you might have to pay if you are found to be at fault, subject to the financial limit of your cover.

 

Accidental damage on commercial jobs

Larger commercial contracts often come with more risk and higher expectations. Some clients will insist on a higher level of public liability cover before you can start work, particularly on high-value or long-term projects. This insurance can give you the protection needed to take on such jobs confidently. We can consider a range of indemnity limits up to £10m. For larger risks we can make arrangements for even higher levels.

What public liability insurance doesn’t cover

Public liability insurance offers important protection, but it won’t cover everything. Here are a few things you’ll need separate cover for:

 

Your injuries

If you’re injured while working, maybe from a fall or burn, public liability insurance won’t cover your medical costs or time off work. For that, you’d need personal accident insurance, which is designed to support you financially if you’re unable to work due to injury.

 

Damage to your tools or van

Public liability only covers damage caused to others. If your van has been broken into and your tools are stolen, you’d need tools and equipment insurance to cover the cost of replacements. Check the policy cover as most will exclude cover for theft of tools over night from vans left loaded.

to support you financially if you’re unable to work due to injury.

 

Poor workmanship or professional mistakes

If a client claims your work was faulty or that your advice caused a problem, public liability insurance might not be enough. In these cases, professional indemnity insurance can help. This covers the legal defence costs for allegations of breach of professional duty arising from advice given or design that cause issues for a client.

How much public liability insurance do plumbers need?

The amount of public liability cover you’ll need will depend on the kind of plumbing work you do and who you do it for. Many policies start at around £1 million, but that might not be enough for bigger or riskier jobs. If you’re unsure on how much to spend, look at the following factors:

 

Type of work

Domestic jobs usually carry less risk than large commercial or industrial projects. If you work on high-pressure systems or gas installations, the risk and potential for claims could be much higher.

 

Client requirements

Some contracts, especially if they are made with councils or big companies, specify a minimum level of cover. Something like £2 million to £5 million is often required for commercial work.

 

Risk exposure

If your work involves a lot of people, high-value properties or more complex systems, a higher cover limit can give you better protection.

It’s always worth checking your policy to make sure it reflects your current workload. If your business grows or changes, your cover should too.

How to get public liability insurance for plumbers

It’s easy to obtain public liability insurance, but choosing the right policy takes a bit more thought. You don’t have to go with the first quote you see. Comparing providers can help you find better value, wider cover or more suitable policy features.

Before you buy, read the policy carefully. You should be checking for:

• Excess amounts — This is what you’ll pay towards a claim.
• Exclusions — This is anything the policy won’t cover.
• Conditions – these are requirements for you to do, or not to do certain things in order for cover to apply.
• Policy limits — This is the maximum amount the insurer will pay out.

Insurers like Towergate specialise in trade insurance and understand the risks plumbers face every day. With an insurance provider that understands the complexities of your business, you’re more likely to receive tailored advice and support if you ever need to make a claim. This can help you sort problems quickly and minimise disruption.

Protect your plumbing business and get covered

When something goes wrong during a plumbing job, it can be costly. That’s why public liability insurance is one of the most important tools you can have under your belt. It helps protect your business, your finances and your reputation when the unexpected happens.

Plumbers insurance from Towergate

If you haven’t got plumbers insurance yet, or if you’re looking for a new provider, talk to Towergate today. We can help you find the right level of protection for the work you do.

Get a plumbers insurance quote

Get a quote for plumbers insurance today, either online or by calling us on 0330 173 3617.

About the author

Diane Caplehorn is a respected industry leader with over 25 years' experience within the insurance sector. She works across a wide spectrum of insurance products and policy development, delivery and optimisation for health and beauty, professional risks and martial arts clients.

Consistent with our policy when giving comment and advice on a non-specific basis, we cannot assume legal responsibility for the accuracy of any particular statement. In the case of specific problems we recommend that professional advice be sought.