Builders' Insurance
Support the foundations of your business with a builders’ insurance policy you can rely on.
Why choose Howden for Builders’ Insurance?
We know how difficult and stressful it can be for builders to find the insurance policies they need, and that’s why we do our best to do the heavy lifting instead, so you don’t have to. Thanks to the brilliant relationships we have with our selected panel of both standard and specialist insurers, we’re able to make the process of sourcing various different builder insurance options, on your behalf, simple and straightforward.
Here at Howden, our team of experts understand that every builders' insurance policy needs to be unique and tailored to each owner and their building operation. That’s why we provide personalised services to our clients, which focuses on getting to know you and your business better, whilst also learning more about what you want from your builders’ insurance policy.
So, what are you waiting for? Whether you need to make a claim, purchase a new builder insurance policy, or renew an existing one, just know that we’re always here to help.
Benefits of working with Howden:
- You can trust us – we’re rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
- We’re driven to save you time, money, and hassle.
- Benefit from a tailored service that comparison sites can’t provide.
- Speak with your local branch, within your community.
- We’re right by your side in the event of a claim.
What is builders' insurance?
For builders, having appropriate insurance in place is just as important as having the right tools, or wearing a hard hat whilst on site. Builders’ insurance provides builders and building contractors with a safety net, protecting them from the risks that come working in such a hazardous industry.
This policy can include a wide range of cover types, all of which Howden can help you get your hands on. Whether you need tools insurance to protect your valuables, or public liability insurance to support you in the event of an unfortunate accident, our team can help you create a builders’ insurance package that works for you and your business.
Do builders need insurance?
Yes, we’d recommend that all builders have some form of insurance. If you employ anyone, you’re legally required to have at least employers’ liability insurance anyway, but otherwise we’d also say that having a comprehensive, all-round builders’ insurance policy is still important.
It’s important because, for clients, builders that do not have any proof of insurance is considered a red flag. Proving to your clients that you have appropriate cover allows them to feel reassured and comfortable that the building work being done is in safe hands.
You should also consider having builders’ insurance cover for your own benefit, to protect yourself in the event that an accident occurs, something get stolen, or someone gets injured.
Who do we also insure?
Not only can we help builders, but we can also offer cover for a wide range of other tradesmen, such as:
What insurance should a builder have?
As soon as you get in touch with us, a member of our team can help you can your hands on a wide range of cover types, all of which can be combined to create a builders’ insurance policy that you can be proud of.
But what exactly is on offer? What’s available?
Here’s the main types of builders' insurance cover you may wish to consider:
Public liability Insurance
This business insurance protects you in the event that something you causes either property damage or someone to suffer from an injury.
Employers’ liability insurance
Employers' liability insurance is compulsory for employers in the building industry.
Tools insurance
Builders' tools insurance is valued so highly in the construction industry, protecting building contractors and their business from tool theft.
Contract works insurance
Contract works cover protects you from accidental loss, destruction, or damage – offering cover for materials and labour that you’ve used.
Legal expenses insurance
Legal expenses insurance does what it says on the tin - it covers the fees that arise from legal disputes.
Hired-in Plant Insurance
Get the right cover when you hire a wide range of equipment and machinery.
Business equipment insurance
This insurance for builders makes sure that valuable equipment can be replaced or repaired so you're never left without what you need.
Van insurance
Self-employed builders will want to protect their business vehicle to ensure they're always able to get from A to B.
Builders’ public liability insurance - how does it work?
Of all the builders' liability insurance products, public liability cover is arguably the most important.
Builders’ public liability insurance is designed to protect a builder and their business if they are responsible for any property damages or injuries that have occur whilst they’re working.
For example, what if a member of the public trips and falls over a piece of equipment you’ve left out on the pavement and suffers an injury? What if a piece of scaffolding fell and damaged a neighbours property? In both scenarios, the affected individuals could sue or request compensation, and that’s where public liability insurance could have your back. Legal costs and compensation claims can add up, so liability cover is good to have to ensure you’re not hit too hard financially.
Do builders need public liability insurance cover?
No, builders are not legally required to have a public liability insurance policy, but it's highly recommended. Not only could public liability insurance protect yourself, but it could also put your clients at ease, knowing that you have appropriate protection in place.
You should also expect that clients request that you have public liability cover, because if something were to go wrong on their property, and their builder isn’t properly covered, the client could become financially liable to claims too, and therefore, at risk.
What business insurance do I need as a self-employed builder?
We'd recommend that self-employed builders get the most comprehensive cover they can, to ensure that they're always protected, not matter what happens, whether it's on site or on businesses premises.
However, if we had to recommend some business insurance 'must haves' for builders, we'd certainly pick public liability insurance, tools insurance and employers' liability insurance (if you have employees). Collectively, those three policies can provide sufficient and essential coverage for you and your business.
How much does builders’ insurance cost?
It’s tough for us to say how much your builders’ insurance policy will cost you, and the reason for this is because there’s so many factors to consider.
Insurance premiums are calculated based on the information you provide, whether that be personal details, your claim’s history, the size of your business operation or whether you’re paying upfront or across monthly instalments. Ultimately, until we have all the information we need from you, it’s very hard for us to even estimate how much you’ll need to pay to get a builders’ insurance quote.
However, what we can say, is that the best way to find out how much your premium will be is to simply just get a quote. You can do this this by getting in contact with us by clicking either the Get a Quote button on this page, or by calling us on 01276 601 690. We can then discuss with you exactly what you’re looking for from a policy and give you a better understanding of how much you could expect to pay.
Here at Howden, you also have the option to pay for your insurance policy via direct debit, if that's your preference.
How to claim on builders’ insurance?
Whatever’s happened, we’re here to help.
The first thing to do to start a claim on your builders’ insurance policy is to get in touch with your local branch, which you can access via our Howden Branch Finder.
Once you’ve got in touch with a member of the team, it’s then their responsibility to make sure your claim is dealt with as efficiently and as quickly as possible. When you have a builders’ insurance policy with Howden, claims don’t need to be any hassle.
Builders’ Insurance FAQs
How long does builders’ insurance last?
Generally, builders’ insurance policies run on a 12-month basis, with many policyholders opting to renew their insurance annually.
What is builders’ warranty insurance?
Also known as latent defects insurance, building warranty cover is a specialist type of insurance that provides financial protection against the costs of rectifying any damage that arises from an inherent defect in the building, that hasn’t been solved by the original contractor.
Building warranty can provide cover for defects that manifest over the policy period, which is usually around 10 to 12 years after the contract works have been completed.
Do builders need professional indemnity insurance?
Whether builders need professional indemnity insurance or not, depends on the business they’re running and the work they’re involved in.
Professional indemnity insurance is a coverage that’s used to support businesses in the event that they are negligent or offer bad professional advice that results in a financial loss for a client. Because many builders are not at any risk of these types of professional wrongdoings, and because this policy does not cover for any bodily injuries, many builders understandably opt to not get professional indemnity insurance.
However, for the contractors that run a larger operation, and are more involved in contributing to how buildings are designed and structured, builders' professional indemnity insurance could prove helpful to minimise the impact of any claims made in response to negligence or bad advice.
Related Articles
Want to learn more about business insurance for builders? Have a read of the articles below that you can find on the Howden Blog!
Public Liability Insurance
Public Liability Insurance you can trust
Look no further than an insurance broker for essential protection against third-party damage and injuries.
Employers Liability Insurance
Liability cover that protects you, your employees, and your business.
It’s essential that you and your business are ready when the unexpected happens. Look no further than Howden’s employers’ liability insurance.
Contractors All Risks Insurance
Comprehensive all-risk cover for contractors
The right cover is vital for your success of your contract work. We can help you cover everything on a site — people, tools, materials, liability and more.