Is public liability insurance a legal requirement?
No, public liability insurance is not a legal requirement in the UK, but many clients, contractors and trade schemes will refuse to hire you without it.
Not the law, but often essential
There's no UK law forcing a tradesperson to hold public liability cover. In practice, though, it's hard to work without it. It's frequently demanded as a contractual requirement by:
- Main contractors before they'll let you on site
- Local authorities and commercial clients tendering for work
- Trade bodies and approved-installer schemes
It also protects you financially: a single claim for injury or damage to a client's property can run into thousands. Most tradespeople hold between 1m and 10m of cover, with 5m often expected on larger or public-sector jobs. Compare quotes to find the level your contracts demand.
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Do I legally need it if I'm self-employed?
No, the law doesn't require it for sole traders, but going without leaves you personally exposed to claims.
Will clients check that I have it?
Yes, many ask for a certificate or proof of cover before work starts, especially on commercial sites.
What if I only do small domestic jobs?
It's still not legally required, but even minor jobs can cause costly damage, so most tradespeople choose to be covered.