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Do Self-Employed Plumbers Need Insurance? Everything You Should Know
Working as a self-employed plumber can bring freedom and flexibility, but it also means taking full responsibility if things go wrong. Plumber…
PlumbersInsurance
Plumbers Insurance
Public liability, tools and legal cover built for plumbers and heating engineers, including the water damage risks generic policies often miss.
Public liability, tools and legal cover built for plumbers and heating engineers, including the water damage risks generic policies often miss.
Water damageTools & van theftParts you fit
Compare from 20+ Trusted Insurers
Speak to a specialist 0330 027 0996
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What is plumbers insurance?
Plumbers insurance is a combination of covers built around the risks of plumbing and heating work, public liability for water damage and injury, employers’ liability if you have staff, and tools cover for what you carry. If you work on gas appliances, you’ll also need to be Gas Safe registered by law.
Escape of water is the claim plumbers face most often, make sure your policy wording actually covers it, not just general property damage.
Plumbers insurance can include:
Public liabilityEmployers’ liabilityTools & equipmentProfessional indemnity (for design advice)Product liability (if you supply parts)Business van insurance (separate policy)
Cover often bought alongside plumbers insurance
Public Liability
Covers claims if your business injures a customer or damages their property.
Employers’ Liability
A legal requirement once you employ any staff, even casual help.
Professional Indemnity
Covers claims that your design or heating system advice was negligent.
Business Contents
Protects tools, stock and equipment kept at a workshop or unit.
Tools & Equipment
Covers your tools against theft from the van, site or workshop.
What does public liability actually cover for plumbers?
What does public liability actually cover for plumbers?
It covers the damage your work causes to someone else’s property, not the cost of putting your own work right.
It covers the damage your work causes to someone else’s property, not the cost of putting your own work right.
| Situation | Usually covered | Usually excluded |
|---|---|---|
A joint fails and floods the room below | The resulting water damage to the property | The cost of your own remedial plumbing work |
You forget to isolate the water and cause a flood | The resulting damage to floors, walls or ceilings | Loss of water or utility charges in some policies |
Your installation is faulty and needs redoing | The rectification work itself | Your own time and materials to fix it |
You damage another trade’s completed work | The cost of repairing the damage | Nothing extra, this is standard third-party damage |
Top Tip
Public liability covers the mess your mistake causes elsewhere, not the mistake itself. If your joint fails, you still fix it for free, but the flooring it ruined downstairs is what the policy is actually for.
How much does plumbers insurance cost?
There’s no fixed price. It depends on the type of plumbing and heating work you do, whether you have staff, the value of your tools and your claims history.
Type of work
Gas and heating work is rated differently to general plumbing and repairs.
Level of cover
Adding professional indemnity or a higher public liability limit increases your premium.
Number of staff
More employees increase your employers’ liability exposure.
Claims history
Previous escape-of-water claims can increase your premium.
Value of your tools
More expensive kit means a higher tools cover premium.
Gas Safe registration
Gas work often needs its own consideration alongside general plumbing cover.
How to get plumbers insurance
How to get plumbers insurance
Getting plumbers insurance takes four steps: tell us about your work, choose your covers, compare specialist insurers, then get covered, often the same day.
Getting plumbers insurance takes four steps: tell us about your work, choose your covers, compare specialist insurers, then get covered, often the same day.
1
Tell us about your work
The type of plumbing and heating work you do, and whether you have staff.
2
Choose your covers
Public liability, tools and any extras you need.
3
We compare specialist insurers
We search our panel of 20+ UK insurers.
4
Get covered and working
Receive your documents, usually the same day.
UK-based specialist advisersAccess to specialist insurersNo obligation, just expert helpTrusted by thousands of businesses across the UK
Trusted by thousands of businesses across the UK
From everyday business insurance to complex specialist cover, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to find the right protection and provide expert support when it matters.
From everyday business insurance to complex specialist cover, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to find the right protection and provide expert support when it matters.
Plumbers insurance guides
Plumbers insurance guides
Practical advice on cover, water damage claims and staying protected.
Practical advice on cover, water damage claims and staying protected.
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Plumbers insurance FAQs
Plumbers insurance FAQs
Straight answers on cover, escape of water, Gas Safe work and cost.
Straight answers on cover, escape of water, Gas Safe work and cost.
Plumbers insurance is a combination of covers built around plumbing and heating work: public liability for damage and injury, employers’ liability if you have staff, and tools cover for your equipment. It’s separate from Gas Safe registration, which is a legal requirement for gas work.
Still have questions?
Our advisers are here to help you find the right solution.