Public liability insurance for window cleaners

In case you or your employee injure someone or damage their property.

What’s typically covered by public liability insurance?

Claims against your business for:

• damage you’ve caused to someone else’s property through your window-cleaning work
• injury you’ve caused to someone else through your window-cleaning work
• damage or injury caused by your employee (remember, you’re legally required to have employers’ liability insurance if you employ people)

For example:

• you accidentally scratch an aluminium window frame with your brush while you’re cleaning windows at a customer’s house
• your ladder falls onto a pedestrian in the street, resulting in a dislocated shoulder
• your employee dislodges some tiles on a customer’s roof with the ladder, so rain leaks through into the loft, and several repairs are needed

What you’ll need additional cover for

• any non-window-cleaning jobs you carry out, such as building, gardening, or fitting bathrooms

Read more about public liability insurance

Employers’ liability insurance

In case your employee is involved in an accident or mistake while they’re working for you.

What’s typically covered by employers’ liability insurance?

Claims against your business for:

• employees who fall ill or get injured due to the work they do for you

**Employers’ liability insurance is required by law if you have people working for you. Without it, you could be fined up to £2,500 a day for each employee.**

For example:

• a ladder clamp failure means your employee falls off the ladder and breaks their wrist

Tools insurance

In case your window cleaning tools are lost, stolen or damaged.

What’s typically covered by tools insurance?

• the tools you use as a window cleaner, whether on site or stored at your business premises
• accidental damage, flood damage, or fire damage to your tools
• theft of your tools

For example:

• your water-fed backpack and hose are stolen from your van while it’s parked outside a client’s block of flats
• your ladder falls onto your carbon fibre broom pole and cracks it, so you have to buy a replacement

Read more about tools insurance

Legal expenses insurance

In case you’re faced with legal costs from running your business.

What’s typically covered by legal expenses insurance?

• legal costs that you face as a consequence of your day-to-day business activities, such as resolving disputes with your staff
• the cost of legal claims and compensation payouts relating to property damage, nuisance or trespass
• investigations by HMRC and tax and compliance disputes
• access to a tax advice helpline, a confidential 24/7 legal helpline, and crisis PR support to help you look after your business’s reputation

For example:

• you’re investigated by HMRC or your company is selected at random for an audit, and you need help dealing with the tax enquiries – either for the business itself, or for you personally and any other directors
• you need to defend your legal rights following the dismissal of an employee

Read more about legal expenses insurance

Personal accident insurance

In case anyone you’ve covered is accidentally injured, at or outside of work.

What’s typically covered by personal accident insurance?

• injury or death at work or outside of work, for anyone covered on the policy
• lost income, medical costs and hospitalisation benefit

For example:

• a gust of wind catches the window you’re cleaning, which swings open suddenly and knocks you off your ladder, breaking your arm
• you suffer a slipped disc while you’re jogging at the weekend
• your casual labourer breaks their leg on a night out

Read more about personal accident insurance

Can I just cover my most expensive tools?

Make sure you cover the total cost of replacing all your tools or you’ll only get a proportion of your claim paid out if something happens to them. Learn about tools cover.

Which type of workers do I need insurance for?

Employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement if you employ people.

If you have people working for you, including bona fide subcontractors (BFSC), labour-only subcontractors (LOSC), part-timers, or full-time staff, employers’ liability insurance is required by law.

Read on for our simplified guide to the difference between labour-only subcontractors and bona fide subcontractors.

Will tools insurance cover all my equipment?

Depending on what you use to do your work, you may need other covers.

You may need more than tools insurance – for example, business equipment insurance if you have a work laptop, plant insurance if you use machinery.

Does window cleaning insurance cover my work correctly?

Make sure you’re picking the right cover to protect you properly. It’s important to know that if you have another trade or job, you’ll need additional cover. For example, do you need to consider Carpet cleaning insurance or Jet washing?

Do I need cover for other types of work?

If you provide other services, make sure you’re covered:

• Cleaning insurance
• Swimming pool cleaners
• Drain cleaners
• Wheelie bin cleaner
• Cleaning business insurance uk
• Masonry & stone cleaning

Other types of insurance

• Limited company insurance
• Self-employed insurance
• Contractors insurance
• Sole trader insurance

Which public liability cover limit should I choose?

Think about the maximum possible loss your business could face in the event of a claim, and make sure you take legal fees and damages into consideration. You can choose from three levels of coverage – £1 million, £2 million, or up to £5 million.