Working as an electrician in London — whether you are a sole trader, subcontractor or run a small electrical contracting business — involves significant risk: live wires, complex installations, working in occupied properties, high-value tools, and potential for serious damage or injury.
The right insurance protects your business, your clients, and your reputation. At Fraser Bond, we help electricians and electrical firms understand what insurance they should carry, how to meet contractual/landlord/client requirements, and how to choose policies that reflect London’s property-market context.
“Electrician insurance” is a broad term referring to various insurance covers tailored to electrical trades. Key components include:
Public Liability Insurance – Covers you if your work causes injury to a third-party or damage to their property. For instance, if wiring you installed causes a fire or a visitor is injured due to an exposed wire.
Employers’ Liability Insurance – Legally required in the UK if you have any employees, apprentices or staff. Covers injury or illness incurred by your employees in your business.
Tools & Equipment Cover / Contractors’ Plant Insurance – Your tools are essential to your work; this cover insures them against theft, damage or loss whether on-site, in transit or stored.
Professional Indemnity Insurance (PI) – If you provide design work, specs, consultancy (rather than pure installation), this covers you if a mistake in your advice leads to client financial loss.
Contract Works / Contractors All Risks Insurance – Important if you’re engaged in full re-wiring, installations, new builds or larger projects, covering materials, labour in progress, theft of site plant etc.
Business Vehicles Insurance – If you operate vans/trailers transporting tools, you’ll need business use motor cover (separate from trade insurance).
Optional Covers – e.g., income protection/personal accident for you as a tradesperson, cyber/data liability if you handle digital systems, stock insurance for materials.
Operating in London adds specific dimensions of risk:
High-value properties (residential, commercial, heritage buildings) mean that damage or disruption can lead to large claims or substantial repair costs.
Work in occupied properties, communal areas or multi-unit blocks increases foot-traffic, shared risk, asset exposure (so your insurance limits must reflect this).
Clients, landlords, managing agents and main contractors often require proof of insurance (e.g., £2 m+ public liability), before you’re able to tender or start on site.
Your equipment (vans, tools) is mobile and vulnerable in a dense urban environment; theft, damage or loss is a real threat.
Regulatory and compliance demands (e.g., Approved Document P for domestic wiring) mean that mistakes have legal and financial ramifications impacting your insurance risk.
In short: the right insurance helps you trade confidently, meet contract conditions, protect your tools and guard your business against high-cost claims.
Below is a summary of typical cover levels, cost-drivers and what you should consider:
Public Liability: For many electricians, a common starting point is £1 million indemnity; many contracts or contractors will ask for £2 million or more.
Employers’ Liability: For small businesses with staff, £5 million minimum is typical, though many policies offer £10 million. Legal requirement.
Tools & Equipment: Value dependant on your kit; policies may offer from £1,000 up to £5,000+ of cover, adjustable based on your tool value.
Professional Indemnity: Limits depend on the nature of your advice work; could be £250 k-£1 million+ depending on risk.
Premiums: Some online providers state electricians’ insurance can start from around £5.64/month for a basic public liability package.
Key cost drivers:
Nature of work (domestic vs commercial/industrial; high-voltage vs simple socket replacements).
Whether you employ staff or subcontractors.
Value of your tools and equipment.
Location and risk exposure (London may carry higher cost).
Claims history and loss experience.
Whether you provide advice/design (which adds PI risk).
Whether you need high limits for contracts or client conditions.
Fraser Bond recommends the following approach:
Define your scope of work and risk profile – Are you doing small domestic jobs only, or major commercial installations? Are you working at height, underground, in multi-unit blocks or supervised by a main contractor?
Check contractual/client requirements – Many main contractors, managing agents or landlords will require you to hold minimum levels of public liability and evidence of cover before engagement.
Ensure your cover types reflect your business – If you provide design/advisory work, you need PI; if your tools are mobile and valuable you need tools cover; if you subcontract you need to ensure their cover is acceptable.
Choose appropriate limits – Ensure the indemnity limits for each cover reflect your exposure and contract size. Don’t just pick the cheapest level if risk is higher.
Review policy details & exclusions – Confirm what work is covered, whether at-height or hazardous work is included, what’s excluded (e.g., certain types of plant hire, sub-contracting arrangements), the excess, and how claims are handled.
Ensure you meet legal requirements – For example, if you employ anyone, you must have employers’ liability insurance.
Keep documentation ready – Many clients/contractors will ask for a certificate of insurance; being able to supply it promptly improves your credibility.
Review annually or when your business changes – If you take on larger projects, add staff, buy more tools or move into contract-work, your insurance needs will evolve.
Use a specialist broker/insurer experienced in electrical trades – Electrical work has specific hazards; insurers familiar with trade risk provide better tailored cover.
Although Fraser Bond is primarily known for property-sales, lettings, investment and asset management, we also support trades-professionals and contractors working in the property sector. Our value for electricians includes:
Insight into how your electrical work connects with property-owner risk, service-contractor frameworks, building-compliance issues and landlord/agent expectations.
Review of your insurance setup to ensure it aligns with your contract obligations, site risk and business growth strategy.
Support in quoting, document-preparation and client-readiness — helping you present professionally to clients, landlords, managing agents.
Ongoing advisory support as your business grows, moves into high-risk sectors or needs higher limits.
Whether you’re a self-employed electrician, small contracting firm or specialise in specialist installations in London, make sure your insurance cover is comprehensive, up-to-date and aligned with your risk profile.
Visit FraserBond.com or contact our London advisory team for personalised guidance on electrician insurance, liability review and ensuring your business is protected and contract-ready.
