For gardeners, landscapers and grounds-maintenance professionals working across London — from townhouse gardens to large estates — even the most routine job carries risk. A misplaced ladder, a trimmer stone ricocheting, or a slipped tool can trigger a third-party injury or property damage claim.
That’s where public liability insurance for gardeners becomes essential. At Fraser Bond, we understand property-related risk in the capital. We guide your business to ensure you have the correct cover aligned with services you deliver, sites you attend and landlords or clients you serve.
Public liability insurance (PLI) for gardeners covers legal defence costs, compensation and financial exposure if a member of the public is injured or a client’s (or third party’s) property is damaged during your landscaping or gardening activities.
Key features include:
Injuries to third-parties (visitors, clients, passers-by) due to your equipment, work or site layout.
Damage you may cause to a client’s property – for example a broken conservatory window during hedge-work.
Not typically covering bad workmanship (that may require Professional Indemnity cover) – see charter of what public liability is not.
Whilst PLI is not always legally mandatory for a self-employed gardener, many clients (including landlords, estate agents, property-management firms) require proof of cover before entering into contracts.
In London’s dense property market — with shared courtyards, high value homes, commercial estates, complex landscaping and multiple stakeholders — the chances of a claim, however minor, are higher. Risks include:
A visitor to a property tripping over your hose or tools in a communal garden.
A returned tenant or landlord noticing a crack in a decorative wall after your pruning work.
Damage to high-value property or expensive garden features (porcelain urns, fountains, paving) common in London properties.
Public liability insurance thus serves three core purposes:
Protection of your business assets — avoiding large compensation or legal costs that could be financially devastating.
Client reassurance — particularly when working for landlords, estate agents or property managers who expect contractors to hold cover.
Smooth contract eligibility — many property clients will not hire contractors unless PLI is in place, especially for London sites with multiple users or high value property.
When selecting a policy for gardeners’ public liability insurance in the UK, consider:
Cover Limit: Standard PLI for gardeners often starts at £1 million but higher limits (£5 m or £10 m) are available for higher risk work (e.g., large estates, commercial sites).
Cost: Basic PLI for a gardener can start from as little as £5-6/month for very small operations.
Extensions & Add-ons:
Employers’ Liability Insurance (if you have staff) — legally required under the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969.
Tools & Equipment Cover — to protect your machinery, mowers, power tools.
Contract Works or Hired-in Plant Cover — if you take on larger landscaping jobs with excavation or heavy plant.
Professional Indemnity Insurance — if you provide consultancy, garden design, or advice rather than just physical works.
At Fraser Bond we recommend following these steps:
Clarify your activities – Are you doing simple lawn mowing, hedge trimming, or taking on hard-landscape projects or heavy plant work? More risk means higher cover levels.
Assess your client base – Working on high value residential properties in London or for property-management companies may require higher limits and better endorsements.
Check policy exclusions – Some PLI policies exclude tree-surgery, large excavation, or work higher than certain levels. Ensure your work is covered.
Ensure continuity and proof of cover – Many clients will ask for a copy of your insurance certificate. Lack of cover can exclude you from contracts.
Review annually – As your business grows (staff, plant, higher value contracts) you may need to increase cover or add additional policies.
Integrate with property risk awareness – If you’re working on sites managed by landlords or letting agents, align insurance and safety protocols with property-asset risk.
Although Fraser Bond is known for property sales, lettings, investment and compliance advisory, we also serve clients and contractors linked to property services (gardening teams, estate management, grounds maintenance) by:
Advising on contract-linked insurance requirements for property-service contractors
Integrating insurance review with property compliance, site risk and asset-management strategy
Offering guidance on how insurance feeds into portfolio risk if you’re a landlord contracting gardening/grounds-maintenance firms.
Providing a trusted voice to property-owners when selecting contractors with appropriate insurance credentials.
If you provide gardening or landscaping services in London (or are a landlord/property manager contracting those services) arrange a consultation. Visit FraserBond.com or contact our advisory team to review your insurance cover, ensure contractor compliance and safeguard your property-asset risk.
