As a handyman working in London’s dense property market—whether tackling residential estates, commercial buildings or landlord-contracted maintenance—you face a mix of risks: injury to third-parties, damage to expensive property assets, tool theft, even client claims.
Having the right liability insurance is essential not just for you, but also for the property owners and landlords who engage you. At Fraser Bond we help contractors and property stakeholders ensure the cover in place safeguards both the business and the asset.
Handyman liability insurance is a tailored business insurance package that typically includes:
Public Liability Insurance – covers claims if a member of the public or a client suffers injury or if their property is damaged as a result of your work.
Employers’ Liability Insurance – legally required in the UK if you employ staff, trainees or apprentices.
Tools & Equipment Cover / Plant Cover – for your tools, hired-in plant, off-site equipment.
Optional Covers – such as professional indemnity (for advice or specification work), contract works extensions, tool theft cover, business interruption.
In essence, it protects your business from financial loss due to claims brought by others when accidents or mistakes happen.
Operating as a handyman in London brings unique considerations:
High-value property: Residential flats, offices, listed buildings, communal areas are often expensive to repair or replace.
Complex service contracts: You may be hired by landlords, managing agents, or property-management firms who expect robust insurance.
Footfall & third-party exposure: Shared buildings, visitor access, communal spaces increase risk of injury or damage.
Tool theft or equipment loss: In urban settings, tools are vulnerable—having cover reduces business interruption risk.
For a property owner or landlord engaging you, verifying you hold adequate liability cover reduces the chain of risk. For your business, it means you can operate with confidence and credibility.
Here are some indicative benchmarks and cost-drivers for handyman liability insurance in the UK:
Public liability limits often start at £1 million, with higher limits (e.g., £2 m, £5 m, up to £10 m) for higher risk work or commercial property engagements.
Quotes from comparison platforms show very modest starting premiums for simple domestic handyman work — for example from around £5.64/month for basic cover.
Key cost drivers include: nature of work (basic odd-jobs vs heavy works), number of employees or subcontractors, value of equipment/tools, volume of contracts, location (London may carry premium due to higher risk/exposure).
Additional covers (tool theft, hired plant, contract works) increase premiums, but reflect real exposures.
Fraser Bond recommends the following steps:
Clarify the scope of your work – Are you offering basic maintenance and repairs, or larger refurbishment/contract works?
Check contract or client requirements – Property managers or landlords may require you to hold a minimum limit of public liability or carry certain endorsements.
Check policy wording and exclusions – Ensure your policy covers the specific trades you perform, tools in transit, hired-in plant, and check if work at height or building change is covered.
Verify that your policy limits reflect risk – If you’re working on high-value property, communal areas or large contracts, higher indemnity limits are advisable.
Ensure you’re compliant with legal requirements – If you employ anyone, you’ll need Employers’ Liability cover.
Keep documentation ready – Contracting parties often ask for a certificate of insurance as proof.
Review annually – As your business grows (more staff, bigger contracts, higher turnover) your insurance needs evolve.
Fraser Bond brings a unique blend: property-market knowledge in London, contractor risk awareness, and business advisory experience. We help:
Contractors understand how liability insurance links to property-service contracts.
Landlords and property owners vet contractor insurance documentation and minimise asset risk.
Integrate insurance review into broader service-contractor compliance, property-asset management and risk frameworks.
By partnering with Fraser Bond, both tradespeople and property stakeholders gain peace of mind and strategic alignment.
If you are a handyman or property‐maintenance contractor operating in London (or you’re a landlord/property manager engaging such services) ensure your insurance cover is appropriate and up-to-date.
Visit FraserBond.com or contact our London advisory team for tailored guidance on handyman liability insurance, contractor risk management and property-service compliance.
