Buying Electrician Insurance: Questions Before the Policy
Start with the actual business and work
Give the broker your business entity, work activities, turnover, where you work and who works with you. Ask for the policy schedule and relevant wording. A package name alone does not tell you which activities, people or losses are covered.
Check any client or scheme requirement against its current documents. Keep the requested limit and the broker’s written answer with the job records. The electricians’ insurance guide explains the main cover types; this page is a buying worksheet, not a premium comparison.
Employed work, private work and a helper are different questions
Fictional example. An employed electrician plans private weekend work and wants someone to help. They must ask whether any existing policy covers the separate business and declared activities. Do not assume the employer’s policy covers the private contract.
Employers’ liability is generally required when employing people, subject to legal exceptions. HSE explains that the real relationship matters: control, equipment, substitution and working arrangements can be relevant. Calling someone a subcontractor, or their CIS registration, does not settle the insurance question. Ask the broker to review the actual engagement and identify which cover is required.
Sources: HSE: employers’ liability and who is an employee, GOV.UK: employers’ liability insurance
Copy this broker-question sheet
- Insured business: legal entity/trading name ___; named activities ___; private work included? ___.
- People: employees and proposed helpers ___; actual working arrangements ___; broker’s cover/status answer ___.
- Work types: domestic/commercial/industrial activities actually undertaken ___; testing/design/other specialist work ___; relevant exclusions ___.
- Contract requirement: customer/scheme document ___; requested limit ___; written confirmation of cover ___.
- Loss distinction: treatment of defective work itself ___; resulting injury/property damage ___; excess and exclusions ___.
- Professional indemnity, if needed: work covered ___; retroactive date ___; previous work and continuity questions ___.
- Changes: what must be notified ___; how and when ___; broker contact ___.
- Evidence: schedule, wording and certificate held at ___; renewal/review date ___; unresolved questions ___.
Ask about a combined package and separate policies on the same declared facts. Compare scope, exclusions and excesses rather than assuming a bundle is cheaper.
Record the answer before accepting the work
Ask the broker to explain how the policy treats the cost of correcting defective work and any damage it causes. Policies differ; this page cannot promise that either loss will be paid.
Keep the relevant cover evidence with the job quote. Update it when the declared business changes. Use the first-job pack to connect the approved scope, access arrangements and handover documents.
Sol Wright
Sol is a co-founder of Tradehand, a UK trades marketplace More from Sol
