| Tradesmen Insurance Explained
Most self employed tradesman, will require a number of insurance polices to
help protect their business. In the main, self employed persons such as
carpenters, joiners, builders, plumbers etc, operate their business without
premises. As such, it is usual to purchase a stand alone liability insurance
policy. Public liability insurance for the self employed is available for
wide number of trades including all the high risk ones such as scaffolding
or roofing contractors. Policies are usually divided in to three sections.
The premium required, depends on a number of factors, in the fist
instance and most importantly, a premium is calculated based on the actual
trade being carried out. In essence, the more hazardous the trade, the more
expensive the premium will be (especially for employers liability
insurance). Some tradespersons have joint trades, especially if they
describe themselves as a general builder or handyman. In these cases, its
important all of the types of work undertaken are disclosed to the insurer,
so the correct rating can be applied. For small firms, the rate is
calculated on a per capita basis although for larger groups or limited
companies it is sometimes possible to have the premium calculated on the
turnover of the business. If you have any employee’s (or in most cases if
you are a limited company) you will also need employers liability insurance,
it is the law that you effect this cover and you must keep certificates of
employers liability for a period of 40 years, to prove that you have had
cover in force. There are some exceptions for limited companies and advice
can be taken at the time of quotation. You can choose your
indemnity limit for tradesman’s liability insurance. Two million pounds is a
typical sum insured, but for some trades a higher amount is often needed. If
you sub contract work, you main find that your main contractor asks you for
a certain sums insured and for evidence of cover before you are allowed to
start work.
A third section of the policy will provide cover for tradesman’s tools and
any hired in plant.
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