What insurance do roofers need?

Working at height, handling heavy materials, and operating on occupied properties all create risks that many other trades may not face. As a result, roofers often need more specialised insurance than general tradespeople. 

If you are wondering what insurance roofers need, the answer depends on the type of work you carry out, whether you employ staff, and the contractual requirements of your clients. Some types of cover may be legally required, while others are commonly requested by commercial clients, developers, and principal contractors. 

This guide explains the main types of insurance roofers can consider and why they may be important for protecting your roofing business. 

Why do roofers need specialist insurance? 

Roofing work presents several risks that have the potential to lead to costly claims. For example, a tile could be dropped and cause damage to a customer's property, poor weather could damage materials before a project is completed, or a worker could suffer an injury whilst working at height. 

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) highlights roof work as one of the most dangerous activities within construction, with falls from height remaining a leading cause of serious injuries and fatalities in the industry. As a result of the dangers of roofing work, being a roofer can be seen as a higher-risk trade which may require specialist underwriting. 

What insurance do roofers need by law? 

Employers' liability insurance 

If you employ staff, employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement in the UK. This cover can help to protect your business if an employee suffers an injury or illness as a result of their work and brings a claim against you. 

For roofing businesses, this could include injuries resulting from: 

Even if you only employ part-time staff or apprentices, employers' liability insurance may still be required – if you are required to hold employers’ liability insurance and do not secure it, you can be fined £2,500 each day you are not insured. 

Always seek professional advice from a qualified legal expert if you are unsure whether this legal obligation applies to your business. 

What insurance do roofers need to consider? 

All the following insurance covers may be worthwhile considerations, depending on your business circumstances and needs: 

Public liability insurance 

Although public liability insurance is generally not a legal requirement, it is often one of the most commonly purchased forms of cover for roofers. 

Securing public liability insurance can be mandatory in some cases, such as joining certain trade associations, taking on work as a contractor for a reputable firm, or working with local authorities on council projects. Homeowners, commercial clients, or principal contractors may also request evidence of public liability insurance before work begins.  

Public liability insurance could help to protect your business if: 

Without suitable cover in place, you may have to pay legal costs and compensation yourself. 

Contract works insurance 

Contract works insurance is designed to help protect work in progress, materials, and ongoing projects. For example, if roofing materials are damaged by theft, fire, or severe weather before a project is completed, then this cover could help to reduce the financial impact (cover, conditions and exclusions vary between policies). 

This cover may be worth considering if you: 

Occupational personal accident insurance 

Many self-employed roofers rely entirely on their ability to work. If an accident leaves you unable to carry out your trade, occupational personal accident insurance could provide you with financial support while you recover. This type of cover can be particularly valuable for sole traders who do not receive sick pay. 

Professional indemnity insurance  

Professional indemnity insurance is typically intended to help protect businesses against claims arising from professional mistakes, errors, or advice, and may be worth considering if your roofing business: 

Whether professional indemnity insurance is appropriate will depend on the nature of the services provided and the contractual requirements of your clients. 

Legal expenses insurance 

Legal expenses insurance is designed to help cover certain legal costs associated with pursuing or defending a claim. While legal expenses insurance does not replace good contracts and business practices, it can help provide access to legal and financial assistance if any problems arise. 

For roofers, legal expenses insurance may be useful if your business faces issues such as: 

Directors’ and officers' insurance 

This cover is generally only relevant where your roofing business is registered as a limited company, in which case you may want to consider directors’ and officers’ (D&O) insurance. D&O insurance is intended to protect company directors and senior decision-makers if claims are made against them personally for alleged wrongful acts carried out in their role managing the business. 

Examples could include allegations relating to: 

Tools insurance 

For many roofers, tools represent a significant investment. Tools insurance may help to cover the cost of repairing or replacing essential items following theft, loss, or accidental damage. If your business relies heavily on specialist tools, even a small interruption could result in missed work and lost income. 

This insurance can cover a range of tools, including: