Builders Insurance

Build a solid foundation for your business.

  • Builders public liability insurance covers legal costs for allegations of accidental personal injury or damage to third party property
  • Cover to pay for third-party compensation and repairs to damage
  • Access your policies and renewals through your online account with Markel Direct
  • Towergate Insurance is working in partnership with Markel Direct. By clicking “Get a Quote”, you confirm you have read and understood the Towergate privacy policy and this will take you to a Quote and Buy facility provided and operated by our business partner, Markel Direct.
A shield with a tick inside it on a big translucent blue circle
A women wearing a hard hat and high viz jacket building a wall with a spirit level in the fore ground and another builder in the blurred background

Why choose builders insurance?

Building

Builders insurance for commercial, residential, conversions and new builds

A range of cover options built to suit your type of work and your specification.

Shield

Builders’ liability cover for hazardous locations*

Builders insurance for both hazardous and non-hazardous locations.

Claim

Dedicated builders claims service

Expert claim handlers to give you peace of mind.

Direct Debit

Pay for your builders insurance by Direct Debit

You can choose to split your payment into 10 monthly instalments. 

About builders insurance

Builders insurance is a type of business and liability insurance for tradesman and specifically builders. It can cover you for most types of building work including building new or repairing old private and commercial properties surveying visiting properties for quotes public contracts general building jobs working abroad and even other tradesman work like gardening or plumbing if you need it.

The trick though is using a specialist insurer who not only understands the risk you face in your industry but also knows how to calculate the risk you personally face and therefore offer you a tailored insurance package that offers only the cover you need, so you don’t pay for anything else.

Builders liability insurance is a package of policies specific to the builders trade. It will likely include, public liability, product liability and employers liability.

Certificate

Liability insurance for builders

Whatever type of work you are doing, from building a wall to an extension, make sure you have sufficient builders’ contractors public liability cover in place, with limits up to £5 million or higher on request. As your business grows you may take on staff too – you can select employers’ liability insurance covering temporary, permanent and sub-contracted employees up to £10 million to meet your regulatory requirements.

Trade

Builders’ tools insurance

With flexible tools cover available with limits set by you, you can choose to cover your tools and equipment. You can also include employees' tools, specialist equipment and hired plant too. Tools must be locked securely outside business hours, and a single item value limit will apply.

Tick

Specialist types of cover with our builders insurance

Your builders’ insurance policy can include many features such as contractors’ all risks (CAR) cover for your own plant, hired-in plant and contracts works.

Liability

Flexible cover for builders

You can build your own quote and buy online. Do you need immediate cover? Or require builders’ insurance for refurbishment, conversion and development? Perhaps you require evidence of public liability insurance to get on site or tender for a new contract? No problem, we can get you on cover immediately via the phone or online and email your policy documents the same day.

Calandar

Optional builders insurance cover

- Builder's tools insurance cover - theft or damage cover for your tools

- Contact works - to cover on-going jobs from damage or prolongment

 

By clicking “Get a Quote”, this will take you to a Quote and Buy facility provided and operated by our business partner, Markel Direct.

When you need to make a claim, Markel Direct will guide you through the process and get your claim settled as quickly as possible.

  • Find your insurance documents and make sure you have all your information at hand, including your policy number.
  • Call the Markel Direct claims team on 0344 748 0173 and explain what has happened.
Smiling women sitting on a rug on a parquet floor leaning on a sofa looking at her mobile

Ready to get covered?

  • Get a quote online
  • Make your selections and purchase your policy
  • Relax - you're covered!
Get a Quote

Builders insurance FAQs

Markel Direct provide and administer this cover. Markel Direct is a trading name of Markel International Insurance Company Limited who is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority (Financial Services Register no. 202570).

Whilst builders’ activities are similar, the types of property, height and location can vary from new build, conversion, repair maintenance of domestic properties offices, shops and commercial work up 4 storeys to work on large commercial and industrial sites at height and at high risk or hazardous locations. It is therefore very important for you to provide full details of the type of work and properties worked upon, so we can tailor cover for you.

For details of the terms, exclusions and conditions applicable, please refer to the full policy documentation provided by Markel Direct which will be available during the quotation process.

 

Exclusion for hazardous locations

We will not pay you for any legal liability which arises from work undertaken in or on

• aircraft or watercraft, or

• airport or aerodrome runways, maneuvering areas or aprons or those parts of airports or aerodromes to which aircraft have access, or

• railways or railway installations, or

• docks or harbors, or

• quarries mines or collieries, or

• chemical or petrochemical works, oil refineries, gas works or fuel storage facilities, or

• power stations or nuclear plant, or

• bridges, viaducts, tunnels, dams, chimneys, shafts, towers or steeples

Yes, we can cover labour only sub-contractors, as well as PAYE staff for the same risks under your employers’ liability cover.

It is very important to declare how your workforce are employed as this will affect how your risks are calculated.

Builders face many risks in their line of work. Unfortunately, no matter how well prepared you are, mistakes can happen – and a single slip could be disastrous for you and your business arising from personal injuries caused to visitors on site or in the general public in the vicinity of site. Legal action, for the consequences of third party personal injury or property damage from your activities is a real threat. Protect yourself, your business and clients, with a flexible public liability insurance policy tailored to match your requirements.

To help you spread the cost of your premiums, you can choose to spread payment over ten months with the Markel quick and easy Direct Debit scheme.

If you bought your policy before 7th June 2024, you can view all your documentation in your online portal here. If you purchased your policy on or after the 7th June 2024, you can access your documents here.

Read more FAQs

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