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As a caretaker, you may be used to carrying out minor repairs when things go wrong but how would you manage if the worst happened and you were found to be at fault?
Here at Markel Direct, we understand that caretakers face many risks. You deal with occupational hazards including chemicals, electrical equipment and slippery surfaces on an almost daily basis. And whether you work in a school, community centre, office or residential building, you come into contact with members of the public regularly.
There’s always a risk that you could inadvertently injure yourself or a member of the public in your line of work, or you could damage someone else’s property or premises. This is why it’s vitally important to make sure that you’re financially protected.
Not sure where to start? We can help. We provide bespoke caretaker insurance solutions that are tailor-made to suit you. We’re here to help you look after your livelihood with a choice of specialist policies.
Cover at a glance:
- Protect yourself financially from injury, damages and third-party claims
- Employers’ liability cover, occupational personal accident, and tools and equipment cover available
- Protection for accidental damage to property
- Suitable for school, residential and commercial caretakers
What is caretaker insurance?
Caretaker insurance is a type of financial protection that is specially designed to cover the liability needs of self-employed individuals in your occupation. It can include public liability insurance, professional indemnity insurance, tools insurance, occupational personal accident insurance and more. When you come to Markel, we can help you to create a package that fits your precise needs, so you don’t end up paying for cover you don’t require.
Cover starting from
£7 a month*
*Price based on a caretaker requiring £1 million of public liability insurance cover.
Do I need caretaker insurance?
It doesn’t matter how experienced or competent you are, accidents can happen when you least expect them to. Even when you take great care, there is always a risk that you may damage someone’s property or cause an injury during the course of your work. Without suitable caretaker insurance, you run the risk of being the subject of a liability claim that could leave you struggling financially. You should also bear in mind that adequate insurance may be a prerequisite for some clients. Having this financial protection in place can also help you to create a reputable image and attract business.
If you employ members of staff, you are legally obligated to take out employers’ liability insurance. This cover provides financial protection in the event that one of your employees suffers an injury in the course of their work. For example, if you task a worker with carrying heavy loads without sufficient manual handling training or the right equipment and they injure themselves, you could be left counting the cost.
You should also factor in the equipment you use. From maintenance tools and protective gear to industrial floor cleaning machines and commercial-grade window cleaning equipment, you probably rely on a wide range of caretaking tools to get the job done. How would you manage if your equipment was stolen, went missing or was destroyed in a flood or fire? If you would struggle to afford to replace it yourself, we strongly recommend that you consider taking out tools insurance.
Public liability insurance for caretakers
Your job as a caretaker brings you into contact with a variety of people during your working day. Depending on your workplace, you could encounter schoolchildren, staff members, residents, visitors, clients, contractors and more. Unfortunately, there is always the potential that damage to property or personal injury claim could be brought against you.
Here are some examples of scenarios that could lead to a public liability claim:
- you leave the lead of your floor buffer trailing across a classroom and a school pupil trips over it and suffers a fractured wrist
- you accidentally smash some tiling while fixing a leaking tap
- you damage a heating system when attempting to carry out a minor repair.
In such situations, could you afford to pay out of your own pocket if you were faced with compensation costs and legal fees? With public liability insurance for caretakers, you don’t have to worry. This form of insurance is designed to cover these expenses and safeguard your finances.
Example policy documents
If you have an existing policy with us, please sign in to view your policy documents.
Below you will find examples of the documents provided.
Why choose Markel Direct for caretaker insurance?
It’s important to choose the right insurance provider, and when you come to Markel Direct, we want you to be confident that you’re making the best choice for you. Here are a few of the benefits we provide.
✔ Tailored policies
We know that no two caretaking businesses are the same. That’s why we will help you to create a bespoke insurance package that meets your exact requirements.
✔ No nasty surprises
Our pricing is completely transparent so you’ll never be faced with fees that take you by surprise.
✔ Speedy quotes
Not sure how much your caretaker insurance will cost? With Markel Direct, you can get a quote in 90 seconds.
✔ Round-the-clock access to legal experts
Waiting for answers to important legal questions can be frustrating. With our 24/7 legal advice helpline, you can speak to experienced solicitors any time, day or night.
✔ Our reputation speaks for itself
Don’t just take our word for it. Take a look at our impressive customer ratings on Feefo.com.
How to buy caretaker insurance
We make it as simple as possible to purchase caretaker insurance policies. All you need to do is fill out our quick quote form and you’ll be presented with a tailored price.
Once you’re happy to proceed, you can make payment online. You can choose to have your cover begin straight away or arrange it up to 30 days in advance.
If you have any questions about your quote or need help with buying caretaker insurance, we’re just a phone call away.
What types of insurance do caretakers need?
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Public liability insurance
Public liability insurance offers you financial protection in the event that your business is sued by a member of the public for causing injury or damage to property. We provide cover limits of between £1 million and £5 million.
Example of a claim:
A member of the public slips in a corridor due to a poorly positioned wet floor sign and suffers a back injury. They make a personal injury claim against you.
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Employers’ liability insurance
Employers’ liability insurance is there to protect you should an employee make a claim against you for suffering an injury or illness due to their work for you. If you have employees, it’s a legal requirement to have a minimum of £5 million of this form of cover in place. At Markel Direct, we provide a cover limit of £10 million.
Example of a claim:
An employee develops a respiratory illness due to exposure to hazardous chemicals without the necessary safety equipment. They sue you for compensation.
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Tool insurance
Tools insurance is designed to cover the costs of replacing the equipment you rely on as a caretaker should it be stolen or damaged in a flood or fire. Our policies have cover limits starting from £1,000 and going up to £5,000. You can choose from round-the-clock protection or you can insure your tools during working hours only.
Example of a claim:
Your pressure washers and vacuum cleaners are damaged in a flood in a storage facility. You have to buy replacements in order to carry out your work.
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Legal expenses insurance
Legal expenses insurance can help to cover the cost of defending or pursuing legal actions against other parties such as suppliers, clients or employees. This could be for contract disputes, tax enquiries (including IR35), attending jury service, debt recovery, personal injury, as well as any award you are required to pay following an employment dispute with an employee. There is a limit of £100,000.
Example of a claim:
A supplier has failed to deliver building materials you’ve paid for and is ignoring your requests for a refund. You face the costs associated with recovering the debt owed to you.
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Occupational personal accident insurance
Occupational personal accident insurance can give you financial support if you’re unable to work because of an injury you sustained at work. This may be paid in one lump sum or in weekly instalments, depending on your injury.
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Owned plant insurance
Owned plant insurance can meet the costs of buying new plant machinery or repairing it in the event that yours is stolen or damaged. We offer policies with cover limits of between £10,000 and £50,000.
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Hired in plant insurance
Hired in plant insurance pays out in the event that plant machinery you have hired is stolen or damaged. We offer cover limits of between £10,000 and £50,000.
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Contract works insurance
Contract works insurance offers protection if you need to repair work you have done on a construction site because of flood, fire, theft or an act of malicious damage.
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Goods in transit insurance
Goods in transit insurance is beneficial if your goods become lost or damaged while in transit. This includes travelling by a courier or in your own vehicles.
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Professional indemnity insurance
Professional indemnity insurance protects you should a client make a claim against you for negligent service or advice.
How it works
Choose the cover you require
Get a quote you need in minutes
Buy online or contact one of our advisors
How much does caretaker insurance cost?
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to the cost of caretaker insurance. A range of factors are taken into account when generating your personalised premium, including whether you’re a sole trader or operating as a partnership or limited company, how many workers you employ (if any) and whether you have any additional professions or activities. At Markel Direct we offer caretakers insurance from £7* a month for a caretaker requiring £1 million of public liability insurance.
To discover exactly how much your insurance will cost, get a quote today.
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Our simple quote process will help you to find the right business insurance for your individual needs.
Frequently asked questions
These frequently asked questions are designed to help you and include questions relating to policy cover, pricing and ‘technical’ terms.
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Is business insurance a legal requirement for caretakers?
Employers’ liability insurance is legally required if you run a caretaking business that employs staff. However, other types of insurance are not mandatory for caretakers.
That being said, it’s important to understand that the possible financial fallout could be disastrous if you don’t have the right cover in place.
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Can I just cover my most expensive tools?
When you take out tools insurance with Markel Direct, you must insure all your tools. This means that you’ll be completely protected in the event that you need to make a claim.
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What type of workers do I need insurance for?
You must have employers’ liability in place if you have any type of employee, including part-time and full-time workers, labour-only subcontractors (LOSC) and bona fide subcontractors (BFSC).
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How is Markel regulated?
Markel is regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority. To learn more, visit the Financial Services Register.
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