Window cleaning insurance
Specialist insurance for window cleaners from £7 a month*.
Fast, easy online quote in 90 seconds
Levels of cover to suit you
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Whether you specialise in commercial or residential properties being a window cleaner comes with certain risks. You might often be working at height and moving ladders around close to delicate tiling and glazing.
From suffering an injury yourself, to causing harm to a customer or passer-by, to damaging someone’s home or business, many things can go wrong. If the worst should happen, window cleaner’s insurance can help protect your business.
At Markel Direct, we believe that we offer excellent value window cleaners’ insurance that is tailored to meet your needs.
What is window cleaners’ insurance?
Window cleaners’ insurance refers to the package of cover options available to tradespeople in your specific line of work. It can include several different types of financial protection. Public liability insurance for a window cleaner is generally considered to be an essential element of these policies. Other important forms of cover that are often included are employers’ liability protection and tools insurance. At Markel Direct, we offer a full selection of cover options to window cleaners. It’s important to research and obtain window cleaners’ insurance quotes that are tailored to your business, to ensure you’re covered for potential claims.
Do window cleaners need insurance?
To protect your window cleaning business against the unexpected, arranging window cleaning insurance is a worthwhile consideration. Despite your experience or best efforts, something could go wrong when you’re cleaning windows. By having insurance in place, this means you won’t face the financial strain if a claim is made against you.
For example, if you are working and a piece of equipment falls and lands on a member of the public, causing serious injuries, could you cover the associated legal and compensation costs? Or perhaps you scratch a large windowpane while cleaning it, meaning you have to pay to replace it. If your finances would come under strain when faced with expenses like these, it can be essential to have the right insurance in place.
Think about the equipment you use too. If this is lost, stolen or damaged, could you afford to replace or repair it? If not, you will need tools insurance. And if you have employees, by law, you must take out employers’ liability insurance.
Not exactly what you’re looking for? We also offer cleaning insurance and drain cleaning insurance.
What is public liability insurance for window cleaners?
Do window cleaner businesses need liability insurance? Well, as a window cleaner, you will come into contact with members of the public on a regular basis. This means you’ll need public liability insurance to protect your business against claims made by third parties for injury or damage suffered because of your business.
When you’re working with ladders and dealing with water and chemicals, there is always a chance that something could go wrong. For example, a member of the public might slip on excess water underneath a window you are cleaning in a shopping centre, suffering a back injury as a result. Or you might damage delicate tiles on a customer’s roof with your ladder.
In cases like these, you could find yourself facing large compensation costs and legal fees. Window cleaner public liability insurances can protect your finances in such scenarios.
What is included in window cleaner insurance?
Window cleaner insurance is designed to protect your business against the potential risks you face daily. A typical policy could include:
- Public liability insurance: Covers injury or property damage caused during your work, such as a client or member of the public slipping on water you’ve spilt
- Employer’s liability insurance: This is legally required if you employ staff, and protects you against claims from employees injured on the job
- Equipment cover: This can help with costs to repair tools, or if they’re stolen or damaged
- Occupational personal accident insurance: Offers financial help if you’re unable to work due to an accident These covers can be tailored to suit you and your business, whether you work alone or manage a team.
How much is window cleaner insurance in the UK?
At Markel Direct, we offer window cleaner insurance from £7 a month for £1 million worth of public liability cover*. When it comes to insurance, the cost varies from business to business depending on;
- The size of your business - your turnover and whether you have any employees
- The level of cover you choose
- The types of projects you work on and the equipment you use.
To get a clearer idea of your window cleaner insurance price, simply get a quote online.
*Window cleaning insurance cost based on a window cleaner requiring £1 million of public liability insurance cover.
Cover starting from £7 a month
Tailor your window cleaning insurance with these covers
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Public liability insurance
Public liability insurance is there to protect you from claims made by members of the public who suffer injury or property damage because of your business. We offer cover with limits of £1 million to £5 million.
Example of a claim:
Whilst cleaning a clients windows, you accidentally scratch some tiles.. You must cover the costs of repairing the damage. -
Employers' liability insurance
Employers’ liability insurance protects you if a worker sues you over an illness or injury they suffer due to their work. By law, you’re required to have a minimum of £5 million of this type of financial cover in place if you have employees. Our policies have a cover limit of £10 million.
Example of a claim:
One of your employees falls from a ladder while washing a first-storey window, suffering a broken leg as a result. They seek compensation from you for their suffering. -
Tools insurance
Tool insurance protects you if the equipment you use in your window cleaning business is stolen, lost or damaged. We offer cover limits of between £1,000 and £5,000 and you can choose to cover your tools during working hours only (8am – 8pm) or on a 24 hour basis for complete peace of mind.
Example of a claim:
Thieves hack your key fob to break into your work van while it’s parked outside of your home, stealing valuable equipment. You have to replace the stolen items. -
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 is there to support your income if you’re unable to do your job because of an injury you experience as a result of your work. It can provide a lump sum or weekly payments, depending on the type of injury you sustain.
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Owned plant insurance
Owned plant insurance protects you if plant machinery you own is stolen or damaged. At Markel, we offer this type of cover with limits of between £10,000 and £50,000.
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Hired in plant insurance
Hired in plant insurance covers you if plant machinery you have hired from another party is stolen or damaged. Our cover is available with limits of between £10,000 and £50,000.
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Contract works insurance
Contract works insurance covers the costs of repairing or redoing work your business is carrying out on a construction site in the event of a fire, flood, theft or act of malicious damage.
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Goods in transit insurance
Goods in transit insurance pays out if your goods are damaged or lost while being moved from one location to another. It can cover goods that are being transported either by your own vehicles or a third-party carrier.
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Professional indemnity insurance
Professional indemnity insurance protects your business if a customer seeks compensation because of an error you have made while providing a professional service for a fee/
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SupportCover starting from £7 a month
Frequently asked questions
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Is business insurance a legal requirement for window cleaners?
Most types of business insurance are not a legal requirement for window cleaners. However, if you employ people, you are required by law to have at least £5 million of employers’ liability cover in place.
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Can I just cover my most expensive tools?
No, with our window cleaners’ insurance you must insure all of your equipment to ensure that you are fully insured in the event of a claim. If you fail to do so, it may result in your claim not being covered or the amount we pay you being reduced.
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How long does it take to get window cleaners' insurance?
Getting insured is quick and straightforward. With Markel Direct, you can get a quote online in less than 90 seconds and then arrange your cover quickly online or over the phone. There’s no lengthy paperwork, and your documents are available via email on the same day.
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What happens if I don't have window cleaner insurance?
Working as a window cleaner without insurance leaves you exposed to significant financial risk. If a customer or member of the public is injured, or property is damaged while you’re working, you could face expensive legal claims. Without appropriate cover, you’d need to pay these expenses from your own pocket, which would put you and your personal finances at risk. For peace of mind and to protect your livelihood, you should consider window cleaner insurance.
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What should I do if a customer asks me for proof of insurance?
Particularly when working on commercial projects, you may find that customers ask you for proof of insurance. If they do this, simply show them the 'Confirmation of Liability Insurance' that we email to you as soon as you purchase your policy with us.
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How is Markel regulated?
Markel is regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority. If you would like more details, simply take a look at the Financial Services Register.
Access free legal services for your window cleaning business when you arrange cover with Markel Direct, including:
24/7 access to a legal advice helpline manned by qualified solicitors
Access legal templates and resources with the Markel Business Hub
Receive discounted IR35 contract reviews with your policy
Expert management of public relations crises with The Counsel House
