We're trusted
We've been around since 1993 and are the UK's most recommended price comparison website
What is roofers insurance?
Roofers insurance is a specialist business insurance package designed to protect roofing contractors and sole traders against the risks of working at height. It combines multiple covers into one policy, helping safeguard workers, clients, tools, and property.
Key covers often include:
Employers’ liability insurance – a legal requirement if you employ staff, covering claims if employees are injured or fall ill at work.
Public liability insurance – protects you if your roofing work causes injury to a customer, contractor, or member of the public, or damages property.
Tool insurance – covers the cost of replacing or repairing essential tools and equipment if they are lost, damaged, or stolen.
Additional options may include contract works insurance, business interruption cover, and commercial vehicle insurance, providing extra protection for projects and day-to-day operations.
Do I need roofers insurance?
Yes, roofers need insurance both to comply with legal requirements and to protect against the high risks of working at height. Employers’ liability insurance is compulsory if you employ staff, while many clients will also expect you to have public liability insurance before allowing work to begin.
Even if not legally required, insurance provides vital financial protection. It can cover the costs of employee injuries, damage to a client’s property, or stolen equipment. Without it, these expenses could be substantial enough to put your business at risk.
Why should I get roofers insurance?
Avoid a £2,500 daily fine
If you are a UK business and you have any non-family members working for you then by law you must have employers liability insurance.
Without it, you can be fined up to £2,500 for every day you're not insured
Employers liability insurance covers the compensation costs if a worker becomes ill or injured because of their work for you. This includes ex-employees.
For example, if a worker was exposed to toxins which created health issues years later they could sue their old employer for failing to put adequate health and safety measures in place.
Protection for staff injuries and illnesses
If anyone becomes ill or injured because of your work you could be responsible for the associated costs, including expensive compensation claims. This is far from an unlikely scenario: an average 47,000 construction workers are injured each year.
Employers' liability insurance covers harm caused to employees, contractors, volunteers and anyone else doing any work for you. It's also a legal requirement.
Protect members of the public
If anyone becomes ill or injured because of your work you could be responsible for the associated costs, including expensive compensation claims. Construction is risky work, and things can unexpectedly go very wrong: 3 members of the public were killed because of construction work in the 2023/4 financial year
Public liability insurance covers harm to members of the public. It is not a legal requirement, but many clients will insist you have it.
Your equipment is damaged or stolen
Business contents insurance can help you recover the cost of losing company equipment to fire, flood, theft and other disasters. Tool cover can offer similar protection for tools.
The risk of some types of equipment losses is growing. London saw tool theft from vans increase by 60% between 2020 and 2023.
Your equipment damages someone's property
From equipment falling onto a client's car to accidentally cracking a skylight, there are 101 ways the tools of your trade could end up causing expensive property damage that owners may expect you to pay for.
Public liability insurance will pay the costs of accidental damage to other people's property, whether that's a client, supplier or member of the public.
You can also take out professional indemnity insurance to protect you financially if you make a professional mistake or give bad advice that results in a financial loss for your client.
Legal support if you're sued
You can be taken to court if a client or a member of the public believe they have been physically or financially harmed because of your company's business activities, including if their property is damaged.
Roofers could be found liable for everything from someone tripping over your equipment to you accidentally causing damage to a building.
Public liability insurance can cover the legal fees and compensation payouts in such cases.
Did you know?
£68 million in insurance claims ^
That's how much was paid out in 2024. Without business insurance, those customers would have faced paying that bill themselves.
Why should I use MoneySuperMarket?
Comparing quotes from different insurers allows you to find the best deal out there.
We can do this work for you.
-
^ . -
Save time
We take the effort out of shopping around. Get quotes from top insurers in minutes.
-
Save money
Our mission is to save you money. We save our customers £1 bn+ on their bills every year
^
Which types of roofers insurance might I need?
Roofers face unique risks, so the right insurance package is essential to protect your business, staff, and equipment. The main types of cover include:
-
Contract works insurance
Contract works insurance covers ongoing roofing projects against damage or delays caused by unexpected events.
-
Employers' liability
Employers’ liability insurance protects you if your staff become ill or injured at work.
-
Tool insurance
Tool insurance protects tools from loss, damage, or theft.
-
Business interruption
Business interruption insurance protects against disruption from events like fires.
-
Public liability insurance
Public liability insurance covers compensation claims if your work causes injury to a third party or damage to property. Often required by clients before work begins.
-
Personal accident insurance
Personal accident insurance provides financial support if you are seriously injured and unable to work, particularly useful for self-employed roofers.
Will my insurance pay out?
88% of Simply Business claims^
Almost 9 in 10 of business insurance claims made by MoneySuperMarket customers were accepted last year.
All insurance has conditions and exceptions, so you should read your policy documents carefully to make sure you know what is and isn't covered.
When it comes to business insurance, the cheapest option may not be the best option for you. Sometimes it is worth paying a little more to get a better level of cover.
How much does roofers insurance cost?
Per Year | Cheapest | Average |
|---|---|---|
Roofers (without heat application) | £247.98^ | £305.10^ |
Roofers (with heat application) | £1255.65^ | £1256^ |
The cost of roofers insurance varies depending on the type of work you carry out, the level of cover you need, and whether you use heat in your projects. On average, roofers without heat application pay around £305.10
The cheapest premiums are lower – 10% of roofers without heat application paid around £247.98
While costs may seem high, they are small compared to the price of a claim. The average business insurance claim is £3,377
What’s the cheapest price I could pay for roofers insurance?
£20
.67^ a month
According to our latest data, 10% of customers paid this when taking out an annual roofers policy that does not cover the application of heat.
How much is the average business insurance claim?
£3,377^
The cost of fixing insurable problems yourself is usually significantly more expensive than taking out insurance.
What is included in roofers insurance?
Roofers insurance typically combines several types of cover into one policy, protecting you against the high risks of roofing work. Depending on the policy, it can include:
Public and employers’ liability insurance – covering compensation claims for injury, illness, or property damage involving third parties or employees.
Tools and equipment insurance – protecting your roofing tools from theft, loss, or accidental damage.
Business vehicle cover – insuring vans and other vehicles used for work.
Legal expenses insurance – helping with the cost of disputes such as employment, tax, or contract issues.
Business contents cover – protecting office equipment and stored materials.
Professional indemnity insurance – covering mistakes or negligence in advice or project planning.
Personal accident cover – providing financial support if you are seriously injured and unable to work.
As with all policies, exclusions apply. Roofers insurance will not normally cover deliberate damage, incidents caused under the influence of drugs or alcohol, normal wear and tear, breach of contract, or damage to the property you are actively working on.
Frequently asked questions
What insurance should a roofer have?
Public liability insurance, which covers harm to other people and their property. It's not a legal requirement, but some clients will insist you have it.
If you have any non-family members working for you, including labour-only contractors and volunteers, it is a legal requirement that you take out employers' liability insurance. This covers staff injuries and illnesses caused by their work.
Other types of business insurance that can offer valuable protection to roofers are:
Tool insurance - covers costs if tools are lost, damaged or stolen
Business van insurance - for your work vehicle (If you have several, you might want fleet van insurance)
Personal accident insurance - covers costs if you or anyone named on the policy is hurt at work
Business interruption insurance - covers costs if your work is disrupted by events like fires or the Covid-19 pandemic
Who is liable if a roofer falls?
The company that employs the roofer is usually liable for any roofing accidents.
Employers liability insurance will generally cover the associated costs. It is a legal requirement that all businesses with staff take it out.
Does public liability insurance cover faulty workmanship?
No. Most standard public liability insurance policies won't cover you for performing faulty work. Similarly, most professional indemnity insurance policies won't cover you for defective workmanship either.
These insurance policies are designed to protect you where issues are caused by genuine mistakes and not irresponsible practices. Professional indemnity insurance, for example, will usually cover measurement miscalculations in your blueprints.
Do I need to insure subcontractors working for my business?
Yes, if they are labour-only subcontractors you will need employers' liability insurance. It is a legal requirement that you take out this insurance to cover any accidents or illnesses that happen to your staff at work.
A subcontractor is labour-only if your business supervises their work and provides them with the tools and materials they use for the job.
If you only work with bona fide subcontractors you probably do not need to insure them, and they are likely to have their own contractor liability insurance in place.
Bona fide subcontractors work independently from you and provide all their own tools, materials and equipment.
Do I need to insure my business van?
Yes, you need to insure any vans or vehicles you use for your business. Standard van insurance policies do not cover business use.
Business van insurance will ensure that your van is properly protected both on and off the road while you're using it, and some policies can even protect tools and equipment that you store in your van.
If you own several vans you can also take out fleet van insurance which will provider cover for multiple vehicles under one policy.
Our expert says…
Roofing comes with intrinsic risks. Falling from a height is one of the most common ways to get injured at work, making up 8% of all non-fatal accidents in the 2023/4 financial year
^ . Falling objects can also cause extensive damage to other people and their property.Comprehensive roofers insurance can protect your business, your staff and everyone around you, so all you'll have left to worry about is patching leaks and fixing fascias.
Jake Edmonds Travel & Commercial Insurance Expert
What other trades could I get insurance for?
-
Plasterers
-
Builders
-
Tradesmen
-
Electricians
-
Plumbers
-
Painters / decorators
-
Contractors
-
Construction workers
Compare business insurance quotes from leading UK insurers
Trusted Service Awards Winners
MoneySuperMarket has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award, an independent seal of excellence, which recognises businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience.
How does MoneySuperMarket make money?
We get paid by the companies we work with, but the payment we get doesn’t have any bearing on the information we provide. We get paid in different ways, depending on the type of product or service you buy through us. Our goal is to search deals from as wide a range of companies as possible, but we only show results from our partner providers.
Our comparison service is, and will always be, free to use.
Why should I use a price comparison website?
One of the best ways to get the lowest prices and best deals is to compare quotes from different companies. We do the work for you, comparing quotes side-by-side and giving you all the information you need so you can choose the right deal for your needs and your wallet.
We don’t give recommendations or financial advice, but we give you clear information so you can choose financial products that suit your circumstances.
Does MoneySuperMarket work with all the providers on the market?
No, not every company can be included in our service. This is because some companies don’t want their products included on comparison sites, and some decide that they would rather not pay a fee. There are also a few smaller providers who can struggle to cope with the volume of customers that can find their products if they appear on MoneySuperMarket.
Our goal is to search deals from as wide a range of companies as possible so that you can choose the deal that suits you.
Is business insurance eligible for SuperSaveClub and rewards?
No, at this time business insurance is not an eligible product for unlocking our SuperSaveClub rewards. It is also not included in our Price Promise.
Who are Simply Business?
Simply Business is one of the largest insurance brokers in the UK. They work with leading and specialist insurers to provide cover for small business owners, landlords and self-employed workers.
MoneySuperMarket has a commercial partnership with Simply Business. They offer various business and landlord insurance policies from different insurers through our platform, allowing our customers to find affordable quotes and policies that suit your specific needs.
Reviewed on 10 Dec 2025 by
According to Simply Business data, 10% of customers paid this amount or less monthly for a roofers insurance excluding the application of heat policy with Simply Business. Figure based on annual quotes purchased in 2024.
According to Simply Business data, 51% of customers paid this amount or less for an annual roofers insurance excluding the application of heat policy with Simply Business. Figure based on annual quotes purchased in 2024.
According to Simply Business data, 10% of customers paid this amount or less for an annual roofers insurance including the application of heat policy with Simply Business. Figure based on annual quotes purchased in 2024.
According to Simply Business data, 10% of customers paid this amount or less for an annual roofers insurance excluding the application of heat policy with Simply Business. Figure based on annual quotes purchased in 2024.
Average claims value for MoneySuperMarket customers who claimed on their business insurance in the last 12 months. Data provided by SimplyBusiness.
Source: Gov.uk
Source: UK Government's Construction Statistics in Great Britain Report 2024
Source: UK Government's Construction Statistics in Great Britain Report 2024
YouGov Survey 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025. Net Recommend score derived from “Which of the following online service websites would you recommend to a friend or colleague, or tell them to avoid?” Base: Current Customers of (MoneySuperMarket n=18,382, Compare the Market n=16,802, Go.Compare n=10,162, Confused.com n=8,229, Uswitch n=528).
From 01.06.23 to 31.05.24 MoneySuperMarket customers received £1.59bn estimated savings based on (i) SuperSaveClub reward redemptions, and (ii) savings claims per product multiplied by the number of sales. Products included - Car, Home, Pet and Travel insurance, Broadband, Credit Cards, Loans and Mortgages.
Source: Health and Safety Executive, Summary Statistics for Great Britain 2024
According to Simply Business data, 51% of customers paid this amount or less for an annual roofers insurance including the application of heat policy with Simply Business. Figure based on annual quotes purchased in 2024.
88% of business insurance claims made by MoneySuperMarket customers were accepted in the 12 months before March 2025. Data from SimplyBusiness.
Simply Business data 2024