Bed and Breakfasts Insurance
Protect your B and B from guest claims, property damage and food safety incidents with cover designed for small accommodation businesses.
Get in touchWhat is bed and breakfasts insurance?
Bed and Breakfasts insurance is a specialist policy that protects bed and breakfasts from the risks of serving customers, managing premises and employing staff. It typically includes public liability, employers liability and buildings and contents cover.
Running a bed and breakfast business involves risks from food safety and customer injuries to property damage and staff claims. The right insurance means a single incident will not shut your doors.
Find insurers who understand the hospitality and food sector, so your cover reflects the specific risks your bed and breakfast business faces.
Public Liability
Covers claims from guests for injury or property damage at your B and B.
Employers Liability
Required by law if you employ anyone, covering employee injury or illness claims.
Buildings and Contents
Covers your B and B building, guest rooms, furnishings and equipment.
Products Liability
Covers claims from food and breakfast items you serve to guests.
Who needs bed and breakfasts insurance?
Traditional B and Bs
Offering bed and breakfast accommodation in a residential property
Guest houses
Operating a larger guest house with multiple rooms
Farmhouse B and Bs
Providing accommodation on a working farm
Luxury B and Bs
Offering premium bed and breakfast experiences
Licensing and regulatory requirements for bed and breakfasts
Bed and breakfasts do not require a Premises Licence unless they serve alcohol or provide late-night refreshment (food after 11pm). However, Environmental Health registration is mandatory if you serve food to guests. B&Bs must comply with food hygiene standards for breakfast preparation, including proper storage, temperature controls, and allergen labelling. Your local authority may conduct unannounced food hygiene inspections.
Planning permission may be required if you are operating a B&B from residential premises. Some councils require registration or a certificate of lawful use if a significant number of guests stay. Check with your local planning authority to confirm whether your B&B operation requires planning consent.
Building Regulations and fire safety apply to all B&Bs. You must ensure guest bedrooms are safe, with emergency exits clearly marked. Fire extinguishers and smoke alarms are required. If your B&B has more than seven bedrooms, you may be classified as a hotel and subject to more stringent fire safety requirements.
Health and safety legislation requires risk assessments for guest areas and food preparation. Public liability insurance is essential and must cover guest injuries, allergic reactions, and property damage. If you employ a cleaner or cook, employers liability insurance is legally required. Ensure your policy covers home-based food preparation and guest accommodation.
How much does bed and breakfasts insurance cost?
£150 – £350 per year for a small 3-6 room bed and breakfast; larger B&Bs with 10+ rooms may pay £350 – £700
Real claims: what bed and breakfasts insurance covers
A guest suffered a severe allergic reaction to peanuts in a cooked breakfast, despite the host claiming the food was peanut-free. The guest required emergency hospital treatment.
Products liability covered the guest's emergency ambulance, hospital admission, specialist allergy treatment, medication, and compensation for pain and suffering.
£13,200 total — £8,500 hospital and specialist treatment, £3,500 compensation for allergic reaction and trauma, £1,200 legal and claims handling
A guest tripped on a loose carpet stair in a B&B corridor at night and fell down several steps, fracturing their ankle and ribs.
Public liability covered the guest's emergency treatment, hospital admission, imaging, fracture management, physiotherapy, and compensation for pain and suffering.
£18,900 total — £12,000 hospital and fracture treatment, £5,200 compensation for injuries and lost vacation time, £1,700 legal representation
A B&B owner's property was damaged when a guest carelessly left the bathroom tap running, causing water damage to the guest's room, the room below, and the ceiling.
Public liability covered the property owner's repair costs for water damage remediation, ceiling replacement, and contents restoration.
£8,500 total — £6,500 water damage repairs, £1,500 contents restoration, £500 legal and claims administration
WHY CECIL
Built differently.
Overnight guest cover
B and Bs have a duty of care to overnight guests. Cecil finds insurers who understand the risks of providing accommodation in a residential setting.
Property protected
Your B and B building and furnishings need proper cover. Cecil ensures your policy reflects the value of your property and its guest accommodation use.
Food service covered
Serving breakfast creates food safety liability. Cecil includes products liability so you are covered if a guest becomes ill from food you served.
Affordable for small operators
B and Bs are often small family businesses. Get your cover options that provide proper cover at a price that suits smaller accommodation providers.
Common questions about bed and breakfasts insurance
Do bed and breakfasts need public liability insurance?
Yes, public liability insurance is essential for any bed and breakfast. Guests staying overnight have a heightened expectation of safety, and as an accommodation provider you owe them a meaningful duty of care throughout their stay. Injuries from slips on stairs, trips in corridors, or reactions to food served at breakfast can all generate claims. While public liability is not a statutory requirement, online booking platforms — including Airbnb and Booking.com — often require hosts to hold minimum levels as a condition of listing. Tourist boards and accreditation bodies such as VisitBritain and Quality in Tourism also routinely require insurance as a condition of membership. A single slip-and-fall claim from a guest can easily reach £15,000 when medical costs, compensation, and legal fees are totalled. Contact an FCA-authorised broker experienced in small accommodation businesses to identify the right level for your property.
Does B&B insurance cover food poisoning from breakfast service?
Products liability insurance covers claims if food you prepare causes food poisoning or an allergic reaction in a guest. Bed and breakfasts serving breakfast must register with their local authority as a food business under the Food Safety Act 1990 and obtain a Food Hygiene Rating. Environmental Health inspectors can visit unannounced and will assess your storage, temperature controls, and food handling practices. Under Natasha's Law, any prepacked-for-direct-sale food must display full allergen information. If a guest suffers a serious reaction — for example, anaphylaxis from a peanut-based product served without appropriate warning — a claim can exceed £10,000. Your insurer will expect you to have documented allergen procedures and staff training in place. Ensure your policy explicitly states that products liability extends to breakfast food service. Contact an FCA-authorised broker to confirm the scope of cover.
What level of public liability should a B&B carry?
Most bed and breakfasts carry between £1m and £3m of public liability cover, but the right level depends on the number of guest rooms, the extent of food service, and any additional activities you offer. A three-room rural B&B with simple bed and breakfast service may be adequately covered at £1m, while a larger guest house with a licensed bar or event hosting capabilities warrants £2m to £3m. Some online booking platforms specify minimum cover requirements in their host agreements, often at £1m. Tourist board accreditation schemes may require higher limits. If you allow access to external grounds, swimming pools, or outbuildings, those areas add to your liability exposure and should be disclosed to your insurer. Speak to an FCA-authorised broker who works with small accommodation providers to determine the appropriate level for your specific property.
Do I need a Premises Licence to run a B&B?
A Premises Licence under the Licensing Act 2003 is only required if your B&B serves alcohol to guests or provides late-night refreshment, which is defined as the supply of hot food or hot drink after 11pm. If you serve a complimentary glass of wine at check-in or stock a self-service drinks fridge, licensing obligations apply and you should check with your local authority. If you serve only breakfast without alcohol, a Premises Licence is not required. However, Environmental Health registration is mandatory for any food business, including B&Bs serving breakfast. You must register at least 28 days before opening and comply with food hygiene regulations. Planning permission may also be required if you are converting residential premises to commercial accommodation use. Speak to your local planning authority and an FCA-authorised broker to understand the full regulatory picture for your property.
Are B&B owners required to have employers liability insurance?
If you employ a cook, cleaner, gardener, or any other person who works under your direction, employers liability insurance is a legal requirement under the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969, regardless of the number of hours they work. This applies to part-time, seasonal, and zero-hours contract workers as well as full-time employees. The statutory minimum cover is £5m, though most commercial policies provide £10m. You must display a valid certificate at your premises and make it available to Health and Safety Executive inspectors. Sole proprietors running a B&B entirely on their own, without any paid help, are exempt from the legal requirement. However, if you use any paid assistance — even occasional help cleaning rooms between guests — you are legally obliged to hold cover. Contact an FCA-authorised broker to confirm your status and ensure compliance.
Interested in Bed and Breakfasts insurance?
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