Electricians Insurance
Protect your electrical business with cover tailored to the risks you actually face, from accidental damage on site to third-party claims.
Get in touchWhat is electricians insurance?
Electricians insurance is a package of policies that protects electrical contractors and sole traders from the risks of working on domestic and commercial properties. It typically combines public liability, employers liability, professional indemnity and tools cover into a single, manageable policy.
Whether you are rewiring a house, installing consumer units, or maintaining industrial equipment, the right cover means a single claim will not derail your business.
Cecil works with insurers who understand the electrical trade, so you get cover that actually fits, not a generic tradesperson product that leaves gaps.
Public Liability
Covers claims from third parties for injury or property damage caused by your work.
Employers Liability
Required by law if you employ anyone. Covers employee injury or illness claims.
Professional Indemnity
Protects you if a client claims your advice or design caused them a financial loss.
Tools and Equipment
Covers the cost of replacing stolen or damaged tools and electrical equipment.
Who needs electricians insurance?
Sole trader electricians
Working alone on domestic or commercial jobs
Electrical contractors
Running a team of employed or subcontracted electricians
EV charger installers
Specialising in domestic or commercial EV charging points
Solar PV installers
Installing and maintaining photovoltaic systems
PAT testers
Carrying out portable appliance testing for businesses
Emergency electricians
Providing out-of-hours call-out services
Licensing and accreditation for electricians
Electricians are not legally required to hold a licence to work, but most installers working on building installations follow either the Building Regulations framework or join a competent person scheme such as NICEIC, ELECSA, or BSI. These schemes provide third-party certification that work meets safety standards.
Clients frequently require evidence of either Building Regulations compliance, a scheme membership (such as NICEIC Part P certification), or a previous inspection certificate before allowing work to begin. Commercial clients especially will insist on this documentation.
Public liability insurance is not a legal requirement but is almost universally required by clients as a condition of hiring. Most insurance policies automatically cover work carried out by competent person scheme members.
Insurance protects you against third-party claims arising from work that meets safety standards. If you operate under a competent person scheme, your insurer will recognise that framework and your policies will align with industry best practice.
How much does electricians insurance cost?
£200 – £500 per year for most sole traders; electricians with employees or working on high-risk commercial installations may pay £600 – £1,200
Real claims: what electricians insurance covers
An electrician's rewiring work caused a faulty installation that led to an electrical fire, damaging the customer's kitchen and causing smoke damage to adjoining properties.
Public liability covered the customer's property damage claim and the cost of remedial repairs to neighbouring properties, as well as the insured's legal defence costs when the customer threatened to pursue the matter further.
£28,500 total — £16,000 property damage to the customer's kitchen, £9,000 to neighbouring properties, and £3,500 legal fees
A electrician's employee was electrocuted while testing a circuit in wet conditions, resulting in a serious injury requiring hospital treatment and ongoing rehabilitation.
Employers liability covered the employee's compensation claim for lost wages, pain and suffering, and medical expenses, including the cost of retraining for lighter duties.
£42,000 total — £35,000 compensation to the injured employee and £7,000 in legal and medical expert fees
An electrician installed a solar PV system that failed to generate power as specified in the design documentation, causing the customer financial loss.
Professional indemnity covered the cost of rectifying the installation, compensating the customer for the reduced energy output they experienced, and the insured's legal costs in defending the claim.
£9,200 total — £5,500 remedial work, £2,200 customer compensation, and £1,500 legal fees
WHY CECIL
Built differently.
We understand the trade
Cecil works with insurers who cover electrical contractors day in, day out. You get a policy built around how you actually work, not a generic tradesperson product.
Fast, straightforward quotes
No lengthy forms or insurance jargon. Tell us about your work and we will find options through insurers who know the electrical contracting market.
Cover for the risks that matter
From tool theft to wiring disputes, we make sure the covers that electricians actually claim on are included. No gaps, no surprises.
Support when you need it
If something goes wrong on a job, you want your insurer to respond quickly. Cecil only works with insurers rated for their claims handling.
Common questions about electricians insurance
Do I need public liability insurance as an electrician in the UK?
Public liability insurance is not a legal requirement for self-employed electricians, but in practice it is essential. Most domestic and commercial clients will ask to see a valid certificate before allowing you on site, and many will refuse to engage you without it. If you want to join a trade body or competent person scheme such as NICEIC or ELECSA, public liability is typically a mandatory membership condition. The financial exposure of working without it is significant — a single claim arising from fire damage or structural harm caused by faulty wiring could easily reach tens of thousands of pounds. Speak to an FCA-authorised broker who specialises in the electrical trade to find out what level of cover is appropriate for the type and scale of work you carry out. Most sole traders working on domestic properties start at £1m or £2m of cover.
Does electricians insurance cover subcontractors?
Whether your policy covers subcontractors depends on the specific terms your chosen insurer applies. Standard electricians insurance policies typically cover your direct employees under employers liability, but subcontractors are treated differently. Labour-only subcontractors — those who work under your direction and use your materials — may be included automatically on some policies, while bona fide subcontractors who supply their own labour and materials are usually expected to hold their own insurance. Before engaging subcontractors on any job, confirm in writing whether your policy extends to them or whether you require proof of their own public liability cover. An insurer will assess whether a claim arose from your direct supervision or the subcontractor's independent actions. Always clarify this before work begins to avoid a coverage gap mid-project. If you regularly use self-employed subcontractors, discuss this clearly with an FCA-authorised broker when arranging your policy.
Do electricians need professional indemnity insurance?
Professional indemnity insurance is increasingly relevant for electricians who move beyond pure installation work into design, specification, or technical advisory roles. If you design electrical systems for new builds, produce wiring specifications, advise on energy efficiency improvements, or certify systems for Building Regulations compliance, a client could claim that your advice or design caused them financial loss. For example, if a solar PV system you specified consistently underperforms against your promised output figures, the client may seek compensation for the shortfall. Professional indemnity covers your legal defence costs and any damages awarded. Electricians working purely on straightforward domestic installs may consider it less critical, but those taking on commercial design-and-build projects or EV charging infrastructure should discuss the cover with an FCA-authorised broker. The cost is generally modest relative to the protection it provides.
Do I need a Building Regulations certificate as an electrician?
Under Part P of the Building Regulations, certain electrical installation work in dwellings is notifiable — meaning you must either notify your local authority's Building Control department or complete the work under a government-approved competent person scheme such as NICEIC, ELECSA, or BSI. Work certified through a competent person scheme is automatically deemed to comply with Building Regulations. Clients — particularly those selling their property or remortgaging — will require evidence of compliance, and a lack of certification can make a property unmortgageable. Your insurer will also want to understand whether your work falls within a competent person scheme. If you operate outside one, you should ensure your policy reflects that, and that notification to Building Control is consistently recorded. Always keep copies of certificates issued and provide them to clients promptly on completion.
What is the difference between a Part P certificate and insurance?
These serve very different purposes and are both typically required by clients. A Part P or EIC (Electrical Installation Certificate) is issued after completing notifiable domestic electrical work and confirms that the installation met the required safety standards at the time it was carried out. It is a technical compliance document, not a financial protection. Public liability insurance, by contrast, protects you financially if that same installation later causes damage or injury and a third party brings a claim against you. For example, if a rewire you certified caused an electrical fire two years later, public liability would cover the property damage claim and your legal costs. Clients and industry bodies typically require both: the certificate as proof of standards, and the insurance as proof that you can cover claims if things go wrong.
Am I covered for maintenance and repairs as well as new installations?
Yes, most electricians insurance policies cover both new installation work and ongoing maintenance or repair work on existing systems. This is important because a significant proportion of electrical work involves fault-finding, replacing components, or upgrading consumer units in properties where previous work was carried out by others. However, some policies may apply restrictions to higher-risk activities such as live testing in hazardous environments, work in properties with known asbestos, or working on industrial high-voltage systems. Before quoting for any job outside your standard scope of work — for example, commercial switchgear or emergency lighting systems — confirm that your specific activities are included under your policy. An FCA-authorised broker can help you check the wording before you take on higher-risk contracts. Accurate disclosure of your scope of work is essential to avoid gaps in cover.
Does my insurance cover work in homes with asbestos?
Working in properties containing asbestos is a common situation for electricians rewiring older homes built before 1999, when asbestos use in building materials was banned in the UK. However, many standard electricians insurance policies exclude claims arising directly from asbestos disturbance or exposure. If you regularly work in older properties where asbestos-containing materials may be present — in ceiling tiles, pipe lagging, or floor tiles — you should declare this when arranging your cover. Some specialist insurers will extend cover with appropriate conditions, such as requiring you to follow HSE guidance on asbestos awareness and not disturb materials identified as containing asbestos without a licensed asbestos contractor. Always inform your insurer of any asbestos risk at the point of quoting to avoid a claim being rejected on this ground. Completing an asbestos awareness course (HSE-approved Category A) is strongly recommended for tradespeople working in older properties.
What happens if a customer claims my installation was faulty months after I completed it?
Professional indemnity insurance is typically arranged on a claims-made basis, meaning cover applies when the claim is first notified to your insurer during the active policy period — regardless of when the installation work was actually carried out. This means that if you completed a wiring job eighteen months ago and the client raises a formal complaint today, your current policy would respond, provided you are still insured. The practical implication is that you must maintain continuous professional indemnity cover, even after completing a particular job. Some policies include extended reporting periods or 'run-off' cover if you cease trading, which allows claims to be notified after the policy ends. When renewing your policy, always discuss with an FCA-authorised broker how long your retroactive cover should extend to protect against late-emerging claims.
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