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KEY CONTRACTOR INSURANCE CHECKS FOR CLIENTS & DEVELOPERS
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PUBLIC LIABILITY
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EMPLOYERS’ LIABILITY
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CONTRACT WORKS & PLANT
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PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY
Ensure Your Contractors Meet Legal & Contractual Insurance Requirements
Before any construction work begins, clients and developers must verify that contractors hold the correct insurance - protecting against liability claims, property damage, design risks and project delays.
What Insurance Should Contractors Provide?
Minimum essential insurance checks for any client or developer hiring construction firms.
- Public Liability Insurance (core requirement)
- Employers’ Liability (mandatory by law)
- Contract Works / Contractors’ All Risks
- Hired-in Plant & Machinery
- Tools & Equipment Cover
- Professional Indemnity (for design/specification work)
- Motor/Fleet Insurance for site vehicles
- Management Liability / Directors’ & Officers’
- Environmental & pollution risk cover
- Subcontractor insurance verification
Insurance Requirements in Contracts & Tenders
Most construction contracts outline minimum insurance requirements that must be met before work begins.
- Minimum Public Liability limit (often £5m–£10m)
- Professional Indemnity to contract-specified levels
- Evidence of Employers’ Liability compliance
- Contract Works & Plant cover for project value
- Joint-names cover for clients & contractors
- Insurance wording aligned with JCT/NEC contracts
- Subcontractor compliance checks
- Specific conditions for high-risk works (roofing, demolition)
- Waivers of subrogation where required
- Proof of insurance before project mobilisation
Why Clients & Developers Must Verify Contractor Insurance
Failing to check insurance can expose developers to significant legal, financial and reputational risk.
- Protection against claims from accidents or property damage
- Compliance with legal and regulatory standards
- Ensures alignment with contract and tender requirements
- Reduces project delays caused by uninsured risks
- Protects developer assets and finances
- Stronger risk management for the project
- Reduces liability exposure for clients
- Improves contractor accountability
- Required by lenders, funders & insurers
- Provides long-term protection even after project completion
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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What insurance should every contractor have?
At minimum: Public Liability, Employers’ Liability, and Contract Works cover.
Design or specification work requires Professional Indemnity.
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Do developers need to be listed on the contractor’s policy?
Often yes. Many JCT/NEC contracts require joint-names insurance,
especially for Contract Works or certain liability sections.
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What limits of insurance should clients request?
Public Liability typically £5m–£10m, Employers’ Liability £10m, Professional
Indemnity based on project value, and Contract Works equal to rebuild cost.
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Should subcontractors be checked separately?
Yes. Clients should verify that all subcontractors carry valid and
adequate insurance matching project risks.
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Can insurance wording be negotiated in contracts?
Yes. Limits, endorsements, waivers and joint-names requirements can all be
negotiated before contract execution.
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What insurance should every contractor have?
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Do developers need to be listed on the contractor’s policy?
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What limits of insurance should clients request?
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Should subcontractors be checked separately?
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Can insurance wording be negotiated in contracts?
Related Covers
Contract-requirement pages should connect users directly to the policy sections clients, developers and principal contractors usually ask for. These links keep contract-driven intent focused on related construction insurance pages.