What Insurance Does a Storage Facility Need?

A complete UK guide to insurance cover for warehouses, storage units and distribution centres

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We compare quotes from leading insurers

  • Allianz insurance logo
  • Aviva insurance logo
  • QBE insurance logo
  • RSA insurance logo
  • Zurich insurance logo
  • NIG insurance logo

CORE INSURANCE FOR STORAGE FACILITIES

  • Insurance cover icon

    PROPERTY & BUILDINGS

  • Liability protection icon

    STOCK & GOODS

  • Business interruption icon

    PUBLIC & EMPLOYERS’ LIABILITY

  • Cyber and equipment cover icon

    BUSINESS INTERRUPTION

Understanding Storage Facility Insurance Requirements

Storage facilities face a wide range of risks, from fire and flood to liability claims, theft, stock damage and operational disruption. The right insurance package protects your buildings, stored goods, staff and income while meeting legal and contractual obligations.

Essential Insurance Cover for Storage Facilities

  • Property insurance for buildings and structures
  • Stock and goods in storage (own and customers’ goods)
  • Public liability for third-party injury or damage
  • Employers’ liability (legally required if staff are employed)
  • Business interruption and loss of income

Additional Insurance to Consider

  • Equipment & machinery insurance (forklifts, conveyors)
  • Stock deterioration and temperature failure cover
  • Management & directors’ liability insurance
  • Cyber & data protection insurance
  • Goods in transit and handling risks

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

+-Is storage facility insurance legally required?

Employers’ Liability insurance is legally required if you employ staff. Other covers are not compulsory but are strongly recommended.

+-Do I need insurance for customers’ goods?

Yes. If you store goods belonging to customers, you should arrange cover for goods held in trust or under contract.

+-How much public liability cover do storage facilities need?

Most facilities choose limits between £1m and £5m, depending on footfall and contractual requirements.

+-Does business interruption cover loss of income?

Yes. Business interruption insurance can cover loss of income and ongoing costs following insured damage to your facility.

+-Can insurance be combined into one policy?

Yes. Most storage facilities arrange a combined or package policy covering multiple risks under one contract.

Related Covers

This guide to what cover you need should connect into checklist, comparison, combined-package and cost-planning pages.

Choosing Cover

Pricing & Review

Core Cover Areas

Storage facility insurance review points

Storage facility insurance works best when the policy reflects how the premises is used, what is stored, who controls access, and how quickly trading would recover after damage, theft or equipment failure.

For what cover needed enquiries, the strongest quote presentation usually combines the immediate cover request with wider risk information, contract obligations and evidence of controls.

Risk details insurers check

  • Storage activity, tenant access, stock ownership and goods held in trust
  • Buildings, racking, handling equipment, refrigeration or specialist storage systems
  • Security, fire protection, flood exposure, housekeeping and incident history

Cover areas to compare

  • Buildings, contents, stock, customer goods and business interruption
  • Public liability, employers' liability and goods in transit where relevant
  • Equipment breakdown, theft, deterioration of stock and temporary closure extensions

Quote preparation

  • Prepare rebuild values, stock limits, equipment schedules and peak storage values
  • Separate customer-owned goods, own stock, vehicles and third-party contractor exposure
  • Share alarm, CCTV, fire-risk, maintenance and claims evidence before renewal