Before a single foundation is dug, it’s worth separating what your own buildings insurance covers from what your installer’s own insurance should be covering — because they’re protecting against different things.

The cover your installer should carry

A conservatory installer working on your property should be carrying, at minimum, public liability insurance and, if they employ anyone else, employers’ liability insurance. A well-run firm will typically also carry contract works (or contractors’ all-risk) insurance covering the partially built structure itself. These are three separate policies covering three separate risks — damage or injury to you and third parties, injury to the installer’s own staff, and damage to the unfinished conservatory — and a homeowner asking about “insurance” in general terms can easily end up being told about only one of the three.

Public liability, explained

Public liability insurance covers the installer’s legal costs and any compensation payable if a member of the public — including you, in your own home — is injured, or your property (beyond the conservatory itself) is damaged, as a result of their work. For domestic building work, cover of at least £1 million to £2 million is commonly seen, with some firms carrying £5 million or more for larger jobs. There’s no single legal minimum that applies to every trade the way there is for employers’ liability, so the level of cover genuinely varies between installers, which is exactly why it’s worth asking to see the figure rather than simply confirming that a policy exists.

Employers’ liability is a legal requirement, not optional

Unlike public liability, employers’ liability insurance is a statutory requirement in Great Britain under the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969, which requires that “every employer carrying on any business in Great Britain shall insure, and maintain insurance, under one or more approved policies with an authorised insurer or insurers against liability for bodily injury or disease sustained by his employees” and arising out of their employment. If your installer has any employees or subcontractors working under their direction on site, they are legally required to hold this cover, commonly at a minimum of £5 million, and operating without it can result in a fine. This is worth asking about specifically if the quote mentions subcontracted labourers or a second fitter, rather than just the named installer.

Contract works insurance: covering the build itself

Contract works insurance, sometimes called contractors’ all-risk cover, protects the conservatory itself while it’s under construction — the partially built frame, materials stored on site, and any temporary structures — against risks like fire, storm, flood, theft or accidental damage before the project is complete and handed over. This is distinct from your own buildings insurance, which is generally written around the finished, occupied property, and may not automatically extend to cover an open structure mid-build or materials left on site overnight. Asking whether the installer’s own policy or yours is expected to cover the works in progress, rather than assuming it’s covered somewhere, avoids a gap neither side realises exists until something goes wrong.

What to actually ask for before work starts

• A current certificate of insurance for public liability, showing the insurer’s name, the level of cover and the policy’s expiry date — not just a verbal assurance that they’re “fully insured.”
• Confirmation of employers’ liability cover if the installer uses any staff or subcontractors on your job, since this is the one that’s a hard legal requirement.
• Clarity on who is insuring the partially built structure and materials on site — the installer’s contract works policy, or an extension to your own buildings cover, agreed with your insurer in advance.
• A note in your diary to keep the certificate on file for the duration of the project, not just at the point of signing the contract, since cover can lapse or be cancelled after work has started.

FAQs

Is my own home insurance enough to cover the build?

Not necessarily on its own — your buildings insurer needs telling about significant structural work before it starts, and cover for the works in progress (as opposed to the finished conservatory) is often the installer’s contract works policy rather than your household policy. Check both sides rather than assuming either one has it covered.

What level of public liability cover should I look for?

There’s no single legally mandated figure, but £1–2 million is commonly seen for domestic projects, with £5 million not unusual for larger firms or bigger jobs. Ask for the specific figure on the certificate rather than accepting a general assurance.

Does a sole trader with no staff need employers’ liability insurance?

Generally not, if they genuinely have no employees, since the legal requirement is tied to having staff. If they bring in a subcontractor or a second person to help on your job, check whether that arrangement changes their obligations.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 17 September 2026:

• legislation.gov.uk: Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969
• MoneySuperMarket: What insurance should a builder have?

Related guides

Compare Conservatories is an independent guide. We may earn a fee from some links; this never affects what we write. This article is general information, not insurance advice on any specific policy — always confirm cover directly with the installer’s insurer or your own broker.