Ask to see the cleaner’s public liability insurance certificate before the work starts. Check that the name on it matches the person or business you’re booking, that the policy dates cover the day of the job, and that the cover is for the kind of work they’re doing. If anything doesn’t match, ask about it.
In this guide
- What is public liability insurance?
- Is it a legal requirement?
- What should I look for on the certificate?
- How can I check it is genuine?
- What if they refuse to show it?
- Does my home insurance cover damage they cause?
- What else should I check?
- Is there anything I should keep?
- Does the cleaner need any licence?
- Quick questions
What is public liability insurance?
Insurance that covers a business if its work injures someone else or damages someone else’s property, such as your home, car or a neighbour’s conservatory.
For gutter cleaning, the realistic risks are things like a pole or ladder falling onto a car or a glass roof, debris damaging something below, or a gutter or fascia being damaged during the work. Public liability insurance is what responds if the business is responsible. It is different from insurance that protects the cleaner themselves if they are hurt, and from employers’ liability, which covers staff.
Is it a legal requirement?
Public liability insurance isn’t generally a legal requirement for a sole trader, but most reputable tradespeople have it, and it is reasonable to expect it.
Employers’ liability insurance is a different matter: businesses with employees are usually required by law to have it. For a homeowner, the point is simpler. If something goes wrong at your house, you want to know there is a policy to claim against, not just a person’s promise to pay.
What should I look for on the certificate?
The insured name, the insurer, the policy number, the start and end dates, and the type and limit of cover.
- Name. Does it match the person or trading name you’re dealing with? A trading name may appear alongside the owner’s name.
- Dates. Does the policy cover the day of the job?
- Activity. Does the business description cover the work, for example window or gutter cleaning?
- Cover. Is public liability listed, and what is the limit of indemnity?
- Insurer. Is it a real insurer or broker you can look up?
How can I check it is genuine?
Look up the insurer or broker and contact them using details you find yourself, not ones printed on the document, if you have any doubt.
For a routine domestic job most people are happy with seeing the certificate. If something looks wrong, such as a name that doesn’t match, dates that have run out, or a document that looks edited, contact the insurer or broker directly. They can usually confirm whether a policy is in force without giving you private details.
What if they refuse to show it?
That is a reason to think twice. Showing a certificate takes seconds, and most tradespeople carry a copy on their phone.
Someone who says “yes, we’re insured” but won’t show it, or gets defensive, may be fine, but you have no way to know. With so many people working from a phone, a photo or PDF of the certificate is easy to send before the day.
Does my home insurance cover damage they cause?
Sometimes, but you shouldn’t rely on it. Your insurer may expect the tradesperson’s insurance to pay, and a claim on your own policy can affect your premiums.
If a tradesperson damages your property, the usual route is to claim against their public liability insurance. Check your own policy wording for what it says about damage caused by contractors. See gutters and home insurance.
What else should I check?
How they will reach the gutter, what the price includes and whether they will show you the result. Insurance is one question, not the only one.
Insurance covers the business if something goes wrong. It doesn’t tell you the job will be done well. Our list of questions to ask a gutter cleaner covers the rest.
Full View Window Cleaning is insured, and we’re happy to show you our certificate before we start.
Is there anything I should keep?
Keep the quote, the date of the work and a copy or photo of the insurance certificate. If you ever need to make a claim, it saves time.
Most gutter cleans go without a hitch, so this is just good habit. A text or email with the price and date, plus the certificate, is enough. If you notice damage after the visit, take photos straight away and contact the cleaner the same day, so they can look at it while it is fresh.
Does the cleaner need any licence?
No specific licence is needed to clear domestic gutters. What matters for you is insurance, how they do the work and whether you trust them.
Be wary of anyone who leans heavily on badges or official-sounding titles instead of answering simple questions. A clear price, a straight answer about how they will reach the gutters, and a certificate you can read are worth more than any logo.
Key points
- Ask to see the public liability certificate before the work starts.
- Check the name, dates, activity and type of cover.
- If in doubt, contact the insurer using details you find yourself.
- A refusal to show it is a reason to think twice.
- Keep the quote, date and certificate.
Quick questions
How much cover should a gutter cleaner have?
There is no single right figure for a homeowner to insist on. What matters is that the policy is real, current and covers the work.
Can a sole trader be insured?
Yes. Plenty of sole traders have public liability insurance. The certificate is in their name or trading name.
Do I need to see it every time?
For a regular cleaner, checking once a year, when their policy renews, is reasonable.
