Is public liability insurance a legal requirement?

No. It is not required by UK law, but it is very often a condition of contracts, council licences, venue bookings and market pitches.

Does public liability cover my own employees?

No. Injury to your own staff is covered by employers' liability, which is compulsory for most employers with a minimum limit of £5m.

Does public liability cover damage to the work I am doing?

Generally no. Damage to the work you are carrying out is usually excluded and needs contract works cover; public liability covers damage to other property and injury to people.

Is product liability included?

Many public liability policies include product liability for goods you sell or supply, but limits and exclusions vary, especially for imported or own-brand products. We check this for you.

Public Liability Insurance from £4.20/month

Written by the Premier Insurance broking team · Updated 17 October 2026

Protect your business from third-party injury and property damage claims. Compare public liability insurance from 200+ UK insurers — cover from £1m to £10m.

Public liability covers claims from members of the public for injury or damage to their property caused by your business. It is not a legal requirement, but councils, venues, principal contractors and commercial clients usually ask for £1m, £2m, £5m or £10m before they let you work. Employers' liability, which covers your own staff, is separate and is compulsory.

How much public liability cover do I need?

Business type	Covers usually needed	Why
Sole trader working in homes	Public liability £1m–£2m, tools	Domestic customers rarely set a limit, but damage claims at a client's home are common.
Contractor on commercial sites	Public liability £5m–£10m, employers' liability, contract works	Principal contractors and JCT contracts commonly specify £5m or £10m.
Market trader or event stallholder	Public and product liability £2m–£5m	Markets, councils and event organisers usually set the limit as a condition of a pitch.
Shop, café or salon	Public and product liability, employers' liability, contents	Customers on your premises create the slip and trip exposure; landlords may also set a limit.
Cleaner or caretaker	Public liability, keys and locks cover	Lost client keys and accidental damage are the claims we see most.
Events and entertainment	Public liability £5m–£10m, equipment	Venues and local authorities often require £5m or more for public events.

Cover by trade and product

Guides

Common questions

Is public liability insurance a legal requirement?: No. It is not required by UK law, but it is very often a condition of contracts, council licences, venue bookings and market pitches.
Does public liability cover my own employees?: No. Injury to your own staff is covered by employers' liability, which is compulsory for most employers with a minimum limit of £5m.
Does public liability cover damage to the work I am doing?: Generally no. Damage to the work you are carrying out is usually excluded and needs contract works cover; public liability covers damage to other property and injury to people.
Is product liability included?: Many public liability policies include product liability for goods you sell or supply, but limits and exclusions vary, especially for imported or own-brand products. We check this for you.

Public liability insurance for UK businesses

Public liability insurance covers your business against claims for injury to members of the public or damage to third-party property arising from your activities. While not legally required in most sectors, most UK contracts — including every local-authority tender, most commercial leases and most construction sub-contracts — require £5m or £10m of public liability cover as a minimum. A single slip-trip claim at a café can comfortably exceed £100,000; a damaged service main on a building site can hit £500,000+.

Typical cover levels by sector

£1m — small home-based businesses, online retail, sole-trader consultants
£2m — most café, retail and beauty businesses; entry-level trade
£5m — most local-authority and commercial contracts; mid-size trades
£10m — construction principal contractors, larger venues, manufacturing, hospitality groups

Typical public liability pricing in 2026

Home-based consultant (£1m PL): £8.00–£18.00/mo
Sole trader retail / café (£2m PL): £14.00–£32.00/mo
Small trade business (£5m PL): £22.00–£58.00/mo
Larger commercial business (£10m PL): £45.00–£165.00/mo

What public liability does NOT cover (and what you need instead)

PL excludes: injury to your employees (need Employers' Liability); damage to your own property or stock (need property/contents); damage to property in your care, custody and control (need a CCC extension); claims arising from your professional advice (need Professional Indemnity); cyber liability (need cyber); and product liability (often included but sometimes separate). The most common gap is professional advice — a public liability policy will NOT respond to a claim that you gave bad financial, design or technical advice.

Premier Insurance benchmarks public liability across 200+ UK insurers. For a quote tailored to your sector and contract requirements, call 020 8908 2426 or message us on WhatsApp 07954 331362.

Speak to a UK insurance broker

Our brokers are available Monday to Friday 9am to 5:30pm. Call 020 8908 2426, message us on WhatsApp 07954 331362, or email hello@premier-insurance.co.uk. Visit our office at 49 Grosvenor Street, London, W1K 3HP. You can also request a callback or learn more about our team.