How to Check a Builder Is Insured (2026) — The 5 Documents to Ask For
Before you sign any contract in 2026, ask every builder for proof of insurance. The non-negotiables are public liability cover of at least £2m, employer's liability if they use any staff or subcontractors, and an insurance-backed workmanship warranty. A genuine builder hands these over without hesitation — reluctance is your first red flag.
Checking a builder's insurance — the short answer
- Public liability: minimum £2m — covers damage to your property and injury to others.
- Employer's liability: a legal requirement (£5m) if they employ anyone or use subbies.
- Insurance-backed warranty: protects your deposit and the work if the firm folds.
- Always check dates & names: the certificate must be in date and in the trading name on your contract.
- Verify, don't trust: phone the insurer or trade body to confirm the policy is live.
Insurance is what separates a professional builder from a chancer. A genuine certificate takes seconds to produce and minutes to verify — and doing so protects you from being personally liable if a worker is hurt or a neighbour's property is damaged during your project. Once you have the certificates, our guide on how many quotes to get helps you compare builders like-for-like.
The 5 Documents to Ask Every Builder For
Request all five before work starts. Compare them like-for-like across each builder you are considering, and before you sign read our guide on how to check a builder's contract.
Check the trading name on the certificate matches the name on your quote and contract — cover taken out under a different or dissolved company name is worthless to you.
Warning Signs a Builder May Not Be Properly Covered
“I'll send it later”
A legitimate builder can forward a current certificate within minutes. Repeated delays usually mean there is nothing to send.
Cash-only, no contract
Pressure to pay cash with no written contract often goes hand-in-hand with no insurance and no warranty. Always get terms in writing.
Mismatched names
If the certificate name differs from the quote, or the company was recently dissolved on Companies House, the cover may not apply to your job.
Large up-front deposit
Demands for a big deposit with no insurance-backed warranty leave your money unprotected if the firm disappears mid-project. Our guide on how to pay a builder in stages explains how to protect a deposit.
Common Questions
Related Guides
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Get 3 Free Quotes From Local Builders
BestBuilders matches you with up to 3 local builders for your job, free and with no obligation. This guide shows you exactly how to check each builder’s public liability insurance before you hire, so you can compare like-for-like with confidence.