Get quotes for public liability, professional indemnity, tools and employers' liability insurance for UK bed & breakfasts — quotes are provided directly by FCA-authorised insurers, not by us.
🤝 Partnerships launching soon
Every trade faces unique risks. Here's what could go wrong and why the right cover matters.
Taking paying guests, even occasionally and even in your own home, brings legal duties that don't apply to ordinary homeowners — fire safety and guest property chief among them.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, anyone taking paying guests — even letting a single room in their own home — must carry out a written fire risk assessment and act on its findings.
Guidance for small paying-guest accommodation generally expects interlinked smoke and heat alarms covering hallways, stairs, bedrooms and the kitchen — appropriate to your property's specific layout.
This Act can make you strictly liable for loss or damage to a registered guest's property, even without negligence. The statutory cap — unchanged since 1956 — is just £50 per article and £100 in total per guest (£750 and £1,500 in Greater London, under the London Local Authorities Act 2004), and only applies if the prescribed notice is displayed correctly near your reception or main entrance.
Letting rooms in a residential property is a change of use that standard home insurance doesn't cover. This needs to be specifically declared, even if you only let occasionally or out of one room.
Smoking in communal guest areas is prohibited by law, and a clear smoking policy plus basic security against arson are both things insurers and fire risk assessments expect to see addressed.
Keep your fire risk assessment, alarm testing records and any guest-facing fire safety information up to date and accessible — these are what's checked first if there's an incident or inspection.
A strong policy covers the specific risks of your trade — from site accidents to equipment theft and client disputes.
Covers claims from customers injured on your premises or as a result of your products or services. Essential for any business open to the public.
Covers your stock, equipment and shop fittings against fire, theft and accidental damage. Make sure the sum insured reflects replacement cost, not purchase price.
Replaces lost income if you're forced to close due to an insured event — fire, flood or equipment failure. Covers ongoing costs while you're unable to trade.
Covers claims arising from products you sell or food you prepare causing injury or illness. Essential for food businesses and retailers selling physical goods.
Required by law if you have any employees. Covers claims from staff injured or made ill as a result of working for you.
Covers the structure of your premises against fire, flood and damage — if you own the building. If you're a tenant, check what your landlord's policy covers.
A few things worth checking before you buy, whichever UK insurer or broker you compare.
Check the limit matches what your contracts, landlord or clients require — common tiers are £1m, £2m, £5m and £10m depending on trade and risk.
Professional and liability covers are often "claims-made" — cover depends on holding a live policy when a claim is made, not just when the work happened.
Read what's excluded, not just what's covered. Sub-contractor work, specific activities, or work carried out overseas are common gaps.
Before buying, confirm any insurer or broker is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority — check the register at register.fca.org.uk.
🤝 We're finalising partnerships with FCA-authorised UK insurers so you can compare real quotes here soon. Check back shortly, or get in touch if you'd like to be notified when comparisons go live.
Compare insurance for similar trades and businesses.
Compare from leading UK insurers. Free, fast and no obligation.