Window cleaners – do you have the right cover?
Whether you’re a one-man band or employ a team of exterior cleaners, you’ll need the right insurance cover in place to protect your business.
Many insurers’ packages simply won’t cover your specific needs. But at Howden we’ve been providing business insurance for exterior cleaning and property maintenance businesses for many years and understand the needs of businesses like yours.
Public liability insurance, tailored to exterior cleaning businesses
Your first priority is public liability insurance. This will protect your business if your work causes injury to a member of the public or property is damaged. It also covers the legal costs that would be associated with a claim made against you and your business.
While not a legal requirement, public liability insurance is a must-have for exterior cleaning and property maintenance businesses. Many businesses won’t hire you if you don’t have a policy in place.
It’s important to know that public liability policies offered by many insurers won’t cover you if you are accused of damaging the property you are cleaning. However, Howden will help ensure you have cover that does in fact cover damage to the client property. Similarly, if the solutions or chemicals you use in the course of your work cause damage, this can also be covered by a specialist policy, as can working at height.
Jack Bowley, Commercial Account Executive at Howden’s Carterton branch, specialises in providing insurance packages tailored to external cleaning companies. He says: “As the specialist insurance broker for the exterior cleaning industry, we regularly spend time with exterior cleaners and understand their specific needs.”
“We find that the majority of the time, cheaper rates are cheaper because the policies just aren’t right,” says Jack, who has completed an accredited exterior cleaning training course.
Jack’s clients are happy to endorse his service and the specialist cover available. Mr Shaw commented “A big shout out to Jack Bowley from Howden Insurance for sorting my specialist public and employee liability insurance out for me, he has slashed my renewal quote by half and my cover is far more superior.”
Mr Aspinall added: “I won a big render and patio clean all because render cleaning and surface cleaning is specified in my specialist insurance with Jack and Howden.”
What insurance do I need for my exterior cleaning business?
Other key types of cover that Howden provides for exterior cleaning businesses include:
Employers’ liability insurance: this a legal requirement for any company that employs people, even if you have only one person employed, or they are part time or temporary. It covers you for compensation claims from your employees for work related illness or injuries and will also typically cover other costs such as legal fees.
Tools and equipment cover: a policy that is bespoke to the exterior cleaning industry, covering equipment such as pressure washers or gutter vacs, should they be damaged, stolen or lost.
Personal accident cover: whether it’s a fall from height or an accident involving equipment, unfortunately accidents do happen in your industry. So having the right personal accident cover in place is essential.
Van insurance: tailored to your business needs.
Van insurance is another example where it’s important to choose carefully and avoid generic policies that won’t cover your specific needs. Jack says: “Our insurers can cover the value of the tank as standard and offer replacement cover with a van kitted out for exterior cleaning.”
As a broker specialising in self-employed, business insurance, at Howden we know each policy needs to be as individual as its owner and their business. So we focus on getting to know you and finding out exactly what you want from your insurance.
To speak to Jack Bowley at our exterior cleaning specialist broker, Howden Carterton, call him on 01993 835749 or email jack.bowley@howdeninsurance.co.uk.
