Public Liability Insurance can respond to certain claims alleging that a builder’s business activities caused third-party personal injury or property damage.

Examples can include:

• A visitor or member of the public being injured at a construction site
• Damage to neighbouring property
• Accidental damage to underground services
• Damage caused while working at a client’s property
• Materials or equipment causing injury or damage
• Incidents involving subcontractors where the builder is also alleged to be responsible

Depending on the policy, defence costs associated with a covered claim can also be included.

What does Public Liability not automatically cover? #

Public Liability should not be assumed to cover:

• Damage to the construction works themselves
• The cost of correcting defective workmanship
• Employee injuries
• Professional advice or design errors
• Registered motor vehicle exposures
• The builder’s own tools or equipment
• Contractual liabilities beyond the insured’s ordinary legal liability
• Asbestos or pollution exposures where excluded or restricted

Contract Works Insurance can address certain physical loss or damage to construction works and materials.

Design or professional responsibilities may instead require Professional Indemnity or Design and Construct Professional Indemnity Insurance.

Builders using subcontractors should disclose those arrangements to the insurer. A subcontractor having their own insurance does not automatically remove the builder’s exposure.

Activities such as demolition, excavation, hot work, work at height, civil construction and asbestos-related work can also require specific insurer acceptance.

Contact our team before commencing materially different or higher-risk building activities.