The required Professional Indemnity limit depends on the assessor’s accreditation, services, contracts and broader professional exposure.

There is not one limit that applies to every Energy Rater.

What are the current NatHERS requirements? #

For NatHERS assessors working on new homes, the NatHERS accreditation framework requires Professional Indemnity Insurance appropriate to the scope and volume of work, with a minimum indemnity value of $1 million.

For NatHERS assessors working on existing homes, the current requirements are at least:

• $2 million Professional Indemnity Insurance
• $10 million Public Liability Insurance

Other accreditation arrangements, programs or client contracts can impose different or higher requirements.

What else should be considered? #

Factors can include:

• Accreditation pathway
• New-home or existing-home assessments
• Commercial assessment work
• Annual professional fees
• Number of assessments
• Project values
• Potential redesign or rectification costs
• NABERS, Section J or sustainability services
• Contractual minimum limits
• Defence-cost structure
• Aggregate limits
• Previous work

A minimum accreditation or contractual requirement should not automatically be treated as the appropriate overall limit for the business.

Professional Indemnity Insurance is generally claims-made, so previous assessments and continuity of cover should also be considered before reducing or changing limits.

Webber Insurance has a specialist facility for Energy Raters and Thermal Performance Assessors.

Contact our team if you would like us to review the applicable insurance requirements against your services.