Insurances: What is the "normal" level??

[BolshieBastard]

There is no legal requirement to have Employers Liability insurance if your co only employs yourself.

If you have other employees in the co ie another contrator, then, legally you must have EL. Note, having your wife as co sec doesnt count.

Having the other insurances may be argued as an indication of not being the clients employee for IR35 but Im not certain how strong this argument would be (probably non existent if anything seeing as those leeches at HMRC say its working practices that count unless these show you outside IR35 then they try and argue its what's in the contract!)

[doodab]

I've only ever had one agency ask me to be insured, I ignored their request and it went away. I may live to regret it but for now

Fair enough. Most of the ones I've dealt with have demanded it. I think their main concern is the professional indemnity insurance though.

[Mr.Whippy]

I have £1m PI, £10m EL, £1m PL. It's stated in my contract that I must have these and even when it came to extension time, just before the sent the paperwork the agent realised the copies of the certificates they had were expired, so asked me to provide the latest ones before they would send the extension out.

Fortunately, it's not that expensive. I got mine from QDOS for about £250.

[rootsnall]

Employers liability insurance is a legal requirement if you employ people. The others I think are optional but people generally won't deal with you if you don't have them.

I've only ever had one agency ask me to be insured, I ignored their request and it went away. I may live to regret it but for now

[doodab]

Employ other people I guess, rather than just employ yourself.

I don't have any insurances. Agency said I needed it when I got this offer but just told me to "make sure I got it in place at some point" ...but of course I got lazy and just left it.

You may be right, there are some exemptions.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hse40.pdf

[ChimpMaster]

Employers liability insurance is a legal requirement if you employ people. The others I think are optional but people generally won't deal with you if you don't have them.

Employ other people I guess, rather than just employ yourself.

I don't have any insurances. Agency said I needed it when I got this offer but just told me to "make sure I got it in place at some point" ...but of course I got lazy and just left it.

[doodab]

Employers liability insurance is a legal requirement if you employ people. The others I think are optional but people generally won't deal with you if you don't have them.

[ChimpMaster]

Nice theory, but I don't think I'd rely on it.

They can still come after you as an individual.

Is it legal to not have insurances? i.e. it is only a recommendation or requirement of the agency (even though it's in your best interest)?

[Wanderer]

# £5million Public Liability Insurance
# Employers Liability Insurance
# £1million Professional Indemnity Insurance

I'd have zero if I could get away with it. My company has limited liability and they know that if they sue then they will get nothing.

[TheFaQQer]

I have £1 million public liability, £10 million employer's liability, £250k PL through the PCG insurance scheme.

[Qdos Contractor]

The most common levels for IT contractors are £1m Public, £10m Employers and £1m PI. £5m PL is definitely higher than normal, but it shouldn't end up costing much more.

[BlackenedBiker]

Hi

I am working for a clientco at the moment and at renewal time they are asking for insurances from my Ltd co.

They have requested the following:

# £5million Public Liability Insurance
# Employers Liability Insurance
# £1million Professional Indemnity Insurance

The 2 figures stated seem a tad high.

I am just wondering what the normal levels are?

Thanks