Window cleaning insurance: what you need

Why window cleaning needs specific cover

Every round trade needs public liability cover (see insurance for round trades). In window cleaning, the risks and the small print are particular to the work: cleaning every window on a house, usually from the ground with a water-fed pole or by ladder and squeegee.

What to ask your insurer about

• Cover that includes working at height, with no ladder or storey limit that rules out your usual jobs
• Cover for damage to glass and frames, and for water damage
• Equipment cover for the pole and pure-water system, the most expensive thing you own

The risks behind most claims

• Falls from ladders: keep to three points of contact and never overreach
• Water-fed poles near overhead power lines: carbon-fibre poles conduct electricity, so stay well clear
• Wet paths, steps and decking

Rules to check

• The Work at Height Regulations 2005 apply to ladder work. HSE's ladder guidance covers when a ladder is the right tool and how to use it safely
• Check the HSE guidance on work near overhead power lines

Tell the insurer exactly what you do

Cover for one service doesn't always cover the next. If you do more than one thing, such as gutter cleaning or pressure washing, say so, and ask for it in writing. A claim refused because a job wasn't on the policy is the most expensive mistake in the trade.

If you take on help

The moment someone works for you, even part-time, you may need employers' liability cover. HSE explains who counts as an employee. Ask your insurer how they treat subcontractors.