Public liability renewal checklist

How to approach the cover

There is no shortcut in the business description. It should cover the routine jobs and the less frequent work that can carry more risk.

The quotation should describe the risk and the policy should reflect that description. Keep both sets of documents so you can compare them.

Look beyond the value of the invoice and consider: a new higher-risk service was added; turnover or subcontracting changed sharply; and a client now requires a higher limit. None of these situations has an automatic insurance answer. They are useful prompts for checking the scope of the quotation.

Write down the facts rather than estimating them in a rush: activity percentages; largest jobs and unusual contracts; and claims, complaints and near misses. Where the position varies between jobs, explain the usual work and the exception.

Use the policy summary as an introduction, then turn to the schedule and endorsements for the details that affect the work. Query any uncertain point while other quotations are still open to you.

Jobs and situations to mention

Run through these situations against the jobs you accept:

• A new higher-risk service was added
• Turnover or subcontracting changed sharply
• A client now requires a higher limit

The policy response depends on the full circumstances. A short list on a webpage cannot replace the wording.

Consider “turnover or subcontracting changed sharply” first, using a contract or business record where one is available. Then look at “a new higher-risk service was added” and record any uncertainty instead of hiding it in a rough answer.

Do not overlook “a client now requires a higher limit”. If a form does not leave enough room to explain it, ask the provider how the information should be recorded.

Once the documents arrive, check that these details have not been replaced by a description that is narrower than the work.

Details to gather for the quote

Write down the answers to these points before opening the form:

• Activity percentages
• Largest jobs and unusual contracts
• Claims, complaints and near misses

Take “activity percentages”, “largest jobs and unusual contracts” and “claims, complaints and near misses” one at a time. Confirm what is known, make a careful estimate where necessary and avoid changing an answer merely to obtain a lower price.

Where a contract has prompted the purchase, keep its insurance clause beside the quote. That makes the required limit and dates easier to check.

Two reminders from this page are “check the new schedule as soon as it arrives” and “avoid a gap between policies”; keep them beside the documents when you check the quotation. If the policy takes a different approach to “activity percentages”, ask about it before the cover is needed and retain any written reply.

Read the finished form once more before sending it. A missing activity is easier to correct at this stage.

What the certificate does not show

• Check the new schedule as soon as it arrives
• Avoid a gap between policies
• Keep old documents for past work

Read the schedule and endorsements beside the main wording. Important restrictions are often shown there.

A final check against the real work

Check the work diary for tasks involving heat, height, water, digging, treatment, advice or products. These are easily forgotten when they are not done every week.

Where an answer is an estimate, note the figures used. Update the provider if the eventual position is substantially different.

If a customer has set the insurance requirement, send the certificate only after checking it. The legal name, dates and limit should match what the customer reasonably expects to see.

The page has one more practical caution: keep old documents for past work; check how this affects the jobs you accept and ask for clarification if the policy takes a different approach.