Tradesman: Window Cleaners

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Window Cleaners Insurance

Window cleaning has come a long way since the days of a ladder, bucket and chamois leather.

Professionals are now more inclined to use purified water and water-fed poles, abseiling techniques and powered access lifts when cleaning comercial property windows. All of which bring the possibility of a costly claim against a small, typically self employed business.

Public Liability Insurance

Specialist Cover

Window cleaners generally need specialist insurance as many tradesman policies don't cover damage caused to glass, frames, fascias and gutters etc. while they're being cleaned.

Other small print you might want to read closely are the type of equipment covered and any height restrictions that could impact on the type of property you can work on.

Some insurers will only cover ladders or water fed poles. If you find yourself quoting for a contract for a high rise building where you need a cradle, platform or cherry picker you could find these are excluded with some insureres. So it's worth checking if an insurer's limited options could limit work opportunities.

A key part of tradesman insurance is cover for unintentional damage or injury caused to others or their property.

Businesses have a legal duty towards the public to protect them from injury or wrongful acts, either deliberate or from negligence.

PLI is intended to meet legal liabilities for damages if death, injury or damage to property are down to you.

The main risks include:

• damage caused to glass, frames, fascias and gutters
• working at height
• working on ladders
• working with water fed poles
• working on domestic, commercial and industrial premesis
• cradle, platform or cherry picker useage
• cash theft (with / without violence)

Things that could go wrong:

• You fall several meteres from your ladder while washing the windows of domestic home breaking your ribs
• Your pole brush slips, breaking a large commercial window
• Your van is stolen with your and water fed pole system inside
• You are physically assaulted on your round and robbed of your takings

Public liability insurance won't cover willfull acts of damage/harm.

Quotes will typically specify £1 million, £2 million, £5 million or £10 million (local authority contracts or contractors sometimes require this value cover).

Small sole trader window cleaners with no public liability insurance can find the process of defending against even false claims difficult, expensive, full of worry and very time consuming.

Cash Theft

A very real worry for sole traders and small businesses who carry out small domestic and commercial window cleaning jobs and who are paid in cash, is the possibility of theft and assault.

If you work in a high crime area cover for personal assault and theft of money could be critical to your survival.

Safety and Minising Risk

Whether you're working on a ladder, or from a cradle or platform, you need to be aware of The Temporary Work at Height Regulations. Visit the Health & Safety Executive's website for information on regulations

Window Cleaners Insurance Companies

Federation of Window Cleaners

The Federation of Window Cleaners (FWD), formed in 1947, supports and promote the window cleaning industry in the UK.

Members must have public liability cover. Perks include a free 24 hour legal helpline and discounted window cleaning equipment. FWD offer a range of insurance covers through Allied Insurance Services Ltd.

Polished Insurance

Wigan-based Polished Insurance, recommended by the Federation of Window Cleaners since 2006, is a trading name of Allied Insurance Services Ltd and Allied Financial Services Ltd.

As you'd expect they cover all types of equipment - anything and everything from traditional ladders through to water fed poles and abseiling equipment.

They don't provide online quotes on their website.

If you contact the Polished Insurance's own site they can give you quotes with and without cover for "damage to property being worked upon.".

They also offer insurance for other types of cleaning trades apart from windows, including machinery cleaning, and boast thousands of customers in the cleaning industry.

Allied Insurance Services

Established in 2001 Wigan-based Allied Insurance Services Ltd, part of the Allied Group, is the preferred insurer broker of the Federation of Window Cleaners.

They specialise in public and employers liability insurance for window cleaners, with premiums from just £60 per year (correct at Oct 2010).

All types of window cleaning equipment is covered including:

• ladders
• reach and wash systems
• cherry pickers
• access platforms
• abseiling equipment

Cover for damage to glass being cleaned which is excluded by most policies is available as well as cover for cleaning frames, soffits, fascias and gutters.

Recognising that some contractors clean more than just windows, Allied's policies cover all types of cleaning from builders' cleans, pressure washing to upholstery cleaning.