Roofing is the highest-risk trade in UK construction. Many standard policies exclude work above 6m — the critical detail most roofers only discover when they try to make a claim.
Many standard PLI policies exclude work above 6 metres. A two-storey house ridge is typically 7m–9m above ground. This means a cheap online tradesman policy may be completely void for most roof work. If your insurer denies a claim due to the height exclusion, you are personally liable for the full amount — there is no fallback.
Ask: What is the maximum working height in this policy?
Why: Must be above 9m for two-storey roofwork
Ask: Does the policy explicitly list 'roofing' as a covered trade?
Why: Some general policies exclude specialist trades
Ask: Is scaffold hire covered as plant?
Why: Confirm hired-in scaffold is included
Ask: Are materials stored at height covered?
Why: Roof tiles and materials on scaffold
Estimated 2026 annual premiums for UK sole trader roofers with proper height cover
Roofing premiums are significantly higher than ground trades. All prices assume proper height cover — cheaper quotes without height cover are not valid roofing insurance.
Always use a roofing specialist — not a general tradesman insurer. All FCA-regulated.
Explicitly covers roofing at height — ask for their roofing policy
Long-established specialist for high-risk trades
Fast online quotes — confirm height limit before buying
Clear policies — verify roofing exclusions before purchase
Strong claims handling for commercial roofing work
National Federation of Roofing Contractors group schemes
Run the rest of your roofing business just as professionally.
Buy from a roofing specialist broker — not a general tradesman insurer. Confirm the height limit and get it in writing.
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Roofing is statistically the highest-risk trade for serious injury and fatal accidents in the UK construction industry, according to the HSE. Falls from height account for a significant proportion of construction fatalities. Insurers price this risk accordingly. Roofing premiums are typically 50%–150% higher than equivalent ground-level trades. You cannot reduce this by shopping around — all insurers apply elevated ratings for work at height, though specialist roofing brokers can still find more competitive pricing than general tradesman insurers.
Many standard tradesman insurance policies (particularly cheaper online policies designed for general tradesmen) include a height exclusion clause, typically limiting cover to work carried out below 6 metres. For a two-storey house, the ridge is typically 7m–9m above ground level. This means a standard policy may not cover most roof work. Always read the height limit clause before buying — and if you work on anything above a single storey, buy a policy from a specialist roofing insurer with no height restriction, or one with a higher stated limit.
If you hire scaffold in for a project, the hired-in scaffold is typically covered under a tools and equipment or hired-in plant policy — not your PLI. If you own scaffold, it needs to be listed on a tools/plant policy. If the scaffold itself causes damage to property or injures someone (for example, it collapses), liability will depend on who erected it and whether it was erected correctly. Hired scaffold is usually the contractor's liability. Check your PLI policy wording for plant hire cover.
Public liability insurance for a sole trader roofer typically costs £120–£400 per year for £2m cover, depending on annual turnover, years in business, and claims history. This is significantly higher than ground trades. Specialist roofing brokers can sometimes find better rates than general tradesman insurers. Employer's liability adds a further £150–£400/yr if you employ anyone.
If you work above your policy's stated height limit and make a claim — for example, you drop materials that damage a car below, or a client is injured — your insurer may deny the claim entirely on the basis of the height exclusion clause. You would be personally liable for the full cost of any claim. For a sole trader, this can mean losing your home and personal savings. Never work above your stated policy height limit without confirming you have appropriate cover in writing from your insurer.
Several UK brokers specialise in roofing contractor insurance including: Tradesman Saver (explicitly covers roofing at height), Caunce O'Hara (established specialist for high-risk trades), and Roofing Industry Alliance (RIA) affiliated brokers. Some National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) members also benefit from group scheme insurance. Always specify you work at roof level when getting quotes — do not allow an insurer to quote you on a general tradesman policy without disclosing the nature of your work.
Want the full deep-dive on tradesman insurance?
Read: UK Tradesman Insurance Guide 2026 — Public Liability, Employer Liability & Tools Cover →