1What is it?
Public liability insurance pays third-party claims when your work causes damage to property or injury to a person — a burst pipe that floods a flat, a fire from faulty wiring, a customer tripping over your equipment. It covers legal defence costs as well as the award.
2Who needs it?
- Every provider working inside customers' homes or businesses
- Plumbers, electricians, gas practitioners and anyone doing hot work or wet work
- Providers on commercial, estate or insurance panel work, where cover of R5 – R10 million is often mandated
3Who doesn't need it?
- Nobody working on customer property should be uninsured. It is not legally compulsory, but the financial exposure is unlimited without it.
4Registration categories
R1 million cover
Entry level for small residential work.
R5 million cover
Common requirement for estates, body corporates and managed properties.
R10 million+ cover
Typically required by insurers, retailers and industrial clients.
5Why is it important?
A single water-damage claim in a sectional-title block can exceed R500 000. Without cover that claim lands on you personally, and can end the business.
6Benefits
- Protects your business from a single catastrophic claim
- Unlocks insurance panel work and estate contracts
- An Insurance Verified badge on your FIX IT profile
- Gives customers confidence to authorise higher-value work
7Step-by-step guide
- 1List your trades, typical job values and whether you do hot work or work at height.
- 2Approach two or three FSCA-registered brokers or insurers for quotes.
- 3Choose a cover level appropriate to the properties you work in — R5 million is a practical benchmark.
- 4Check exclusions carefully: faulty workmanship, sub-contractors and hot work are common gaps.
- 5Pay the premium and obtain the policy schedule and confirmation of cover letter.
- 6Upload the schedule to the FIX IT Business Centre with the expiry date.
- 7Renew annually and upload the new schedule before expiry.
8Supporting documents
- Policy schedule showing insured name, cover amount and period
- Confirmation of cover letter from the broker or insurer
- Proof of premium payment where requested
9Costs
Government fees
None.
Training costs
None, although some insurers discount for accredited trade qualifications.
Other costs
Premiums for R5 million cover typically run R250 – R900 per month for a small trade business, depending on trade risk and claims history.
10Expected turnaround time
Quotes within 1 – 3 working days; cover can usually be bound the same day the premium is paid.
11Renewal requirements
Annual. Cover lapses immediately on non-payment, so keep the debit order funded.
12Official website
13Official contact details
- FSCA (to verify a broker): 0800 110 443
- Ombudsman for Short-Term Insurance: 0860 726 890
14Frequently asked questions
Is public liability the same as workmanship warranty?
No. Public liability covers damage your work causes to other property; it does not pay to redo your own defective work.
How much cover should I carry?
R1 million is a minimum for small residential jobs; R5 million is expected on estates and commercial sites.
Does the cover include my sub-contractors?
Only if the policy specifically extends to them. Ask your broker to confirm in writing.
15How FIX IT verifies this
- You upload the policy schedule and capture the cover amount and expiry date.
- Our reviewer confirms the insured name matches your verified provider or company identity.
- We check the policy period is current and record the expiry.
- Approval sets the Insurance Verified facet, and the cover amount is shown on your public trust profile.
- Our compliance engine warns you at T-30, T-14 and T-7 days before expiry, and withdraws the badge once expired.
16Download centre
You may also need
Compensation Fund registration protecting your employees if they are injured on duty.
The Compensation Fund letter that proves your worker cover is paid up — demanded on almost every commercial site.
How FIX IT verifies insurance, COIDA and tax documents, and how expiry is monitored automatically.