A tree surgeon’s insurance matters more than most people think, right up until it doesn’t. Then it’s the only thing that matters. If a branch comes down on a greenhouse, a conservatory, or a parked car, you want to know the person responsible can actually cover it.
The short answer
A properly set up tree surgeon should hold public liability insurance of at least £5 million, employers’ liability insurance if they work with a team, and ideally professional indemnity cover if they’re also giving formal tree reports or advice.
Here’s what each one actually covers, and why it’s worth checking before you book.
Public liability insurance
This is the one to ask about first. It covers damage to your property, or injury to anyone on site, caused by the work. Fences, greenhouses, garden walls, cars parked nearby, all of it. £5 million is the industry standard for tree work, given the size and weight of what’s coming down. Anything less and you’re taking on risk that should sit with them.
Employers’ liability insurance
If a tree surgeon brings a team rather than working solo, this is a legal requirement, not optional. It covers their staff if they’re injured on your property. Without it, and without public liability either, an accident on your job can end up as your problem, not theirs.
Professional indemnity insurance
Less common, but relevant if you’re paying for a tree survey, a risk assessment, or a formal report, for a mortgage application, a planning condition, or a tree preservation order. This covers the advice itself, not just the physical work. Worth asking about if that’s what you need.
Tools and equipment insurance
This one protects them, not you, but it’s a decent sign of how seriously a business is run. A tree surgeon who’s insured their chippers, chainsaws and climbing kit is running things properly.
How to actually check it
- Ask to see the certificate — don’t just take a verbal “yeah, we’re covered”
- Check the expiry date — cover lapses more often than you’d think
- Confirm the cover level matches the job — £1 million cover on a large felling job near a building isn’t enough
- For bigger jobs, call the insurer directly to confirm the policy is live
What happens if you hire someone uninsured
The quote might be cheaper, but the risk transfers to you. If they cause dangerous tree removal damage and can’t cover it, you’re either footing the bill yourself or fighting it through your own home insurance, which likely won’t pay out for someone else’s negligence anyway. It’s the single biggest false economy in tree work.
Where we stand
We’re fully insured across public liability and employers’ liability, and we’re an approved contractor for schools, local authorities and churches, which means our cover has already been checked and verified by people who take it seriously. You can see the full breakdown on our insurance and qualifications page.
FAQs
How much public liability insurance should a tree surgeon have?
£5 million is the industry standard for UK tree work, given the potential scale of damage from falling branches or trees.
Does home insurance cover damage caused by a tree surgeon?
Usually not, if the damage is caused by the contractor’s negligence. That liability sits with their insurance, not yours, which is exactly why checking it matters.
Is a cheap quote from an uninsured tree surgeon worth the risk?
Rarely. A lower price with no insurance behind it means you’re carrying all the risk if something goes wrong.
Want a job done by a fully insured, local authority approved team? Get a free quote and we’ll get back to you.