Look Up Look Out

Insurance for Window Cleaners

A guide to help window cleaners ask the right questions and understand the coverage they may need—from public liability to working at height.

If cables feel unsafe, stop work and call 105 (Great Britain). In an emergency, call 999.

This page is to support window cleaners ask better questions before choosing insurance. This is not an endorsement, recommendation, broker ranking, or financial advice.

Why this matters: after a serious electrical incident, a worker may discover too late that their policy did not respond in the way they expected. The aim is to encourage window cleaners to check public liability, employers’ liability, personal accident, tools/equipment, vehicle/tank, water-fed pole and working-at-height cover before something goes wrong.

Important: policy wording, exclusions, limits and eligibility vary by insurer, broker and individual risk details.

Insurance for Window Cleaners – Questions to Ask

Intro

Insurance can be one of the least exciting parts of running a window-cleaning business, but it can become one of the most important if something goes wrong. This page is designed to help window cleaners ask better questions before choosing or renewing cover.

Neutral position

Look Up Look Out does not recommend, endorse, approve or certify any insurer, broker or policy. The organisations listed below are included because they publish information about insurance for window cleaners, cleaning contractors or relevant trade cover. The final decision remains with the buyer.

Why check carefully?

Window cleaning can involve working at height, water-fed poles, ladders, vans, tanks, expensive equipment, public areas, customers’ property, employees, subcontractors and, in some cases, overhead electrical hazards. A cheap policy may not be the right policy if it excludes the work you actually do.

Before buying or renewing

Ask the broker or insurer to confirm in writing what is covered, what is excluded, what height limits apply, whether water-fed pole work is included, whether employees or subcontractors are covered, and whether personal accident or loss-of-income cover is available for the business owner.

Sophie’s Insurance Questions

Does the policy specifically cover window cleaning?

Does it cover water-fed pole work from the ground?

What maximum working height or building height is covered?

Does the height limit apply to water-fed pole work as well as ladder work?

Does the policy cover work near overhead electrical hazards, or are there exclusions?

Would the policy respond to injury, death, property damage or third-party claims arising from an electrical incident?

Is public liability included, and what limit applies?

If I employ anyone, is employers’ liability included and does it meet the legal requirement?

Are labour-only subcontractors, bona fide subcontractors, temporary workers or helpers covered?

Are tools, poles, purification systems, pumps, tanks, gutter vacs and pressure-washing equipment covered?

Is van-mounted equipment or a water tank covered under the motor policy, equipment policy, or both?

Is personal accident, sickness or loss-of-income cover available for a sole trader or company director?

Are solar panel cleaning, gutter vacuum work, roofline cleaning or pressure washing included?

What risk assessments, training records, RAMS or method statements does the insurer expect?

Can the broker provide written confirmation of the answers before I buy?

Research directory – publicly available information

Alexander Swan Insurance Services

Area: UK

Website: alexanderswan.com

Telephone: 01793 616773 / 0800 458 0082

Email: info@alexanderswan.com

Publicly found information: Specialist window cleaner insurance broker. Public material refers to window cleaner insurance and related trade/business cover.

Notes and questions: Ask about water-fed pole work, gutter vacuum work, height limits, electrical incident exclusions, personal accident, tools, van installations and whether any policy wording specifically addresses overhead-line or electrical-risk scenarios.

Cleaner Saver / Tradesman Saver

Area: UK

Website: tradesmansaver.co.uk

Telephone: 0800 121 8748

Email: info@tradesmansaver.co.uk

Publicly found information: Cleaner Saver/Tradesman Saver publicly advertises window cleaner insurance and states high-rise window cleaning can be covered when using the water-fed pole method, subject to disclosure and quote details.

Notes and questions: Ask what “high-rise” means in the policy, whether all work methods are disclosed, and whether electrical injury/electrocution or work near overhead lines has any exclusions or conditions.

Howden

Area: UK

Website: howdeninsurance.co.uk

Telephone: 01993 835 749

Email: Not clearly found for this product page

Publicly found information: Howden publishes window cleaning insurance and window cleaning van insurance information. Public material mentions public liability, employers' liability, van insurance, tools/equipment and personal accident cover.

Notes and questions: Ask whether the policy covers the exact mix of services, height limits, water-fed pole work, gutter vacuum work, tools, mounted tank systems and any electrical-risk exclusions.

AXA Business Insurance

Area: UK

Website: axa.co.uk

Telephone: Online quote/contact route

Email: Not clearly found for this product page

Publicly found information: AXA publishes window cleaner business insurance information and refers to public liability cover, legal defence costs, temporary staff and optional van cover.

Notes and questions: Ask whether the policy is suitable for the specific work carried out, including water-fed poles and exterior cleaning services, and request written confirmation of relevant exclusions.

Simply Business

Area: UK

Website: simplybusiness.co.uk

Telephone: 0333 043 8527 / 0333 0146 683

Email: Online contact route

Publicly found information: Simply Business publishes window cleaning insurance information and provides phone support for setting up policies.

Notes and questions: Ask what insurers are being compared, what work categories are being declared, and whether electrical incidents, height limits and specialist equipment are clearly addressed.

Direct Line for Business

Area: UK

Website: directlineforbusiness.co.uk

Telephone: 0345 303 1741 business / 0345 303 1595 van

Email: Online contact route

Publicly found information: Direct Line for Business publishes window cleaner insurance information and business insurance help details.

Notes and questions: Ask whether the policy suits water-fed pole work, exterior cleaning, tools and vehicles, and whether any height/electrical restrictions apply.

Gleaming Insurance

Area: UK

Website: gleaminginsurance.co.uk

Telephone: 0330 113 4660

Email: office@gleaminginsurance.co.uk

Publicly found information: Gleaming Insurance publicly states that it specialises in tailored cover for the window cleaning industry and offers public liability insurance for window cleaners.

Notes and questions: Ask for clarification on specialist extensions, height limits, water-fed poles, solar/gutter/roof work, electrical incidents and what evidence of cover is provided.

Superscript

Area: UK

Website: gosuperscript.com

Telephone: 0333 772 0759

Email: hello@gosuperscript.com / advised@gosuperscript.com

Publicly found information: Superscript publishes window cleaner insurance information and lists public liability, employers' liability and other business cover categories.

Notes and questions: Ask whether the online quote process captures all work types and whether exclusions around height, electrical incidents or overhead lines are clearly shown before purchase.

Protectivity

Area: UK

Website: protectivity.com

Telephone: 01494 887 909

Email: contact@protectivity.com / sales@protectivity.com

Publicly found information: Protectivity publishes window cleaning insurance information for small businesses and provides support/contact routes.

Notes and questions: Ask about policy limits, height limits, water-fed pole use, exterior cleaning work, personal accident and whether electrical-risk scenarios are excluded or restricted.

Insure24

Area: UK

Website: insure24.co.uk

Telephone: 0330 127 2333

Email: sales@insure24.co.uk

Publicly found information: Insure24 publishes cleaning contractors insurance information, including window cleaning contractors, roof cleaning and commercial cover.

Notes and questions: Ask whether the policy is suitable for small window-cleaning businesses, sole traders and exterior-cleaning services, and whether overhead-line/electrical risk is addressed.

Everywhen

Area: UK

Website: everywhen.co.uk

Telephone: 0330 828 8299

Email: Not clearly found for this product page

Publicly found information: Everywhen publishes window cleaning insurance information and claims guidance, including a claims phone number.

Notes and questions: Ask about cover categories, claims process, working-at-height restrictions and whether water-fed poles or electrical incidents require special disclosure.

Trade Direct Insurance

Area: UK

Website: tradedirectinsurance.co.uk

Telephone: 0800 0280 380

Email: Not clearly found for this product page

Publicly found information: Trade Direct publishes window cleaner liability insurance information and offers phone quote support.

Notes and questions: Ask whether quoted cover includes all services, staff/subcontractors, equipment, height limits and exclusions around electricity or overhead lines.

Gallagher / AJG

Area: UK / Ireland

Website: ajg.com / ajg.ie

Telephone: UK: 0800 138 7580 / Ireland contractors: 0818 222 700

Email: Online enquiry route

Publicly found information: Gallagher publishes UK window cleaner insurance information and Ireland cleaning-contractor insurance information.

Notes and questions: Ask whether the relevant UK or Ireland team can cover window cleaning, reach-and-pole work, exterior cleaning services, equipment and personal accident needs.

BizBroker.ie

Area: Ireland

Website: bizbroker.ie

Telephone: 096 79626

Email: Online enquiry route

Publicly found information: BizBroker.ie publishes window cleaner insurance information and refers to tradesmen insurance, public/products liability, employers liability, loss of tools and personal accident cover for the self-employed.

Notes and questions: Ask whether the policy covers reach-and-pole work, exterior cleaning services, personal accident, tools, height limits and electrical-risk exclusions.

Arachas

Area: Ireland

Website: arachas.ie

Telephone: Trades: 051 860 665 / general: 01 213 5000

Email: Online enquiry route

Publicly found information: Arachas publishes Cleaning Contractors Insurance information and specifically mentions reach and pole window cleaning.

Notes and questions: Ask whether reach-and-pole window cleaning includes water-fed pole work, height limits, tools/equipment, employee cover and any electrical-risk restrictions.

Dolmen Insurance Brokers

Area: Ireland / Northern Ireland

Website: dolmen-insurance.ie / dolmen-insurance.co.uk

Telephone: Ireland: 01 802 2300 / NI: 028 9601 6840

Email: Ireland: info@dibl.ie / NI: info@diblni.co.uk

Publicly found information: Dolmen publishes cleaning contractors insurance information in Ireland and contact details for Ireland/Northern Ireland.

Notes and questions: Ask whether cover is available for window cleaners using poles, gutter vacuums or exterior-cleaning equipment, and whether electrical-risk or working-at-height restrictions apply.

Dooley Insurance Group

Area: Ireland

Website: dooleyinsurances.ie

Telephone: 045 431642

Email: info@dooleyinsurances.com

Suggested short disclaimer

This page is provided for general awareness only. Look Up Look Out does not provide insurance, financial advice or legal advice, and does not recommend, endorse, approve or certify any insurer, broker or policy. Information is based only on publicly available material reviewed at the time of checking. Visitors should speak directly with an authorised insurer or broker, read the policy wording, check exclusions and obtain written confirmation before buying or relying on cover.

Source list

·        Alexander Swan – Window Cleaners Insurance: https://www.alexanderswan.com/window-cleaners/

·        Alexander Swan – Why Water Fed Pole Systems Need Insurance: https://www.alexanderswan.com/blogs/why-do-window-cleaners-with-water-fed-pole-systems-need-specialist-insurance/

·        Cleaner Saver / Tradesman Saver – Window Cleaning Insurance: https://www.tradesmansaver.co.uk/cleaners-insurance/window-cleaner-insurance/

·        AXA UK – Window Cleaners Insurance: https://www.axa.co.uk/business-insurance/window-cleaners-insurance/

·        Howden – Window Cleaning Insurance: https://www.howdeninsurance.co.uk/small-business/liability/self-employed/window-cleaning-insurance/

·        Simply Business – Window Cleaning Insurance: https://www.simplybusiness.co.uk/business-insurance/window-cleaning-insurance/

·        Insure24 – Window Cleaner Insurance: https://www.insure24.co.uk/window-cleaners-insurance/

·        Everywhen – Window Cleaning Insurance: https://www.everywhen.co.uk/small-business-insurance/window-cleaning-insurance

·        Protectivity – Window Cleaning Insurance: https://www.protectivity.com/product/window-cleaning-insurance/

·        Just Quote Me – Window Cleaners Insurance with Height Limit 2026 Guide: https://justquoteme.co.uk/window-cleaners-insurance-with-height-limit-a-2026-guide-for-uk-trades/

·        Arachas – Cleaning Contractors Insurance Ireland: https://www.arachas.ie/business/cleaning-contractors

·        Dooley Insurance Group – Window Cleaning Services Insurance Ireland: https://dooleyinsurances.ie/pages/window-cleaning-services-insurance-ireland-liability-insurance-dooley-insurance-group

·        BizBroker.ie – Window Cleaner Insurance: https://bizbroker.ie/window-cleaner-insurance/

·        Quote Devil – Business Insurance Ireland: https://www.quotedevil.ie/business-insurance

·        HSE – Employers Liability Compulsory Insurance Act 1969 guide: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hse40.htm

·        GOV.UK – Employers Liability Insurance: https://www.gov.uk/employers-liability-insurance

·        HSE – Working at height whilst window cleaning: https://www.hse.gov.uk/cleaning/topics/window-cleaning.htm

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