Tradesman Insurance in Kent 2026: What You Need, What You’re Missing, and What Could Cost You

Kent’s trades sector is busy. New residential development across Gravesham, Medway, Tonbridge and Malling, Maidstone, and Sevenoaks is generating sustained demand for skilled tradesmen across every discipline. With that activity comes risk — and not all tradesman insurance policies are equal.

The gap most Kent tradesmen don’t know about

Van break-ins targeting tools are a persistent and growing problem across North Kent. The tools themselves — often the single most valuable collection of assets a sole trader owns — sit in an unattended vehicle on a public street every night. And many tradesmen are significantly underinsured for this risk, for a reason they’ve never checked.

Per-item sub-limits.

Most tools cover policies include a per-item limit — the maximum the insurer will pay for any single item of equipment. A policy with a £30,000 total tools limit might have a £1,500 per-item sub-limit. For a tradesman carrying specialist power tools, survey equipment, or diagnostic devices worth £2,000–£5,000 per item, a £1,500 per-item limit means a significant shortfall on every single significant claim.

Read your policy schedule. Check the per-item limit. If it doesn’t reflect the value of your most expensive individual tools, speak to your broker before you need to claim.

The subcontractor employment question

This is the issue that surprises more tradesmen than any other.

If you regularly use a labourer or mate on jobs — paying them cash or as a self-employed subcontractor — there is a meaningful risk that they are classified as your employee for insurance purposes. The test is not whether they have their own UTR number or invoice you. The test is whether they work under your direction and supervision, using your tools and materials.

If they do, your employer’s liability insurer may treat them as your employees. If you don’t have employers’ liability cover — or if they are excluded by name from the policy — a workplace accident involving them becomes an uninsured claim.

If you use subbies, have a specific conversation with your broker about whether and how they are covered.

Contractors All Risk — the gap most small tradesmen have

If you carry out any work that results in a structure mid-build or mid-renovation — an extension under construction, a bathroom stripped out but not yet fitted, a roof removed before the new one goes on — Contractors All Risk (CAR) insurance covers those works if they are damaged before completion.

Standard public liability covers damage to the client’s existing property. It does not cover damage to the contract works themselves. A storm, a fire, a flood, or a break-in that damages the works in progress is a CAR claim, not a public liability claim.

*Ragarfield Limited in Gravesend has arranged tradesman insurance for 100+ trades across Kent for over 52 years.*