Public liability and professional indemnity cover built for chimney sweeps, including the fire and carbon monoxide risks that come with the job.
Public liability and professional indemnity cover built for chimney sweeps, including the fire and carbon monoxide risks that come with the job.
Soot damage indoorsWorking at heightFlue inspections
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Chimney sweep insurance is a combination of covers built around cleaning and inspecting chimneys, public liability for soot or property damage, professional indemnity if your safety assessment turns out wrong, and employers’ liability if you have staff.
A poorly swept chimney can lead to a fire or a build-up of carbon monoxide. Your work often stands between a client’s heating system and a serious safety risk.
Chimney sweep insurance can include:
Public liabilityEmployers’ liabilityProfessional indemnityWorking at heightPersonal accident coverBusiness van insurance (separate policy)
Public Liability
Covers claims if your business injures a customer or damages their property.
Employers’ Liability
A legal requirement once you employ any staff, even casual help.
Personal Accident
Covers loss of income if a fall or injury stops you working.
Business Contents
Protects equipment and rods kept at a workshop or unit.
Tools & Equipment
Covers your brushes and equipment against theft.
What could go wrong on a chimney sweep job?
What could go wrong on a chimney sweep job?
Most chimney sweep claims come from a fall from a roof or ladder, soot damage inside a customer’s home, or a flue problem missed during inspection.
Most chimney sweep claims come from a fall from a roof or ladder, soot damage inside a customer’s home, or a flue problem missed during inspection.
| Situation | Usually covered | Worth checking your policy |
|---|---|---|
Soot escapes and damages a client’s carpet or furniture | Yes, standard public liability | Third-party property damage |
You assess a chimney as safe and it later causes a fire | Needs professional indemnity, not just public liability | A safety assessment that turned out wrong |
You fall from a roof or ladder | No, needs personal accident cover | Your own injury isn’t a liability claim |
A client alleges carbon monoxide risk was missed | Often needs both covers together | Physical damage plus a professional judgement issue |
Top Tip
Sweeping a chimney is physical work, but telling a client it’s safe to use is professional advice. Most sweeps need both public liability and professional indemnity to cover the full job.
There’s no fixed price. It depends on the type of work you do, whether you have staff, your level of cover and your claims history.
Type of work
Sweeping, safety assessments and stove installation carry different risk.
Level of cover
Adding professional indemnity increases your premium.
Number of staff
More employees increase your employers’ liability exposure.
Certification work
Issuing safety certificates increases your professional indemnity risk.
Working at height
Roof access for certain chimneys can affect your risk rating.
Claims history
A clean claims record helps keep premiums down at renewal.
How to get chimney sweep insurance
How to get chimney sweep insurance
Getting chimney sweep insurance takes four steps: tell us about your work, choose your covers, compare specialist insurers, then get covered, often the same day.
Getting chimney sweep insurance takes four steps: tell us about your work, choose your covers, compare specialist insurers, then get covered, often the same day.
Tell us about your work
The type of chimney work you do, and whether you have staff.
Choose your covers
Public liability, professional indemnity and any extras.
We compare specialist insurers
We search our panel of 20+ UK insurers.
Get covered and working
Receive your documents, usually the same day.
UK-based specialist advisersAccess to specialist insurersNo obligation, just expert helpTrusted by thousands of businesses across the UK
Trusted by thousands of businesses across the UK
From everyday business insurance to complex specialist cover, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to find the right protection and provide expert support when it matters.
From everyday business insurance to complex specialist cover, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to find the right protection and provide expert support when it matters.
Chimney sweep insurance guides
Chimney sweep insurance guides
Practical advice on cover, safety assessments and staying protected.
Practical advice on cover, safety assessments and staying protected.
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Chimney sweep insurance FAQs
Chimney sweep insurance FAQs
Straight answers on cover, safety assessments, height work and cost.
Straight answers on cover, safety assessments, height work and cost.
Chimney sweep insurance is a combination of covers built around cleaning and inspecting chimneys: public liability for soot or property damage, professional indemnity if your safety assessment turns out wrong, and employers’ liability if you have staff.
Still have questions?
Our advisers are here to help you find the right solution.
Related trades we cover
Related trades we cover
Chimney sweeps often work alongside these trades. Each has its own cover requirements.
Chimney sweeps often work alongside these trades. Each has its own cover requirements.
Roofer Insurance
Working at height around chimney stacks and flashing.
Heating & Gas Engineer Insurance
Flues, appliances and ventilation connected to the chimney.
Bricklayer Insurance
Repointing and rebuilding chimney stacks.
