Commercial property insurance
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Your business premises are where the work happens. Whether you run your trade from a workshop, industrial unit, showroom or trade counter, damage to the property could cause a serious headache for your business.
Our commercial property insurance gives tradespeople and businesses cover options for the premises they run their business from.
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Commercial property insurance helps protect the premises you run your business from.
That could be:
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A workshop where you prepare jobs
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An industrial unit where you store equipment
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A showroom where customers view your products
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A trade counter where customers collect materials
Depending on the cover you choose, commercial property insurance can help protect the building, its contents and other parts of your property.
While different from public liability insurance (which typically covers third-party injury and property damage), your commercial building insurance policy can be set up to include liability cover if needed.
Your premises can be a key part of your business. If something damages the building or the things inside it, you could face unexpected costs while trying to keep your work going.
Commercial building insurance can provide cover for the property itself, while contents insurance is included to protect eligible items inside your premises.
Buildings cover
Buildings cover is designed to protect the property your business works from.
It may be useful if you own the premises or are responsible for insuring the building.
Contents cover
Contents cover can protect eligible items kept at your business premises.
This could include your business equipment and other items you keep there, depending on the cover you choose.
Improvements and fixtures
Optional cover may be available for changes you've made to the premises to suit your business.
This could be useful if you've adapted the property for the way you work.
Business interruption cover
Business interruption cover may help protect your income if an insured event affects your business.
The situations covered depend on the policy you choose.
Public liability cover
If members of the public visit your premises, public liability insurance can protect against injury to them or damage to their property.
Optional public liability cover can be added to your commercial property insurance policy.
Buildings and contents cover
To understand the difference between commercial property and contents insurance, it can be useful to separate the building itself from what's inside it.
Commercial building insurance
Commercial building insurance focuses on the physical premises your business operates from.
This is the part of the cover that can protect the building, subject to the policy terms and the level of cover you choose.
Contents insurance
Contents insurance is included as part of our commercial property insurance and is focused on eligible items inside the premises.
This could include business equipment and other contents kept at the property, subject to policy terms and the level of cover selected.
The right combination of buildings and contents cover depends on whether you own the property, have responsibility for insuring it, and your wider business circumstances.
Who isn't covered by commercial property insurance?
Commercial property insurance doesn't cover every type of damage or loss.
The exact exclusions depend on the policy and cover selected, so it's important to check your policy wording for the details that apply to your business.
Some common areas that may not be covered include:
✘ Wear and tear or gradual deterioration of the property
✘ Damage resulting from an uninsured cause
✘ Property or activities outside the cover selected
✘ Losses that fall outside the policy terms and conditions
Commercial building insurance vs landlord insurance
Commercial building and landlord insurance are two distinct types of cover, and can be relevant to different situations.
Commercial building insurance
Commercial building insurance is designed for businesses that own or are responsible for the premises they operate from.
It focuses on the building itself and can sit alongside cover for contents, business interruption, and public liability – depending on what your business needs.
Commercial landlord insurance
Commercial landlord insurance is designed for property owners who rent their premises to other businesses.
This is different from insurance for a business that operates from its own commercial property.
Our commercial property insurance is designed for businesses and tradespeople who use their premises for their own work, rather than businesses that rent commercial property to tenants.
Who’s responsible for insuring a commercial building usually depends on who owns it and what your lease or other agreement says.
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If you own the building: You may need to arrange the building’s insurance.
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If you rent the premises: The property owner may already insure the building. Your lease should explain who’s responsible for insuring the building and any improvements you make.
Not sure who’s responsible? Check your lease or property agreement, or contact our insurance team for more information.
How much does commercial building insurance cost?
There's no standard price for commercial building insurance. The cost depends on the property, your business and the cover you choose.
Factors that may affect the cost include:
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The type of property
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How the property is used
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The level of cover selected
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The value of the property and contents
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Your business circumstances
The cost of your commercial property insurance will be based on your individual circumstances.
How to get a commercial property insurance quote
Getting a commercial property insurance quote starts with telling us about your business and premises.
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Tell us about your business
Provide details about the work you do and the commercial property you operate from.
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Choose your cover
Select the cover options that fit your business and premises.
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Review your quote
Check the cover and price before completing your purchase.
The information you provide allows us to design your quote based on how you use your premises, and how your business actually works.
Public liability insurance
Public liability insurance can protect your business if you're legally liable after accidentally injuring someone or damaging their property.
It's separate from commercial property insurance and deals with different risks.
Van insurance
If you use a van to transport tools, materials or equipment between your premises and jobs, business van insurance can provide cover for your vehicle.
Tools insurance
If your business relies on tools, standalone tools insurance can provide cover for insured tools and equipment up to £15,000. Cover is UK-wide, and provides 24/7 protection for tools and equipment stored inside a locked vehicle or premises.
Get your commercial property insurance quote today
Your premises are a big part of your business. From workshops and industrial units to showrooms and trade counters, commercial property insurance can give you cover options for the property you work from.
Choose the cover that fits your business and get a personalised quote.
✔ Commercial property insurance for tradespeople and businesses
✔ Optional contents cover included
✔ Optional buildings or improvements cover
✔ Optional business interruption cover
✔ Optional tools in transit cover
✔ Save 10% with B&Q TradePoint
✔ Expert UK telephone support
✔ 24/7 instant AI web assistant