When you run a skip hire business and operate strictly on private property, it’s easy to believe that public liability insurance isn’t something you need to worry about. After all, you’re not leaving skips on public roads or footpaths, so where’s the risk?
Skip hire professionals often assume that if they’re not blocking public highways or operating in high-traffic areas, liability won’t be an issue. But the truth is, working on private property doesn’t shield you from legal or financial exposure. Many of the claims we deal with come from incidents that occur well away from public land.
A Misunderstanding That Could Cost You
The confusion usually stems from the word “public” in public liability insurance. It sounds like the cover is only needed if you’re working in public spaces. In reality, the “public” refers to people, not places.
If a third party, whether a homeowner, builder, site visitor, or even an uninvited individual, is injured or suffers property damage due to your business activities, you can be held liable, regardless of where it happens. Whether it’s a residential driveway, a private construction site, or a commercial yard, if someone makes a claim against you, it’s your responsibility to deal with it. Without insurance, that means paying legal fees and compensation out of your own pocket.
And in the skip hire industry, where you’re regularly delivering, placing, and collecting heavy metal containers, things can go wrong even when you’re careful.
Real-World Risks You Might Not Have Considered
Think about your average delivery. You reverse your lorry into a narrow driveway, drop a skip, and drive off. It’s all done in a few minutes. Now, imagine the homeowner trips over rubble left behind and breaks their wrist. Or your lorry clips a wall or cracks paving stones during a tight manoeuvre. Or a subcontractor on a building site is injured as you lower the skip into place. These aren’t hypothetical scenarios; they’re examples of actual claims that could fall squarely on your shoulders.
It doesn’t matter that you were on private land. The fact is, your business caused harm or damage to someone else, and that opens you up to liability.
There have also been cases where disputes arise between neighbours when a skip is placed near a shared boundary, and one party claims the placement has damaged their fence or blocked access. Even when you’re doing everything by the book, people can make claims. And once solicitors get involved, costs climb quickly.
What Public Liability Insurance Really Does
Public liability insurance for skip hire companies is designed to protect your business from exactly these kinds of claims. It covers compensation payouts for third-party injury or property damage, along with legal costs involved in defending yourself, whether or not you’re found at fault.
This could mean covering the cost of a damaged driveway, legal representation in a civil claim, or medical expenses if someone is injured near your skip. It acts as a safety net, keeping an unexpected mishap from turning into a financial disaster.
You might be thinking, “But I’m careful. I’ve never had an issue.” That’s a great position to be in, but it’s not a guarantee of the future. Accidents often happen when you least expect them. Even if you’re operating a one-person business and only handling a few local jobs a week, you’re still exposed to risk every time you interact with customers and their property.
Why Going Without Cover Isn’t Worth the Gamble
Without public liability insurance, a single claim could wipe out months, or even years, of hard work. Legal fees, court costs, and compensation payments can be substantial, and they usually come at the worst possible time. Worse still, many commercial clients and construction sites now require proof of insurance before allowing you on-site. Not being insured could mean missing out on lucrative work or losing regular customers who need to cover their own liability by ensuring everyone on-site is properly insured.
At Ashburnham Insurance, we’ve worked with skip hire companies of all sizes, from small family-run businesses to larger fleets. We understand the unique risks your line of work involves, and we tailor our policies to make sure you’re protected without paying for cover you don’t need. Our goal is to make public liability insurance simple, affordable, and crystal clear.
Don’t Wait for a Claim to Learn the Hard Way
The bottom line is this: operating solely on private property doesn’t make your skip hire business immune to risk. It doesn’t matter if it’s a public road or a private driveway; if someone makes a claim against you, you’re liable either way.
Protect your business, your reputation, and your peace of mind. Don’t leave things to chance. Talk to Ashburnham Insurance on FREEPHONE 0800 1696137 and get the cover your skip hire business needs.