Broker-arranged
Roofing insurance
Roofing is height work, and insurers rate it that way. Here are the covers roofers and roof plumbers hold, the fall-from-height rules Safe Work Australia sets out, the home warranty cover that applies to residential jobs, and why a licensed broker arranges roofing insurance.
- Public liability rated for height work
- Tools, materials and the ute
- One short form, then a licensed broker takes it from there
What insurance does a roofer need?
Public liability first, because a dropped sheet, a cracked skylight or water damage from an unfinished roof are the claims roofing attracts, and builders ask for $10 million or $20 million before you start. Then tools and equipment cover, commercial motor for the ute and trailer, personal accident for owner-operators, and workers compensation once you employ. Residential roofing above your state’s threshold also needs home warranty cover.
Roofers sit in the high-hazard trades, so insurers ask about heights, roof types, your fall protection and whether you do asbestos removal. A licensed broker arranges it rather than an online quote.
Working at heights: what Safe Work Australia says
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| High risk construction work | Construction work with a risk of falling more than 2 metres is high risk construction work, and in South Australia the threshold is 3 metres |
| Safe work method statement | You must prepare a SWMS for high risk construction work before it starts |
| Control hierarchy | Eliminate the work at height where you can, then use fall prevention devices, then work positioning systems, then fall arrest |
| Roof hazards | Falls from height are the major cause of death and injury when working on roofs: unprotected edges, fragile surfaces, skylights, wind and wet surfaces |
Insurers ask for your SWMS and fall protection as part of the quote. Good systems are part of staying insurable.
What’s usually covered, and what isn’t
Usually covered
- Injury and property damage at the site and to neighbours, under public liability.
- Water damage to a client’s home from an unfinished or faulty roof, subject to conditions.
- Tools, ladders and materials stolen from a site or the ute.
- The ute and trailer, under commercial motor.
Usually not covered
- Redoing your own faulty work, in most policies.
- Your own injury. That’s personal accident cover.
- Asbestos work, unless the policy includes it.
- Employee injuries. That’s workers compensation.
Home warranty cover on residential roofs
Re-roofing a house is residential building work, so the home warranty rules apply above your state’s threshold: over $20,000 in NSW, WA and South Australia, over $3,300 in Queensland, and over $20,000 in Victoria for contracts signed from 1 July 2026. Our home warranty guide sets out each scheme.
How to get roofing cover through us
Roofing insurance questions
Do roofers need public liability insurance?
Builders and head contractors require it before you start, usually $10 million or $20 million, and it’s the cover that responds when a job damages a client’s home or injures someone.
Why is roofing insurance more expensive than other trades?
Height work has more serious injuries and larger property claims, so insurers rate it higher. Good fall protection, a clean claims history and accurate turnover all help the premium.
Does my ute policy cover the roofing materials on the trailer?
Usually not. Materials and tools are covered under a tools or goods in transit policy, not the motor policy.
Do roof plumbers need the same cover?
Yes, and in Victoria licensed plumbers also need the plumbing insurance the Building and Plumbing Commission requires. Tell the broker which licence you hold.
Can roofers compare insurance online?
Not yet. Roofing is a high-hazard trade, so insurers assess the details and a licensed broker arranges it.
Keep reading
More industries arranged by a broker
Sources
- Safe Work Australia: Working at heights
- Safe Work Australia: Safe work on roofs information sheet
- Service NSW: Home Building Compensation Fund (HBCF)
- QBCC: Who pays home warranty and when
- Victorian Government: Home Warranty insurance
- WA Government: Home indemnity insurance fact sheet
- business.gov.au: Types of business insurance
Roofers