If you own land you can be held responsible if anyone is injured or property is damaged within its boundary. Even if there is no public access, you can still face claims for compensation costing tens-of-thousands of pounds or even more. And it’s not just accidents on the land that you need to think about. If you have any buildings or trees that fall onto someone else’s land or a public area, you can be sued for damages. Whether you own a huge country estate or an inner-city car park, you can protect yourself financially with landowners’ liability insurance.
Proving no negligence
It might not seem fair, but legally you’re responsible for protecting the public from injury. That means that even if someone has an accident whilst trespassing, they can make a claim against you. If you can’t prove you were not negligent, you’ll be liable.
Landowners’ public liability insurance
Landowners’ insurance is a type of public liability insurance, designed for your peace of mind if you own land. It covers the costs if someone makes a claim against you for damages caused by an accident on your property. It pays for your legal fees as well as any compensation pay-outs if you’re found at fault.
Who needs it?
All landowners in the countryside, town and city should consider protecting themselves with landowner liability insurance.
This includes:
- Residents associations with communal areas.
- Commercial landowners. For example, anyone who owns an industrial estate or sports field.
- Private landowners. For example, if you own common land, woods, or fields with or without footpaths.
- Anyone who owns a private or shared access road.
Remember: land insurance is designed for land that stands alone. You probably don’t need separate land insurance if your field or car park is attached to your home or commercial property. That’s because it should be included in your buildings insurance cover. But if the land is separated, for example by a road, it probably won’t be included. If in doubt, check the small print, or speak to your broker.
Types of claim
Some of the most common claims include:
- Slips and trips. For example, someone trips over a hole on your land and hurts their ankle
- Damage to vehicles caused by potholes on a private piece of road. Such as when accessing an industrial estate or on a private access lane.
- Injury caused by broken a fence. This could be in the town or countryside.
- A tree on your land falling and causing damage to a person or property.
- Injury due to a poorly maintained stile on a footpath on your property.
Even if you’re found not responsible, your legal fees to get to that point can be financially crippling. Insurance means peace of mind that the cost of defending your case and paying compensation is covered.
Claim culture
Solicitors offering no-win, no-fee legal help makes it easier than ever for the public to make a claim against you. They have nothing to lose by making a claim, and with some payouts reaching thousands of pounds, a lot to gain. That means landowners can find themselves at real financial risk.
How much does public liability insurance for land cost?
Premiums can vary depending on your location, the size of the land and any extra factors that could make your property a bigger risk. For example, any water features, derelict buildings, or public rights of way.
Quotes for identical, or very similar, landowners’ liability insurance policies can vary greatly between providers. To be sure of getting the best price, contact as many different insurance companies as you can. Alternatively, speak to a specialist, independent insurance broker, such as Park Insurance, who can do the legwork for you.
We have over 20 years of experience helping individuals and businesses. Our dedicated team understands the specific needs of landowners. Get in touch and we’ll guide you towards finding the right level of cover at the right price.
Complete the form below for a callback and a quote from one of our specialist land insurance team. Alternatively, call us on 0117 955 6835 to see how much we can save you.