Working from home insurance
Whether you're employed, self-employed or running a business from your property, working from home can change the risks your home and belongings face. Specialist working from home insurance can help ensure you're protected while carrying out your day-to-day work activities.
What is working from home insurance?
Working from home insurance is designed to help protect people who carry out work activities from their residential property. While some insurers may extend existing home insurance cover to accommodate occasional remote work, others may require additional protection depending on your circumstances. A working from home insurance policy may provide protection for:
Home office equipment
Business use of the property
Personal belongings
Business equipment
Public liability risks
Loss or damage to work related items
Certain legal liability exposures
Benefits of working with Howden:
We're committed to helping make arranging insurance simpler and more efficient
Personalised guidance backed by local expertise
Chat to your local broker, within your community
Insurance cover tailored to your needs
We can support you when something goes wrong
What equipment can be covered?
Many home workers rely on valuable technology and equipment to perform their role. This can include:
Laptop computers
Desktop computers
Monitors
Printers
Mobile phones
Office furniture
Specialist business equipment
If equipment is owned by your employer, you should check whether it’s covered under your employer's insurance arrangements or if additional protection may be required.
If you own the equipment yourself, confirming that it’s included in your insurance policy can provide added peace of mind.
Working from home and your home insurance
One of the most common questions people ask is whether working from home affects their home insurance, and for many employees carrying out administrative or office-based work, insurers may continue to provide cover under an existing home insurance policy. However, requirements can vary between providers. You should inform your insurance provider if one of the following is true:
You are working from home regularly
You operate a business from your property
You store business stock or equipment
You have clients visiting your home
You employ staff at your property
Keeping your insurance provider informed can help ensure your policy accurately reflects how your property is being used.
How working from home insurance may help reduce financial exposure
The cost of replacing business equipment, dealing with liability claims or recovering from a significant loss can be substantial. Having suitable protection in place may help avoid unexpected expenses associated with damaged equipment, theft, liability claims, business interruptions and property damage incidents. While insurance comes at a cost, appropriate cover may help reduce the financial impact of unexpected events.
Get a working from home insurance quote
Whether you're an employee working remotely, a self-employed professional, a freelancer or the owner of a home-based business, having the right protection in place can help you work with confidence. At Howden Insurance Ireland, we can help you explore working from home insurance options tailored to your circumstances. Contact our team today to discuss your needs and obtain a working from home insurance quote.
Note: This is a marketing article from Howden. The information in this guide is accurate at time of publication. This content is provided for general information only and does not constitute financial or insurance advice. If you have any questions or want to understand working from home insurance could work better for you, call us on 0818 024 106 and we'll be happy to help.
FAQs – Working from home insurance
Does working from home invalidate home insurance?
Not necessarily. Many insurers will continue to provide cover for certain types of remote work, but it's important to inform your insurance provider about any regular work from home arrangements.
Which insurance policies should be considerations for self employed professionals?
If you're self-employed, your insurance needs may differ significantly from those of an employee. Freelancers, consultants and other independent professionals often have greater responsibility for arranging their own protection. Depending on your circumstances and insurance requirements, some individuals may wish to explore options such as:
Working from home insurance
Public liability insurance
Professional indemnity insurance
Equipment cover
Business interruption protection
For many freelancers and contractors, a combination of covers may provide broader protection than relying solely on standard home insurance.
Are home office equipment and laptops covered?
Cover varies between policies. Some insurers may include protection for home office equipment, while others may require additional cover depending on ownership and value.
When is professional indemnity insurance relevant?
Professional indemnity insurance can help protect against claims alleging professional mistakes, errors or omissions, negligence, or financial loss caused by advice or services provided because PI cover can vary significantly between insurers. If your work involves providing advice, consultancy services or professional expertise to clients, you may want to consider this type of cover.
Many consultants, designers, accountants, IT professionals and other knowledge-based workers choose to consider professional indemnity protection alongside their other business insurance arrangements.
Do I need public liability insurance?
Public liability insurance may be particularly important if clients, customers, suppliers or other visitors come to your property. This cover may help if a third party:
Suffers an injury while visiting your home
Experiences property damage connected to your activities
Makes a claim against you following an accident
Have any security tips for home workers?
6 security tips for home workers
Taking simple steps to improve security can help protect your equipment and reduce risk. Consider:
1. Locking doors and windows when away
2. Installing quality alarms
3. Using secure passwords and multi factor authentication
4. Keeping laptops out of sight
5. Backing up important files regularly
6. Updating software and security systems
Good security practices can help protect both physical equipment and valuable business information.
Do self employed people need different insurance?
In many cases, yes. Self employed individuals often need to consider additional business related protections such as public liability insurance or professional indemnity insurance.
Do freelancers need professional indemnity insurance?
This depends on the type of work they perform. Freelancers who provide specialist advice, professional services or consultancy may wish to consider professional indemnity insurance.
Can I get cover if I run a business from home?
Yes. Many insurers offer insurance solutions for home-based businesses, although the level of protection required will depend on the nature of the business and how the property is used.
Does working from home affect your car insurance?
For some people, remote work has changed how they use their vehicle. If your car is now being used differently, you may wish to review your car insurance arrangements. For example, changes in commuting habits or business use could affect the information held by your insurer.
It's always worth checking with your insurance provider if your vehicle usage has changed significantly. This is because cover is subject to insurer acceptance, underwriting criteria, terms, conditions and exclusions. Not all benefits or features are available under every policy.
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