Homeworkers need business insurance, says ABI

The army of homeworkers in Britain’s workforce should ensure that they have "adequate business insurance cover," the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has advised.

ABI spokesman Malcom Tarling has pointed out that most household policies can be extended to include business cover, but that separate business policies designed for homeworkers are also available – either of these two options would be essential to anyone who is working from home and self-employed.

Those who work for an employer should check the nature of their cover, according to Mr Tarling.

He said: "You should ensure first that your employer has arranged the necessary level of cover.

"For example, if there are clients visiting your home you need to make sure that your employer has that in their liability insurance coverage.

"Employer’s liability can be extended to cover employees not working in the main business premises."

The ABI represents a total of over 400 companies.