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home insurance for counsellors

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  • Business equipment covered.
  • Underwritten by AXA Insurance.
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David Joyson

Written by

David Joyson

Home Insurance Expert & Customer Champion

Libby Goodsearles

Reviewed by

Libby Goodsearles

Head of Marketing

Less than 1 minute

Updated: 24 Jun 2024

HOME INSURANCE WHEN OPERATING A COUNSELLING BUSINESS FROM HOME

When operating a counselling business from home you need to be sure that your home insurer is aware that you run a business from home and is happy to cover you. This is particularly important if visitors are coming to your property, in case of accidental damage or injury.

WHAT DOES HOME BUSINESS INSURANCE COVER?

The level of cover that you need will vary depending on the way that you run your business, and the contact that you have with people from outside the business. The main types of cover to search for include home business public liability insurance and business equipment insurance.

PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE:

This is essential for clients visiting your house. It will protect your home business if a client or other visitor is injured at your property, or if their personal property is damaged somehow. Homeprotect offers public liability insurance up to £5 million.

BUSINESS EQUIPMENT INSURANCE:

Repairing or replacing damaged equipment that you depend on to run your business can quickly mount up as well as impacting trading. With insurance in place for your business equipment you can protect computers, office furniture and stock in some cases.

As a professional counsellor working from home, Homeprotect can offer you house insurance with business use cover included, making it easier for you to look after your property with one policy. Home business insurance is a specialist type of insurance that takes the impact of your business operations into account while also covering your house and its contents.

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Home Insurance with business use Cover Levels

Our home insurance is designed to protect your home against insured events such as fire, storm, flood, escape of water, theft, malicious damage, subsidence, landslip or heave.

Buildings cover

Protects the main structure of your home, including attached garages and conservatories, and permanent outdoor features such as patios, driveways and boundary walls.

up to £1 million

(more cover available if you need it) 

Contents cover

Protects your household contents — including furniture, clothing, appliances, gadgets and valuables — against events like fire, flood and theft. Cover is provided on a new for old basis. There is a standard limit of £10,000 for business equipment (although this can be increased by our underwriters).

from £25,000

Alternative accommodation

We’ll help cover the cost of temporary accommodation for you and your pets if your home becomes uninhabitable due to an insured event. If you stay with friends or family instead, we’ll cover your extra living costs.

up to £75,000 (Buildings)

up to £10,000 (Contents)

Home emergency

Covers sudden, unexpected emergencies — like an uncontrollable leak — that require immediate action to prevent damage or make your home secure. Two levels of cover are available, for different types of insured loss. 

up to £500

Covers legal costs for certain insured events. There must be a reasonable chance of success, and the incident must happen during your policy term. Two levels of cover are available, for different types of insured loss. 

up to £25,000

Trace and access

We’ll pay to detect the source of a water or oil leak, and cover the cost of reinstating floors, walls or paths that were disturbed in the process.

up to £10,000

Outbuildings cover

Covers detached garages, greenhouses, sheds, summerhouses and other outbuildings within your boundary or any communal area you’re legally responsible for.

from £20,000

Liability cover

Covers your legal liability for accidental death, injury or illness to someone else, or damage to their property.

up to £5 million

Personal possessions

Covers items you wear, carry or use outside the home (e.g. clothing, bags and sports equipment).

Optional

Gadgets, bikes and valuables away from the home

Optional cover for mobile phones, laptops, tablets, watches, jewellery, hearing aids and other high-risk items you take out of your home. 

Optional

Accidental damage

Optional cover for unexpected mishaps around the home — such as breakages, spillages or damage caused by you, your guests or wild animals. Two levels of cover are available

Optional

important exclusions

  • No cover for business tools or stock unless agreed by underwriters 
  • No cover for business money 

Business Definitions 

Business Equipment: Equipment used to run your business, such as computers, printers, monitors, routers, office furniture, and electronic gadgets, such as mobile phones and laptops. 

Business Tools: Items used directly to perform a trade, craft, or service — such as scissors, clippers, kilns, or power tools. Not covered unless agreed by underwriters. 

Business Stock: Items intended for sale — like bought-in products (e.g. clothing, cosmetics) or materials used to make goods (e.g. clay, fabric, paint). Completed handmade items are not covered. 

Business Money: Cash used in the course of business — such as float money or takings. Not covered under this policy. 

We may be able to extend cover for Business Tools and Business Stock following a referral to our underwriting team. We can also increase the Business Equipment claim limit beyond £10,000, if approved. 

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What’s covered by HOME insurance with business use?

What we offer

Emergency help when you need it most 

If you have a home emergency — such as a power outage, uncontrollable leak or a broken lock — our 24/7 Home Emergency cover is included as standard. 

  • We aim to get an engineer to you within four hours 
  • For serious water leaks, we’ll try to have a plumber with you in two hours

Response times may vary during extreme weather. Policy terms and claim limits apply.

5 star rated cover

Our insurance has received the highest rating from independent financial researchers, Moneyfacts. 

Repair guarantee

We guarantee any buildings work we arrange after a claim for two years. Contents repairs are guaranteed for one year. 

New for old

Where we replace a damaged or stolen item, we’ll do our best to match the original — on a ‘new for old’ basis. If that’s not possible, we’ll offer a suitable alternative or a full cash settlement. 

Family Legal Protection is included as standard. You’ll have access to expert telephone legal advice on personal matters under the laws of the UK and most of Europe. 

What isn’t covered?

There are some things we can’t cover, including: 

Gradual damage, wear and tear, or issues you knew about but didn’t fix 

Faulty design, construction, or workmanship.

Damage caused by poor maintenance or neglect

Items you don’t own or aren’t legally responsible for 

Items stolen from unoccupied vehicles  

Damage caused by pets.

Mechanical or electrical breakdown

Keeping your home and belongings in good condition is essential. If damage happens because of neglect or poor maintenance, your claim may be declined, and your policy could be cancelled. 

New Customer?

If you’re deciding on whether to buy home insurance with us, you can use our latest policy booklets as a guide.

Existing Customer?

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