Roofers and working at height: why comparison sites say no

Insurer occupation guides contain thresholds the public never sees, and height is the best known of them. Work above roughly forty feet is a common decline point across mainstream products, while the same trade below that line quotes routinely. Aerial rigging, steeplejacking and high roofing sit on the wrong side of it; most domestic roofing does not.

Why insurers focus on height

Falls from height are consistently one of the leading causes of fatal injuries at work in Great Britain, according to the Health and Safety Executive, and they are also a major cause of serious, long-term injuries. For insurers, height is therefore a reasonable proxy for risk. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 place duties on employers and the self-employed to plan and manage that risk, but insurers still price the underlying exposure.

The result is that insurers ask not just what your job title is, but what you actually do: the maximum height you work at, how often you work at height, and whether you use scaffolding, ladders, roof ladders or mobile platforms.

Why comparison sites say no

Automated comparison journeys are built to be simple, so they apply the flag bluntly: occupation matches a high-risk list, journey ends. What they cannot do is have the conversation about what the work actually involves — the proportion of time at height, the systems used, whether the role is hands-on or supervisory. That conversation is often the difference between a blanket refusal and a real quote.

A roofer who spends most of their time on two-storey domestic properties, a contractor who mostly estimates and supervises, and a specialist who works on high-rise commercial roofs are three very different risks — but they may all select the same job title online.

Different products, different answers

It is also worth separating the products. Life insurance generally remains available to at-height trades with a modest loading — protecting your family is rarely the difficult part. It is income protection and the disability benefits within critical illness cover where occupation bites hardest, and where the definition offered matters as much as whether cover is offered at all.

• Life insurance — usually available, sometimes with a loading for higher work.
• Critical illness cover — usually available for the illness elements, but total permanent disability cover may be restricted or removed for at-height trades.
• Income protection — available from some insurers, often with a longer minimum waiting period and sometimes with a weaker definition of incapacity than an office worker would receive.
• Personal Sick Pay — short-term cover designed for manual trades, often with more flexible occupation rules.

Disclose accurately

It can be tempting to understate how high you work to get a better quote. Do not. Insurers assess claims against the information you gave when you applied, and an inaccurate description of your duties could lead to a claim being reduced or declined. A specialist broker can describe your work fully and accurately in a way that gives the underwriter the right context, which is far more effective than simplifying it.

If your work changes

Many roofers move between types of work over a career — from hands-on to supervisory, or from commercial to domestic. If your duties change after you take out a policy, check with your insurer or adviser whether you need to tell them, and whether a lower-risk role might now qualify for better terms.

What insurers will ask

• The maximum height you work at, and how often you work at that height
• The proportion of your working time spent on roofs or at height
• Whether your work is mainly domestic, commercial or industrial
• Whether you work on flat roofs, pitched roofs, or both
• What access equipment you use, such as scaffolding, roof ladders, edge protection or mobile elevating work platforms
• Whether your role is hands-on, supervisory, or a mix of both
• Whether you are employed, self-employed or a company director

Having clear answers ready before you apply makes it far easier for an adviser to place your case with the right insurer first time.

Self-employed roofers

Many roofers are self-employed or work as CIS subcontractors, which means they receive no sick pay. If you are hurt, the income stops immediately while bills, van finance and equipment costs continue. That makes the waiting period on income protection especially important. Standard income protection for at-height trades may carry a minimum waiting period of several weeks or months, so a Personal Sick Pay plan with a shorter wait can be a better fit for some roofers. Your benefit will usually be based on your taxable profit from recent tax returns, so make sure the cover reflects what you actually earn.

Next steps

Our roofer page, roofer's guide to income protection and high-risk occupations guide explain the options in more detail. If you have been declined online, our occupation checker gives a quick indication of how insurers are likely to view your work.