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Licensed Conveyancers Professional Indemnity
Trusted protection for your profession – get a callback from our dedicated team (whenever suits you best)
Essential cover for your everyday risks
You’re exacting in your services, and a lot rides on everything going to plan. But if you're accused of making mistakes, you’ll want to know your insurance has got you covered.
Professional indemnity insurance (PII) offers protection if a client or third party accuses you of negligence in your work. All licensed conveyancer firms must have this type of cover, as set by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), the property law regulator in England and Wales.
Why choose us?
Using a responsive, experienced broker can make all the difference. Our dedicated team has more than 35 years’ combined experience in placing PII for licensed conveyancers. Trusted by your industry, we're a proud partner to the Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC), and we also work closely with the Conveyancing Association (CA).
What does professional indemnity insurance cover?
PII provides financial protection if a client or third party accuses you of negligence or errors in your advice or services.
This means if things go wrong, whether the accusation is unfounded or not, your policy steps in to cover legal fees and compensation costs on a claim.
This includes claims due to:
- Negligence
- Misrepresentation
- Defamation
- Breaches of confidentiality
- Data loss
- Intellectual property infringements
From mistakes in searches and enquiries to missing critical dates, it’s vital protection for conveyancers’ day-to-day risks.
How much professional indemnity insurance do conveyancers need?
The CLC sets out a minimum of £2m for licensed conveyancers’ PII.
It’s key to get the right level of cover for your firm. You can make a reasonable assessment based around the work you do and the clients you take on, and the value of your work. The proposal form for insurers can also act as a prompt.
A good broker will help advise you on how much cover your company needs (and optional top-up cover available).
It’s worth knowing that minimum cover levels and the maximum excess you can agree to (the highest amount regulators allow you to pay towards a claim) don’t apply to defence costs.
Enhanced wording, added peace of mind
We know that choosing the right PII insurance for the work you do is a critical decision.
For extra reassurance, our recently enhanced policy wording provides robust and up-to-date cover, specifically designed for CLC-regulated firms.
We're confident this means greater protection, increased clarity, and the support you need, when it matters most.
We have worked with the team at Howden for many years and find their combination of honesty and good humour a refreshing change when dealing with insurance renewals.
What we offer
Along with competitive cover and a team with extensive insurance knowledge, you'll get:
- Insurer access and quality cover: We offer CLC-compliant PII from a number of A-rated insurers (which indicates financial strength and ability to pay claims) – including our own exclusive facility.
- Support from a large in-house specialist PII claims team: Our experienced lawyers and senior claims specialists are dedicated to licensed conveyancing claims.
- Industry insights and news: Regular updates on legal and regulatory changes and claims trends that affect you.
What our conveyancer clients say
"We have been using Howden now for a number of years for our professional indemnity insurance requirements and I can honestly say that the nature of the relationship that we have forged over the years, simply means that we would not use anyone else.
Whilst the fantastically supportive, personal service and highly competitive pricing are key factors for us, the real reason we use Howden is for peace of mind as we know that they will secure the right policy for our needs and offer a straightforward and stress-free renewal process, every time!"
"In a fast-moving industry where reliability and expertise are paramount, Howden stand out for their ability to provide prompt and practical solutions tailored to our needs. Their team is always readily available to offer guidance and support, ensuring that we have the right protections in place for our clients.
Additionally, their proactive approach to market updates has been invaluable. Whether it's regulatory changes or emerging risks, they ensure we stay ahead of developments, allowing us to navigate the conveyancing landscape with confidence.
We highly value our relationship and would not hesitate to recommend them to others seeking a dependable and knowledgeable indemnity provider."
"I find the entire process pretty fraught at the best of times, but then our insurer withdrew and I feared it was going to be even worse.
Thanks to Howden's clear and helpful communication all the way along, I was probably the calmest I’ve been throughout a June! I appreciate it is a busy period, so I appreciate your hard work."
Reaching renewal?
Let us help you navigate this complex market.
We'll assess the competitiveness of your existing policy before the renewal rush begins. This means you'll have plenty of time to explore available options and make informed decisions about your PII.
You’ll get an honest and transparent assessment of your premium and self-insured excess, so you can secure the best possible terms (and coverage) in the current market.
Short on time? We can give you a quote based on a proposal form you’ve already completed.
Claims you can count on
A streamlined and efficient claims process is everything when you’re defending yourself against accusations.
We have one of the largest in-house claims teams in the PII market. That’s over 40 experienced lawyers and senior claims specialists on hand to advise and support you on notifications and claims.
We'll be by your side throughout, keeping you updated, and working towards a quick settlement wherever possible.
Licensed conveyancers PI FAQs
PII doesn’t cover every eventuality. Examples of areas not usually covered are:
• Fee disputes
• Disciplinary proceedings
• Fines and penalties
• Partner or shareholder disputes
• Injury or property damage
We can advise on conveyancing insurance across all types of business risks, including cyber insurance, as part of our broking service. When you get a quote for PI, just tick the cyber box and any other covers you’re interested in (or ask at any time).
All licensed conveyancers use a broker to find and maintain their PII. Specialist brokers can save you time and effort by seeking the right cover at a competitive price, from several providers.
A good broker also:
- Provides wide market access to a number of insurers (with us, this includes exclusive access)
- Offers advice and support, and is easily contactable if you have questions
- Advocates for you if a claim happens and supports you throughout the claim process
- Offers risk management advice to help reduce your premium and risk of claims
- Specialises in your industry and builds cover around your firm’s unique needs and risks
Start the work well ahead of your renewal date. This includes gathering key information together, including your claims history and current risk management practices.
Set time aside to complete your proposal form, so that it’s accurate and detailed. Include any changes since your last renewal, such as partner changes at your firm or risk management procedures you’ve put in place (updated staff training or new compliance systems, for example).
If you arrange cover through us, we’ll be in touch well ahead of renewal (at least 90 days) to help get your firm ready and shown in the best light to insurers. We’re also on hand at any time to answer your questions. We’ll do all we can to get the best terms, whenever you’re ready.
Meet the team
Edward Donne
Edward Donne
Divisional Director
Edward began working as an insurance broker in 1981 and has specialised in professional indemnity insurance since 1987. Previously at HSBC, he joined Howden in 2010.
In 2024, he was honored to receive a 'Lifetime Achievement Award' at the LEAP Modern Law event, made that extra bit special as it was supported by of our conveyancer clients.
Scott Thorne
Scott Thorne
Associate Director
Scott has been working in professional indemnity insurance since finishing college in 2006.
He began specialising in SRA regulated entities until 2011, when his then company was appointed as brokers for the CLC Master Policy. Scott headed up the CLC team at Miller before leaving in 2023 to join Howden.
Scott specialises in legal services and licensed conveyancer firms (of all sizes) based in England and Wales.
Bhaven Mashru
Bhaven Mashru
Associate Director
Bhaven graduated from the University of Plymouth with a BSc (Hons) in Media. He began his insurance career in 2008 and went on to manage a new business team specialising in PI for accountants regulated by the ICAEW.
In 2018, Bhav made the move to JLT (later Marsh) to specialise in PI for SRA firms, and headed up the Marsh JLT CLC proposition before moving to Howden in 2024.
Bhav specialises in insurance solutions for the legal profession for firms all over the country.
Colin Pethers
Colin Pethers
Associate Director
Colin joined Howden in 2004, where he started looking after professional indemnity and other insurance needs for construction clients. These were mainly approved inspectors, architects, asbestos surveyors, engineers, surveyors and valuers.
Since 2017 he has been involved in professional indemnity for licensed conveyancers, taking a lead role in Howden’s CLC Scheme. He now specialises in the legal sector for firms based in England and Wales, along with Irish solicitors.
Clarisse Robbins
Clarisse Robbins
Associate Director, Claims
Clarisse specialises in professional indemnity insurance claims handling and risk management. She has worked in the insurance broking industry for over 10 years, joining Howden in 2014.
As part of Howden’s legal services professional indemnity claims team, Clarisse focuses on servicing Howden’s key solicitor and licensed conveyancing clients in the management of their claims and notifications. This includes maintaining insurer and TPA relationships and assisting in the day-to-day management of a specialist team.
Clarisse has extensive experience in dealing with complex matters (including providing advice on policy coverage and claims strategies), as well as delivering risk management presentations for a broad spectrum of professions, including solicitors and licensed conveyancers. This enables her to offer guidance and support to clients with all manner of claims and technical queries and challenges.
