Why is £2 million the minimum public liability cover?
Two million pounds is the minimum public liability cover because escape-of-water damage in a Glasgow tenement can trigger claims across multiple flats below, and £1m cover is now considered insufficient by most trade bodies.
Escape-of-water is the single most common kitchen-fitting claim in tenements — a badly sealed sink or dishwasher connection floods the flat below, then the flat below that, then a factor-shared common area. Two-flat cascades routinely exceed £250,000 in rectification. Two million is the safe minimum in Glasgow.
What does a workmanship warranty actually cover?
A workmanship warranty covers everything the fitter physically did — cabinets fitted level, doors aligned and closing evenly, worktop joints sealed, sink and tap connections watertight, plinths cut square.
It does not cover product failure (that is the manufacturer's warranty), fair wear and tear, or damage caused by the household after handover. Every fitter in the Glasgow Kitchen Fitters team offers a documented 12-month minimum workmanship warranty as a condition of joining our team.
What is an Insurance-Backed Guarantee and do I need one?
An Insurance-Backed Guarantee is a third-party insurance policy that honours the workmanship warranty if the original fitter stops trading, and it is worth having on any Glasgow kitchen project over £15,000.
IBGs typically cost £50–£150 and last 6–10 years. They are optional but sensible on higher-value fits. They do not replace the fitter's insurance — they sit on top of it. Ask the fitter to arrange one through a trade body such as the KBSA or FMB.
How does the Consumer Rights Act 2015 protect me in Scotland?
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 protects Scottish homeowners for up to six years from install date if the kitchen fitting is not carried out with reasonable care and skill, regardless of what the fitter's warranty says.
Statutory rights sit above the fitter's contractual warranty. Keep the signed contract, the itemised quote, the payment receipts and any photos of defects. If the fitter refuses a legitimate repair, escalate through Citizens Advice Scotland or the local Trading Standards office before considering the small claims process.
Kitchen fitter cover: what covers what
| Cover | Provided by | Typical period | What it protects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public liability insurance | Fitter's insurer | Annual | Accidental damage to your property or a neighbour's |
| Employer's liability | Fitter's insurer | Annual | Injury to the fitter's own staff on site |
| Workmanship warranty | Fitter | 12 months+ | Level worktops, aligned doors, sealed sinks |
| Cabinetry warranty | Manufacturer | 5–10 years | Manufacturing defects in units and doors |
| Appliance warranty | Manufacturer | 1–5 years | Failure of hob, oven, fridge, dishwasher |
| Insurance-Backed Guarantee | Third party | 6–10 years | Continues warranty if fitter ceases trading |