Homeowners
If you're a homeowner or a renter, you may need WorkSafeBC coverage when you hire people to work in or around your home, or if you are the prime contractor in the construction of your own home. Your requirement to register depends on whether you are a customer of a business or an employer of the person you are hiring.
Overview
| I am a... | Do I need to register? | Can I purchase voluntary coverage? |
|---|---|---|
| Employer, if I am hiring my own worker to work at my home e.g., nanny or home health worker | Yes — see Hiring your own worker below | Yes, if I am exempt from mandatory coverage |
| Customer, if I am hiring an independent business where I am a customer of the person doing the work e.g., pressure washing, landscaping, or painting | No — see Hiring an independent business below | No |
Hiring your own worker
If you are an employer and hiring your own worker(s) to work at your personal residence, you may or may not be required to register — it depends on the nature of the work and the length of time for the work. See below for more details on when you may be an exempt employer and not required to register.
Child care before or after school
You may need coverage when you hire someone who provides care before or after school, such as a babysitter or part-time nanny.
| Total hours worked | Is coverage needed? |
|---|---|
| Less than 15 hours a week | No, but you can purchase voluntary coverage. |
| 15 or more hours a week | Yes, apply for coverage. |
Ongoing services around your home
You may need coverage for an individual who provides ongoing home services, such as a gardener, chef, housekeeper, home health worker, or full-time nanny.
| Total hours worked | Is coverage needed? |
|---|---|
| Less than 8 hours a week | No, but you can purchase voluntary coverage. |
| 8 or more hours a week | Yes, apply for coverage. |
Projects around your home
You may be an employer if you hire a person who is not in business but is doing a one-time job for you, such as a neighbour you are paying to paint or mow your lawn, or a retired carpenter who is working on a small renovation.
| Total hours worked | Is coverage needed? |
|---|---|
| Less than 24 hours* | No, but you can purchase voluntary coverage. |
| 24 or more hours* | Yes, apply for coverage. |
* Note: Calculate the total hours worked to complete the job, regardless of how many workers there are. For example, if three workers work nine hours each, the job will take 27 hours to complete, and the homeowner would be required to register with WorkSafeBC.
Hiring an independent business
As a homeowner, you’re not eligible to register with WorkSafeBC unless you are an employer. If you hire an independent business and are a customer of that business, then you are not eligible for WorkSafeBC insurance coverage. An independent business might look like a business that provides services to multiple customers. When you hire an independent business, you are a customer of that business and not their employer.
It is the responsibility of the business to find out whether they are required or eligible to have their own WorkSafeBC insurance coverage.
Examples of an independent business include:
- A limited or incorporated company (in other words, they have Inc., Co., or Ltd. after their business name)
- An individual who is in the business of providing a service such as gutter cleaning, roofing, painting, or landscaping to multiple customers
- A business that charges one price that includes the cost of the materials and labour together.
As a customer, we recommend that before you hire an independent business, you always make sure that the business is registered with us and making payments as required. If it is not, as a customer you could be held responsible for its premiums. You can check the registration and payment status of a business by getting a clearance letter from us.
If you hire an independent business that is not hiring any workers (i.e., the proprietor is doing the work) then WorkSafeBC insurance coverage is optional for that proprietor. If you want to receive the services of an unregistered proprietor, it is up to you to discuss your insurance preferences with that person before the work starts.
Being the prime contractor in the construction of your own home
If you are acting as the prime contractor in the construction of your own home you are subject to the health and safety provisions of the Workers Compensation Act and also may be required to register with WorkSafeBC. Learn about rights and responsibilities for workplace health and safety.
Be sure to get a clearance letter for each contractor to make sure they're in good standing with WorkSafeBC; otherwise you could be held jointly liable for any unpaid WorkSafeBC insurance premiums if the contractor you hire does not pay their premiums during the period they worked for you. Learn about responsibilities for contractors and subcontractors.