Employee liability for company laptop

[Georgey48]

I am being asked to sign a declaration that basically accepts financial responsibility for my company laptop and I'm not comfortable with the situation. To give a bit of information, I am a sub contract software engineer and am employed by my own limited company and work for this client via an agent. I am insured for public liability and professional indemnity as is the norm in most contracts but this is not relevant in the situation. The client I'm working for issues everyone with a laptop and insists that these laptops are removed from the company premises at night and taken home. (you MUST NOT leave your company laptop in the office). While I'm happy to do this and also happy to assume some responsibility for this devise, I'm not sure about agreeing to financially reimburse the client for loss or damage. I have never had a loss or damage to any company or personal laptop but I feel this is over-stepping the mark. Why should I assume this responsibility when it would be normal for a company to insure itself or provide adequate security for it's own assets ?

[ULA]

Normally if you are a sub-contractor and invoicing for your services via your limited company you would be expected to provide your own items like laptop. You may just want to push back at them on this point.

[Georgey48]

Normally if you are a sub-contractor and invoicing for your services via your limited company you would be expected to provide your own items like laptop. You may just want to push back at them on this point.

Thank you Ula, yes I've been thinking that this may be a wise avenue going forward as a result of the latest IR35 developments. I am of course willing to provide my own equipment but in reality, this is extremely rare in practice; there are very few clients who would be ok with this situation if not from an intellectual property point of view, a security risk. Very small companies or startups would possibly be flexible but it would be out of the question for big defence contractors where they have a guarded gate where no-one with less than SC clearance may pass. The idea of you connecting your own clanky laptop to their network would be laughed at, just before they shoot you ;o)

[ULA]

No i completely understand the last part of your post and the reticence in those instances for own laptops to be used.

I can only suggest that you query this with the company and see what they say.