What can you claim on home insurance UK?

Asked by: Timothy Walsh I  |  Last update: January 25, 2023
Score: 4.7/5 (27 votes)

Home contents insurance covers you against loss, theft or damage to your personal and home possessions. It can also cover you if you take items out of the home, on holiday, for example. The insurance covers your own possessions and those of close family members living with you.

What is the most common claim for home insurance?

What Are the Most Common Homeowners Insurance Claims?
  • #1: Wind & Hail (34% of Claims) ...
  • #2: Water Damage & Freezing (29% of Claims) ...
  • #3: Fire and Lightning Damage (25% of Claims) ...
  • #4: All Other Property Damage (7% of claims) ...
  • #5: Liability (3% of Claims) ...
  • #6: Theft (1% of Claims)

What is usually covered by home insurance?

Naturally, buildings insurance covers the building itself: the actual structure of your home, or the roof, walls, and windows and other permanent parts of the house like your kitchen and bathroom. Contents insurance covers the things inside your home, like your television and jewellery.

What are 2 things not covered in homeowners insurance?

Standard homeowners insurance policies typically do not include coverage for valuable jewelry, artwork, other collectibles, identity theft protection, or damage caused by an earthquake or a flood.

Is it worth claiming on house insurance?

Is it always worth making a home insurance claim? The point of home insurance is to claim on it when you need it, but for lower amounts it consider whether it's better to make a claim or just cover the cost yourself. Weigh up how much excess you will have to pay against the value of your claim.

How to make a home insurance claim - Which? top tips

36 related questions found

Do you need receipts to claim on house insurance?

Do I need proof of purchase to claim on my home contents insurance? Yes, you may have to provide proof of purchase to make a home contents insurance claim. Some contents insurance providers state in their policy wording that you can only make a claim for an item if you can provide the receipt.

How do I get the most out of my home insurance claim?

Tips for Making Homeowners Insurance Claims
  1. Make an itemized list for future insurance claims.
  2. Understand how to deal with insurance adjusters.
  3. Document your interactions with the insurance adjuster.
  4. Report any damage to your property.
  5. Make necessary repairs to your property.
  6. Fill out homeowners claims paperwork on time.

What are examples of commonly not covered homeowners insurance situations?

Many things that aren't covered under your standard policy typically result from neglect and a failure to properly maintain the property. Termites and insect damage, bird or rodent damage, rust, rot, mold, and general wear and tear are not covered.

What are some items typically excluded from property insurance?

Here are some of the most common home insurance exclusions — and what you can do to get coverage.
  • Floods. ...
  • Earthquakes and earth movement. ...
  • Maintenance. ...
  • Pests. ...
  • Home-based businesses. ...
  • Mold. ...
  • The full cost of high-value items. ...
  • Why are some damages excluded from home insurance?

What are the six categories typically covered by homeowners insurance?

Generally, a homeowners insurance policy includes at least six different coverage parts. The names of the parts may vary by insurance company, but they typically are referred to as Dwelling, Other Structures, Personal Property, Loss of Use, Personal Liability and Medical Payments coverages.

What 4 things does basic homeowners insurance cover?

A standard policy includes four key types of coverage: dwelling, other structures, personal property and liability. If your home is damaged by a covered event, like strong winds, dwelling coverage can help pay to repair it. Let's say a detached structure on your property, like a shed, is damaged by a fire.

Can I claim for roof repairs on insurance?

Most home insurance providers will cover the cost of repairs if roof leaks are due to a sudden, unexpected event, like storm damage or a falling tree. But you won't be covered for roof leaks that are due to wear and tear.

Does building insurance cover bathroom leaks?

Does home insurance cover plumbing leaks? Most standard building and contents home insurance policies cover water leaks - often referred to as 'escape of water' in policy booklets.

Can I claim for my TV on house insurance?

Most home insurance policies will pay out for damage to home entertainment equipment like televisions or stereos. However, other accidents like marker pen on the walls or fruit juice spillages might require extended accidental damage cover if you want to claim.

What is the most common cause of property damage?

Property Damage: The Top 5 Causes
  • WIND. The Damage. The most common causes of property damage and home insurance claims are wind-related. ...
  • NONWEATHER-RELATED WATER. Twenty percent of reported property damage comes from nonweather-related water. The Damage. ...
  • HAIL. The Damage. ...
  • WEATHER-RELATED WATER. The Damage. ...
  • THEFT. The Damage.

What is the 80% rule in insurance?

Most insurance companies require homeowners to purchase replacement cost coverage worth at least 80% of their home's replacement cost in order to receive full coverage.

Is wind damage covered by insurance?

Yes, as noted above, homeowners insurance typically covers most types of wind damage. Usually, the dwelling coverage of your homeowners policy will help pay to repair or replace damage to the roof, siding or windows due to a wind event.

What is not covered under contents insurance?

This insurance covers household items belonging to you, and to family members who live with you. These policies may also include items such as sporting gear and motorised wheelchairs but do not include items permanently attached to the building or insured address or portable items you might take outside your home.

What are exclusions and conditions?

Exclusion — a provision of an insurance policy or bond referring to hazards, perils, circumstances, or property not covered by the policy. Exclusions are usually contained in the coverage form or causes of loss form used to construct the insurance policy.

What are the 7 basic types of coverage needed?

Best Covid-19 Travel Insurance Plans
  • Life Insurance. There are a wide variety of life insurance policies. ...
  • Disability Insurance. ...
  • Long-Term Care Insurance. ...
  • Homeowners And Renters Insurance. ...
  • Liability Insurance. ...
  • Automobile Insurance.

Does homeowners insurance cover mold?

Although most policies will not offer universal cover against mould, most insurers will offer a mould-insurance clause as an optional extra (for a fee, of course). All-in-all, prevention is the safest way to save the cost of mould removal.

Which situation would not be covered by the basic causes of loss?

The Basic Cause of Loss Form does not cover collapse. The Broad and Special Forms for all property policies covers collapse as an additional coverage.

Can you use insurance money for something else?

Can you keep any auto insurance money left over? As long as you own your car outright, you can do whatever you want with the claim money you receive from your insurer. This means that you can keep any leftover money from your claim.

How long does a home insurance claim take?

A home insurance claim can take between 48 hours to over a year to be settled, depending on a number of factors, such as the type of damage being claimed for and how many people are involved in the process.

How much does house insurance go up after a claim UK?

Home insurance customers with one recent claim paid an average of £91 (57%) more than those with no claims. Two recent claims bumped the average quote up from £161 to £359 - an increase of 123%.