Christmas: Does your home contents insurance cover accidental damage?

Anyone hosting family and friends at Christmas should check whether their household contents insurance includes accidental damage cover.

Without it, you could end up with a hole in your pocket and a stain on your carpet.

Research from Saga found that December and January are the months with the highest accidental damage claims, likely due to the aftermath of festive celebrations.

Unfortunately, most policies do not include accidental damage as standard. If you have not purchased the insurance cover as additional insurance, your insurer may not make any payments.

To give you peace of mind knowing your home and belongings are protected over Christmas and New Year. Which? explains what insurance you need and what general exclusions you should pay attention to.

Festive rise in accident compensation claims

Accidents can and do happen, especially at Christmas. Excited children, family pets and parties can lead to mishaps, from spilled drinks on the sofa to broken technology.

Saga, which provides insurance to over-50s, analyzed its own claims data over a three-year period and found that accidental claims were more likely during the holidays. On Christmas Day alone there are 35% more accident claims than the monthly average.

This time of year is also when claims are most expensive. In December the average accidental damage claim was £913, rising to £935 in January. A happy mishap added up to a whopping £22,231.

Separate research from Aviva, which looked at data over a seven-year period, found that 47% of Christmas Day claims were for accidental damage.

Numerous customers reported broken devices, and one person claimed damages after slipping on a small toy and falling onto the television. Knocked over candles are also common, as are damaged stoves and hobs when preparing Christmas dinner.

• Learn more: make a claim for home contents insurance

What damage does household contents insurance cover?

If you’re worried, double-check your existing home insurance. This is because most policies unfortunately do not include accidental damage cover as standard.

The latest Which? The analysis found that only 30% of building insurance policies offer full cover as standard and 29% cover contents. In most cases you will need to purchase it as an optional extra and add it to your existing cover.

It protects you from sudden, unexpected damage to your home that happens accidentally – from Christmas pudding on the carpet to a child knocking over a delicate decoration.

If a guest is injured at your Christmas party, standard insurance policies usually include liability insurance that covers treatment costs and any legal costs. However, you are not covered for injuries to yourself or other household members.

However, think twice before filing a claim for lesser value. Minor breakages or damage such as broken glass or worn floors may not be eligible for reimbursement depending on the value of the item compared to your deductible. Making claims may also affect your no claims bonus if you renew your policy.

• Learn more: best home insurance

Not everything may be covered

Certain accidental damage may not be included, even if you have appropriate insurance. Please be sure to read the Terms and Conditions carefully. Here are some of the most common mishaps for which you cannot make a claim:

• Wear and tear: Unfortunately, insurers do not cover damage caused by general wear and tear. For buildings, this includes, for example, fungal infestation and weather-related structural changes; As for the content, it covers mechanical failures in electrical devices.
• Pets: Furry friends can also make a mess, but many collision insurance policies don’t allow you to claim for damage caused by animals. Damage caused by pests and vermin is also usually excluded.
• DIY: If you’re doing home renovations, like putting up shelves or painting, and you damage something in the process, you should be covered. However, if you attempt to fix a problem that you are not qualified to handle, such as plumbing or electrical work, you will not be able to file a claim.
• Intentional damage: The clue is in the name: If the damage was caused intentionally and not accidentally, you cannot make a claim.
• Gadgets: Electronic devices that are easy to carry, such as laptops and cell phones, are generally not insured against accidental damage. Instead, consider purchasing standalone appliance insurance or listing it as part of your home contents insurance policy.
• Power failure: If overloaded sockets or defective Christmas lights cause the power to go out, insurers usually do not cover costs such as an electrician’s fee. However, most insurers offer additional insurance for home emergencies.

Support our campaign to end insurance rip-offs

If you need to make a claim – no matter how minor – you expect the matter to be resolved as quickly and smoothly as possible. When it comes to home contents insurance, Record complaints suggest that insurers are increasingly letting their customers down.

Claims handling is an area where we believe insurers too often fail their customers – with the recent Which? report. Research that finds this out almost half of people making an insurance claim experience at least one problem during the course of their claim.

Meanwhile, the Financial Conduct Authority commented that there are problems with “substandard service levels across all insurance sectors”.

We are therefore committed to far-reaching changes in order to offer insurance customers fairer added value overall.

Find out more about our campaign to end insurance rip-offs and Sign our petition here.

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