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Accidental Damage Cover

17/10/2024

What is accidental damage cover?

Accidental damage cover: The highlights

  • Covers one off, accidental damage and mishaps, like smashed TV screens or holes in the wall. 
  • What is covered varies based on whether it is buildings or contents accidental damage cover. 
  • It doesn’t always come as standard.
  • You could add accidental damage cover to existing home insurance, or get it as a stand alone policy.
  • Claiming can impact your no claims bonus.

What is accidental damage cover for home insurance?

Accidental damage cover is an additional level of home insurance cover. It can be bought as a stand alone policy, or offered as an add on to home buildings or home contents insurance policies.

It will cover damage to your property, or its contents that is caused by an accidental, one off event.

It can be useful if you are tight on money and cannot risk the added expenses caused by everyday mishaps. Landlords, or those with multiple properties, could benefit from this cover to relieve them from added financial strain. Likewise, if you have particularly valuable fixtures or belongings that you could not otherwise replace or repair, accidental damage cover can protect the value of your home. 

What does accidental damage cover include?

This will depend on the type of accidental damage cover you get. Like with home insurance, buildings and contents cover will protect different elements of your home.

Buildings accidental damage cover

This covers accidental damage to the structure of your home. This means windows, walls, roofs, outbuildings, and fitted kitchens and bathrooms are all protected.

Examples that could be covered by buildings accidental damage cover include

  • Reversing your car into an outbuilding or fence.
  • Causing damage to walls or ceilings while doing DIY.
  • Dropping something heavy and cracking floor tiles, or fitted sinks.
  • Smashing windows while playing in the garden.

Contents accidental damage cover

This covers your personal possessions within your home like furniture, decorations and other belongings. 

Examples that could be covered by contents accidental damage insurance include

  • Children pulling over and smashing a TV.
  • Spilling paint or bleach on a sofa.
  • Smashing vases or paintings in an accidental fall. 
  • Knocking over a mug of coffee on your laptop. 

Each provider will offer slightly different coverage and exclusions for all accidental damage cover. So always check the policy details for what exactly is covered before you buy.

Do I need accidental damage cover for my home?

This will ultimately depend on you. However, to make an informed decision on whether you need accidental damage cover, here are a few key considerations. 

Your home

Landlords or those with multiple properties, second homes, or holiday homes face more risk than others. The chance of accidents is multiplied, and without accidental damage cover, the costs of repair or rebuilding could be too. 

Your contents

If you have particularly valuable or fragile contents, accidental damage cover could be a good choice. One of a kind artwork, or specialist electronics that you couldn’t otherwise afford to replace can be protected from everyday accidents. 

Your lifestyle

If you live with children, or host a lot of visitors or gatherings in your home, there could be a higher risk of accidental damage. Pets can also cause accidents. However, because of this, your provider might not offer cover for pet related accidents. 

Your finances

If you have more savings or disposable income, you might not be so dependent on the financial protection that accidental damage cover offers.

Is accidental damage cover worth it?

Like with any insurance cover, this will depend on the value of what you are covering and the cost to cover it.

A good way to judge this is to imagine making a claim. This has its own impact, as claiming on accidental damage cover could affect your home insurance no claims bonus.

This will typically increase your home insurance premiums in the future, so it might not be worth the cost of the claim, or the cover. 

You will also have to pay an excess on accidental damage claims. So again, this might not be worth it depending on how much the claim is paying out.

However, if there are elements of your home or its contents that would be worth making a claim for, then accidental damage cover could be worth it for you. Particularly if they are often exposed to the risk of everyday accidents.

How to add accidental damage cover to your home insurance policy

Firstly, check your policy details to check you don’t already have accidental damage cover. This doesn’t typically come as standard, but you could be lucky, depending on your policy and insurer. 

To add accidental damage cover to an existing home insurance policy, simply get in touch with your insurer. Whether you have buildings, contents or combined buildings and contents home insurance, you should be able to add this coverage. However, be aware it will typically come at an additional cost. 

If you are comparing home insurance and want accidental damage coverage from the get-go, simply select yes to the appropriate question(s) when choosing the details of your coverage. 

Common exclusions of accidental damage cover

Much like what is covered, exclusions of accidental damage cover are specific to each individual policy and provider. So always verify these on the policy details. 

However, there are some common exclusions that most insurers will not cover.

1. Gradual wear and tear. For example, fading paintwork or fraying carpets

2. Deliberate damage, whether caused by household members, or visitors.

3. Damage from pets. For example, scratched or chewed furniture.

4. Electrical or mechanical breakdown. For example, the mechanical failure of your washing machine or TV.

5. Structural damage. For example, cracks appearing as the house settles.

6. Damage caused by poor maintenance. For example leaky roofs or faulty plumbing.

7. Insect or vermin damage from pests such as woodworm, or rodents.

8. General exclusions in your home insurance policy. For example war, terrorism, and natural disasters.

Accidental damage cover FAQs

Do I need accidental damage cover on buildings insurance?

Accidental damage cover is not mandatory for buildings insurance. However, it can be a good choice if you want to be financially protected from the cost of accidental damage to your property or its fixtures. 

Can I get accidental damage cover for a TV?

Yes, contents accidental damage cover will cover the personal belongings you keep in your home, including your TV. This means you could be protected from accidents like your TV being knocked over and smashed.

What is the cheapest accidental damage cover?

Like with all home insurance, the cost of accidental damage cover can vary a lot. That’s why it’s essential to shop around for the best quote. Comparing UK accidental damage insurers means you can be confident that you are not overpaying for the cover you need.

Does accidental damage cover water damage?

This will depend on how the water damage happened. If it was caused by a one off accident, like hammering a nail into a pipe or leaving the bath running, you could be protected by your accidental damage cover. However, if the water damage is the result of storms or burst pipes that have not been maintained, then it might not. The specifics of what is and is not covered will be outlined in the details of each individual policy. 

Can I get accidental damage cover on rental properties?

Yes, if you are renting a property, then you can include accidental damage coverage on your landlord’s insurance. Likewise, tenants can also invest in contents insurance with accidental damage cover to further protect their own property from damage.

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