Accidental damage is one-off, unplanned damage to buildings or contents, depending on your policy.
Accidental damage means damage that was not planned, expected, or done on purpose. The Financial Ombudsman Service explains accidental damage as something unforeseen and unintentional. It can also include loss of function, not just visible damage.
In home insurance, this could include spilling paint on a carpet, cracking a sink, knocking over a television, or damaging a hidden pipe during DIY. Whether a claim is covered depends on your policy wording, the cause of the damage, and whether accidental damage cover is included.
Accidental damage can apply to buildings insurance, contents insurance, or both.
Buildings accidental damage usually relates to the structure of the home and fixed parts of it. This can include walls, floors, fitted kitchens, bathrooms, windows, and pipes. MoneyHelper says buildings accidental damage cover may be included as standard or offered as an optional extra.
Contents accidental damage is for items in the home, such as furniture, carpets, electrical items, clothes, and other belongings. MoneyHelper’s contents insurance guide explains that accidental damage may be included or added to a policy, depending on the insurer.
Some policies only include limited accidental damage cover. Others may let you add wider cover for an extra cost.
Accidental damage cover does not mean every accident will be covered. Common exclusions can include wear and tear, gradual damage, deliberate damage, faulty workmanship, and damage caused by poor maintenance.
Some policies may also exclude damage caused by pets or building work. If the property is rented out, check whether you need landlord cover and whether tenant damage is included. This is why it is important to check the policy wording before you buy.
You may also have to pay an insurance excess if you claim. Some policies have a separate excess for accidental damage claims.
If you make an insurance claim, the insurer will usually check what cover you had in place, what caused the damage, and whether the event fits the policy terms.
They may ask for photos, repair reports, receipts, or other evidence. The Financial Ombudsman Service says evidence can include expert reports, photos, surveyor reports, loss adjuster reports, and customer testimony.
A claim may also affect your future premium or claims history. This depends on the insurer and the policy.
Before buying or renewing home insurance, check whether accidental damage is included, optional, or excluded.
The FCA says insurers and brokers must give customers information in a clear and understandable way so they can make an informed decision. This includes key benefits, exclusions, limits, and policy conditions in the FCA insurance conduct rules.
You should answer insurer questions with care. The Financial Ombudsman Service guidance on misrepresentation explains that customers must take reasonable care not to give incorrect or incomplete information.
At Got You Covered, we arrange cover through insurers for a range of home insurance needs. This can include buildings cover, contents cover, and combined policies, depending on the property and the insurer.
We may also be able to help with more specialist home risks, such as flood risk, unoccupied homes, listed buildings, let properties, and landlord cover. For rented homes, landlord insurance may be more suitable than standard home insurance.
Cover, price, acceptance, excesses, and claims decisions depend on the insurer and the policy terms.
Accidental damage cover can help with sudden, unexpected damage to your home or belongings. It may be useful, but it is not always included as standard.
Check what is covered, what is excluded, and what excess applies before you buy. If you are unsure, we can help you look at options based on your home and your needs.
