What is and is not included in your House Insurance
If you have been around a bit or have an in-depth knowledge of insurances then you will likely agree that most times you need to read the small print as to know just how many exclusions are listed meaning that you might not get the pay out you expected upon life’s unfortunate moments. Nearly all property will have insurance (required by law) which we call home owners / property / building / house insurance that includes the sectors of homeowners insurance, renters insurance, flood insurance, and earthquake insurance, among other policies (source investoedia.com). Importantly: We need to make sure that the policy we take out covers our expectations and sometimes we need to add on additions such as accidental damage for when we go through that waterpipe when putting up a picture on the wall – additions also include ‘home emergency cover’ and ‘legal fees cover’.
You should note that the insurance you take out for your property covers the structure itself and fixtures such as bathroom appliances or a fitted kitchen – Items which are deemed not to be easy to remove and take with you to another property. Contents insurance are to cover the items within the property that aren’t fixed such as your sofa or television. Most people will have both these insurance policies.
Did you know that not every circumstance effecting your property will be covered in your insurance policy. Each year more rules are brought in to place which protects homeowners and puts more responsibilities on insurance companies, but the following might not be included:
Acts of God – This is a touchy subject though you would be advised to question if the likes of flooding, wind/storm, frost, lightening strikes and similar weather damages are covered. For flooding, you may need a separate policy if you are in a flood region or terms added within the basic policy.
Deliberate Damage – If yourself or a member of the household damages the property then this is likely not to be covered.
Wear and Tear – A policy is unlikely to cover any general wear and tear claims.
Animals and Insects – Pets, insects, birds and similar that cause damage to your property are likely not to be covered in your policy.
Substandard Building Works – For instance, if you attempt to self build an extension and a part fails then upon investigation by your insurance company it is unlikely you will get a payout.
Incorrect Form Filling / Updating – You need to make sure that the policy you have taken is specific to your property type and full information such as age, size, location plus any subsequent works carried out to include extensions / renovation works etc. If you take an insurance for a two bedroom house when in fact you have a four bedroom house then you are going to be in a hole when it comes to making a claim.
Now that we know we need to take a little care and attention to make sure we have the correct policy, you will be pleased to know that most cover us for fire, subsidence, vandalism, earthquakes, fallen trees, water (plumbing) damage.
We reached out to Jessica Willock, home insurance expert at Confused.com to share some words about buildings insurances with us:
“It’s always best to check your buildings insurance policy before the purchase, to understand your level of cover. Natural disasters are often covered in policies, and in 2016, the ABI (Association of British Insurers) launched the Flood Re. scheme, to help those living in flood risk areas find affordable home insurance. All home insurance providers in the UK pay into the scheme, with the money raised used to cover homes at risk of flooding.
In terms of what’s not covered, when you purchase your home insurance, you have the option to add emergency cover, which includes additional factors that aren’t included in your policy as standard. Boiler breakdown, roof leaks and pest infestation cover are usually add-ons, and won’t be included. But again, it’s definitely always best to check your policy before purchase.”
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