Home Insurance Cover for Strange Events

There is an old cliché that says we should expect the unexpected, but there are certain events that seem impossible to prepare for.

According to home insurance provider NFU Mutual it has had to settle some bizarre claims recently as people with rural properties face some unique risks. For example, it reports that a ram took a disliking to one policyholder and head butted him, breaking his false teeth.

In another case, the owner of a house with its own swimming pool took a nap only to find that when he had awoken cows had invaded his garden with one even climbing into the pool. Another home insurance policyholder left an envelope containing £250 on a table only for his wife to assume it was waste paper to light the fire.

The bizarre claims continued with a pan fire causing damage to the décor of one claimant’s home and even damaging a stuffed polar bear. Meanwhile, at a children’s party, a chocolate fountain exploded covering both the children and the carpet in molten chocolate.

Believe it or not, as strange as these circumstances may appear to be, each claimant received compensation via their home insurance policy.

How home insurance can help

The man who had his false teeth shattered by the ram had included his teeth on the contents aspect of his policy meaning he was able to get a new set in place quickly. The homeowner who found the cow in his pool was able to replace his damaged garden furniture; while the man who saw his £250 burnt by his wife was saved because he had covered cash as part of the contents aspect of his policy.

The stuffed polar bear was returned to its former glory by the cleaning team the insurer arranged to come out to the home; while the carpet that was ruined at the children’s party was replaced within two weeks of the incident.

It’s clear that with home insurance it is possible to prepare for unlikely events. While no policy is going to specifically state that it covers cows climbing into swimming pools or spilt chocolate, unless something is specifically excluded (for which you should examine the terms and conditions of the policy) you should be covered. Of course the key is to regularly review your home insurance and ensure you have coverage for all the contents in your home, in your garden and in the garage too.

There are two key areas for homeowners to check. They should firstly look at the extent of cover they have for possessions – for example, there may be items that need to be insured separately because they have high values. You also need to check how much cover you have in place – this is the total amount that would be paid out in the event of a devastating fire that wiped out all of your belongings.

Is comprehensive home insurance expensive?

Given the current economic climate you might think that cutting a few corners on your home insurance is worthwhile if it means you can save money. However, you needn’t sacrifice the level of cover you have in place to keep hold of your cash – there are other ways to bring premiums down.

Most insurers for example, will reward you if you increase the level of security in your home reducing the chances of burglary. House alarms along with five-lever mortise locks for doors, key-operated window locks, time-switch lights and external sensor lighting could all lower premiums as long as you keep your home insurance provider informed when you introduce these measures. Reducing your fire risk too should help you save – so consider placing smoke alarms around your home and installing fire extinguishers.

Insurers will also reward you if you agree to increase your voluntary excess – this is the amount you will cover in the event of a claim. Don’t set the bar too high however, as it could leave you out of pocket if you do need to make a claim. Paying annually is another way to save as many insurers charge interest if you pay monthly by direct debit.

Finally, for cheap home insurance remember to use a comparison website to compare deals at least once a year around your renewal date. Accepting policy renewals could cost you £100s, while insurers offer their best deals to new customers. So if you’re not happy with the offer you receive, shop around and you should be able to put cash back in your pocket.