What is covered under a Home Insurance Building Policy

Answer:

Policies issued by all Insurers are slightly different.

It is important that you read the detail of your own Home Insurance Policy to ensure that the cover is in accordance with your requirements.

The following is for general information purposes.

The property covered under the  Building section of a Home Insurance property is generally defined as

The house or flat and its outbuildings at the address shown on the schedule and its garages (used for domestic purposes only) together with swimming pools, patios, terraces, tennis courts, wall, fences, gates, landlord fixture and fittings, service tanks, drain, cess pits, septic tank, pipe, cable, or central heating fuel tank.

Typical Cover or Standard Perils Cover  of a Home Building Policy insures the property against the following items. Again we would stress that you need to read your own Home Insurance policy specifically with regard to General Conditions and Exclusions .

In the table below we have listed typical Perils Cover, typical Exclusions and also a comment column as to why such exclusions are generally included in the policy.

Peril

Exclusions

Comment

Fire, lightning, explosion or earthquake

Damage caused by scorching cigarette or cigar burns. Gradually operating damage

Scorching is not fire Cover may be provided under an All Risks extension

Riot, civil unrest, strikes or labor or political disturbances. Malicious damage

Damage caused by you or any person living with you. Damage whilst your property is sub let. Damage whilst your home is unoccupied for more than 60 consecutive days, or unfurnished for habitation for more than 30 consecutive days

Damage deliberately caused by the policyholder / family  or tenants specifically excluded since they are in the control of the insured. Unoccupied / unfurnished properties are particularly vulnerable to malicious damage

Storm or flood

Damage to fences and gates. Damage caused by frost. Gradually operating damage

Fences and gates generally do not fall down but are reliant upon how they were constructed and they are affected by general deterioration and rot. Frost damage is gradually operating.

Theft

Damage caused by you or any person living with you. Damage whilst your property is sub let. Damage whilst your home is unoccupied for more than 60 consecutive days, or unfurnished for habitation for more than 30 consecutive days

Damage deliberately caused by the policyholder / family  or tenants specifically excluded since they are in the control of the insured. Unoccupied / unfurnished properties are particularly vulnerable to malicious damage

Subsidence or ground heave

Damage to swimming pools, hard courts, terraces, patios, drives, footpaths, walls, gates and fences unless the home is damaged at the same time by the same cause. Damage caused by costal or river erosion. Damage caused by the movement of solid floors labs unless the foundations of your home are affected by the same cause at the same time. Damage caused by demolition structural alteration or structural repair excavation faulty design faulty workmanship or the use of defective materials. Chemical reaction

Movement within external features is not uncommon. Generally arises from poor workmanship, defective design rather than ground movement. Costal and river erosion are predictable in relation to a properties location and not unexpected. Floor slab consolidation generally arises from poor quality fill material placed beneath the floor. Damage during structural repair gives rise to probable recovery from Demolition Contractors or Architect/ Surveyors. The exclusions under the subsidence / heave perils are specifically tailored by Insurers all differ read with care.

Escape of water from any fixed domestic water installation

Damage whilst your home is unoccupied for more than 60 consecutive days, or unfurnished for habitation for more than 30 consecutive days

Unoccupied / unfurnished properties are particularly vulnerable to extensive damage if escape is not determined early. Some policies exclude subsidence or heave

Escape of oil from any fixed domestic heating installation

Damage whilst your home is unoccupied for more than 60 consecutive days, or unfurnished for habitation for more than 30 consecutive days

Unoccupied / unfurnished properties are particularly vulnerable to extensive damage if escape is not determined early.

Impact with aircraft or other flying objects or items dropped from there or vehicles or animals.

 

 

Falling radio and television aerials (including satellite dishes) their fittings and masts.

 

Cost of replacing aerials masts satellite dishes falls under the Contents policy

Damage caused by falling trees or branches

Damage to trees or the cost of removing fallen trees or branches

Cost of removal restricted to clearing tree or branch from damage to permit repairs to proceed but not for cost of removing trees or branches from site or removing tree stumps.

Loss of Rent or  Alternative Accommodation whilst your home is uninhabitable as a result of any peril or accidental damage (if insured) Insurers will pay the loss of ground rent you would have to pay for up to  (period is different between policies) for your loss of rent or reasonable alternative accommodation. The maximum Insurers will pay is (varies between policies may be a limit or percentage of the sum insured on buildings) of the buildings sum insured

Any costs payable once your house can be lived in again.

 

Damage to Services Accidental damage to the following. Cables or underground pipes, Septic tank or drains which you are legally liable for.

Wear and tear, settlement or shrinkage, vermin, insects, fungus weather conditions, anything which happens gradually. Faulty materials workmanship or design. Building alterations or extensions. Subsidence or heave of the land or landslip

There has to be an external cause giving rise to the damage the policy does not cover wear and tear and normal maintenance. Some policies may cover removing blockages with a limit per claim.

Fixed Glass and sanitary fittings. Accidental damage to fixed glass and sanitary fittings which form part of the buildings. Including fixed baths shower trays shower screen bidets wash basins pedestals sinks toilet pans and cisterns.

Damage whilst your home is unoccupied for more than 60 consecutive days, or unfurnished for habitation for more than 30 consecutive days.

Unoccupied / unfurnished properties are particularly vulnerable to damage to fixed glass and sanitary fittings.

Emergency Access. Damage to the home caused by forced access to deal with a medical emergency or to prevent damage to the home

 

Not covered by all policies

Tracing and Accessing Leaks. If damage is caused to the building by water escaping from water tanks, water pipes, or fixed heating system in the home Insurers will pay for the reasonable cost of removing and replacing any other part of the buildings as necessary to find and repair the source of the leak and making good. The maximum amount paid will be (Limit varies between policies) any one incident

 

Not covered by all policies