Pet damage home insurance

What is pet damage insurance?

Pet damage insurance refers to home insurance policies that include cover for damage caused by household pets. This usually comes under a broader feature called accidental damage cover, which protects against unexpected mishaps, like a a cat tearing through curtains.

Standard home insurance policies don’t always include this by default. You often need to add accidental pet damage insurance as an optional extra, or choose a policy that specifically includes it.

If you're a tenant, you might also want to look for pet damage insurance for tenants - this can protect your deposit if your pet damages your landlord’s property.

Does accidental damage insurance cover damage caused by my pets?

Whether or not your accidental damage insurance covers pet damage depends on your policy.

Some insurers include pet damage, while others exclude it altogether or only cover specific types of incidents. For example, accidental spills but not chewing or scratching. Check your policy documents carefully to find out what’s included.

To make sure you're protected, consider choosing a policy that specifically states it covers damage caused by pets. You can learn more about this type of cover.

Common examples of covered pet damage:

• Knocking over or damaging electronics
• Breaking ornaments or vases
• Tearing carpets or soft furnishings

What’s usually not covered:

• Wear and tear from pets over time
• Damage that occurs while training a pet
• Any damage caused by pets left unsupervised for long periods

If you’re not sure whether pet damage is included in your policy, it’s a good idea to speak directly with your insurer.

Accidental damage caused by other animals

It’s not just pets that can cause chaos in your home. Birds flying into windows or squirrels getting into the loft can also lead to costly repairs.

Some home insurance policies include damage caused by wild animals as part of their accidental damage cover, but this is less common. For example:

• A bird smashing a window
• A fox damaging your garden fencing
• Rodents chewing through electrical cables

It’s worth checking if your policy includes this kind of non-pet animal damage, especially if you live in a rural area.

Taking out home insurance that covers pet damage

If you’re a pet owner, finding the right home insurance that covers pet damage can give you peace of mind and protect your wallet.

Here’s what to look for when choosing a policy:

1. Accidental damage cover: Make sure this is included and specifically covers pet-related incidents.
2. Contents insurance: This covers your belongings, like furniture and electronics. Many pet mishaps fall under this category.
3. Buildings insurance: If your pet causes structural damage (less common, but not impossible), you’ll want this in place too.

Its worth comparing home insurance policies to see if they offer these features.

If you’re renting, you might want to consider contents insurance for tenants, some of these policies also offer cover for accidental pet damage.

And if you’re weighing up the benefits of pet insurance, check out our guide to whether you need pet insurance.

Tips to avoid accidental pet damage insurance claims

While having cover in place is important, prevention is even better. Here are a few practical tips to help minimise the risk of pet-related damage:

• Train your pet early - basic commands and house rules can go a long way.
• Use pet-safe furnishings like scratch-resistant fabrics and hard flooring.
• Keep valuable items out of reach, especially if your pet is curious or clumsy.
• Supervise playtime, particularly with larger or energetic pets.
• Pet-proof your home with gates, covers, and designated zones for pets.

Taking simple steps now can save you the stress of needing to make a claim later. But if you do need to, here’s how to make a home insurance claim.