Accidental damage cover is really useful to have. It can insure you for mishaps like spillages on the carpet, breakages around the house and DIY disasters.
You'll find this cover is often included in higher levels of home insurance, but it's not automatically included in all policies - so it's worth checking to see if you need to pay extra to have it added.
Examples of what’s covered
Accidental damage cover for contents, insures you for things like:
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A cup of coffee spilling over and breaking your laptop keyboard.
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Scorched carpets when a hot iron falls off an ironing board.
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Carpets ruined by red wine spills.
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Jammed DVD players, with toys stuck inside.
Accidental damage cover for buildings, insures you for things like:
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Footballs smashing through windows.
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Cracked bathroom sinks.
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Feet through the floor when you're up in the loft.
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Leaky gas or water pipes if you bang a nail in where you shouldn't (this cover is very handy if you're into DIY).
What isn’t covered?
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Wear and tear, like the fabric of a much-loved (but well-worn) sofa giving way and ripping.
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Mechanical failures, such as a computer that dies and won't come back to life.
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Bad workmanship, perhaps if an electrician wires a socket incorrectly.
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Damage caused by lodgers or guests paying to stay with you.
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Damage caused by cleaning or repairing something.
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Items taken outside the home, such as jewellery or a mobile phone that gets damaged or lost (for this you’ll need personal possessions cover).
Remember, these are just examples and not everything might be covered - so always check the policy before you buy.
