Warning for homeowners over little-known insurance loophole that could cost you up to £10,000

HOMEOWNERS are being warned to check their insurance policies to ensure they are covered for damage caused by animals to avoid forking out as much as £10,000.

Households take out home insurance to protect their homes and items from unexpected damage.

But many households may not realise that home insurance policies typically don’t include damage caused by rodents or pests such as chewing, scratching or tearing items.

And accidental damage claims aren’t generally included in policies by default, so any mishaps caused by pets won’t be covered if you haven’t added it.

Just 22% of a sample of 291 buildings insurance policies offered accidental damage as standard, according to research by GoCompare, while only 15% of contents insurance policies included it.

While insurer Aviva told The Sun it has seen a relatively small number of claims caused by animals other than cats and dogs over the last few years, it warned the claims it has received have often been worth thousands of pounds.

So, it might be worth checking if you’re protected – particularly if you live in an area where there is a rodent issue, or if you have a boisterous furry friend living in the house.

It’s relatively cheap to add accidental cover to an existing policy.

According to Compare The Market, it typically costs £26.21 a year to add to a contents insurance policy, while for the average buildings insurance policy, it’s £35.68.

Hazel Johnson, director of home and motor claims for Aviva, said: “It’s worth remembering that most home insurance policies exclude damage caused by chewing, scratching, tearing, or fouling by domestic animals as part of their standard terms.

“However, there are special policies and certain add-ons available, such as accidental damage insurance, which can provide cover for some scenarios, so it’s worth checking your policy terms.

“For more expensive items like hearing aids and engagement rings, customers should ensure they are specified on their home insurance policies in case they ever need to make a claim.”

Aviva shared some of the worst stories it has seen over the past few years with The Sun to demonstrate how anyone could suffer damage caused by an animal.

Messed up by a mouse

In 2024 alone, Aviva told The Sun it has received at least 21 claims relating to rodents chewing through water and boiler pipes, leading to flooding causing thousands of pounds of damage. One of these claims totalled over £10,000.

In one case, Aviva said a customer returned home from a 10-day holiday to find a mouse had chewed a hole in his kitchen cupboard and a pipe which connected to the boiler, causing a leak and no hot water.

The mouse had also chewed a cable, electrocuting itself and causing a power cut in half the house, while the leak damaged a number of kitchen cupboards and the fridge.

The insurer said it paid out £2,250 in the end to pay for the damage caused by just one mouse.

Startled by a squirrel

Squirrels are also causing a small rise in claims. Between 2021 and 2022, insurer LV= reported a 51% rise in squirrel-related insurance claims.

Aviva said it paid out a £2,100 accidental damage claim caused by a customer investigating squirrels in their loft.

While shooing the squirrels away, the customer stepped back and was left hanging through the ceiling of the bedroom, leaving a 2ftx3ft hole.

In another case, a driver was startled by a squirrel and instead of braking, they accelerated, hitting the support between two garage doors. The brickwork was damaged and the garage door was bent, leading to a £7,000 claim.

It’s not just rodents who can cause unexpected damage which may not always be covered.

Catastrophic cats and dogs

Claims relating to cats and dogs are not uncommon – Aviva has recorded roughly 6,000 claims made for cat and dog-related incidents over the past five years.

Aviva said it paid out £2,486.40 for accidental damage in February to a specialist computer after it was smashed during a fight between a cat and a dog.

The insurer said it also paid out £448 for a dog head butting a window after spotting a passing dog walker, and a hefty £2,700 for a claim where a dog knocked some earrings aids off a table.

And in a more historic case in 1978, an Aviva predecessor paid out for a claim for a lost diamond earring swallowed by a puppy that couldn’t be recovered.

Under some insurance policies, these claims may not have been covered, so it’s important to check yours includes accidental damage or rodent protection.

You may be more vulnerable if you live in an older or large home as mice tend to build nests in attics, wall voids or inside crawl spaces.

Rodents also tend to set up camp near food sources, according to Orkin Pest Control, so kitchens are a common place for them to hide.

How else can I protect myself against animal damage?

There are a number of optional insurance add-ons that could cover your home and belongings from animal-related accidents.

An accidental damage add-on should protect your property or contents from all accidents, including those caused by animals.

These claims make up around 28% of all home insurance claims, according to GoCompare, so it could be worth paying the extra to know you’re protected.

Home emergency cover, which covers the cost of call-outs and urgent repairs, could also help if an animal caused a flood in your home, for example.

Gadget insurance, which generally covers the cost of replacing items like phones and laptops, would protect your electricals if they’re damaged during a pet-related encounter.

For an iPhone 14, gadget insurance costs around £7 a month or £75 a year, according to MoneySuperMarket.

Some insurers offer specific accidental damage pet insurance which will cover you for almost all animal-related disasters, but this is usually only included in the most comprehensive policies.

Make sure to compare policies at different insurers to ensure you get the best deal.

Helen Phipps, home insurance expert at Compare the Market, said: “Household finances are being squeezed by rising living costs and, with home insurance premiums on the rise, households need to look for savings wherever possible.

“Shopping around online remains one of the best ways to cut the cost of insurance.”

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