Are you covered for pet damage to your home?

Pets bring lots of love and joy to a home, but they can also be mischievous and accidentally cause damage to a property as a result. Although it is often assumed that home insurance and pet insurance will cover damage pets cause to homes, this is often not the case.

Here we look at how homeowners can cover themselves in case of accidental damage caused by pets.

Although content insurance often covers accidental damage, it is unlikely that this will include damage caused by the homeowner’s pet. Some policies may cover pet damage, but this will usually be as an upgrade on the policy and, as a result, will result in having to pay a higher premium. As well as this, even if pet damage is included there are often exclusions which can include:

• Vomiting, fouling or urinating
• Leaving the pet alone at home
• Puppies and kittens under eight weeks old
• Certain breeds of dog
• Damage to the garden.

Pet owners should also be aware that it is unlikely that their pet insurance will cover damage caused by their pet.

Similarly, those in rented accommodation will unlikely find insurance that will cover them if their pet causes damage to the property and many landlords will be reluctant to rent to pet owners as a result.

As pet owners will struggle to find cover for pet damage it may be worthwhile investing in preventive measures. Dog training, for example, could be a good way of ensuring dogs are well trained. While having toys and scratching posts can be a good way of preventing dogs and cats from causing damage to soft furnishings. Another potential option is using safe anti-chew spray that discourages pets from chewing furniture without causing them harm.

Again, it is unlikely that home insurance or pet insurance will cover damage a pet causes to someone else’s property. This is particularly the case if the pet’s owner or person responsible for the pet is the homeowner’s relative, guest or employee or if the pet has been left unattended. For home insurance policies that do cover damage to other people’s homes, there are also often exclusions which can include damage caused by vomiting, fouling or urinating.

If, however, an animal enters a property uninvited, for example a cat creeps into a home through an open window, the homeowner is more likely to be covered by the damage caused. If the animal accidentally knocks over and damages a vase, for example, it is likely that it will be covered under content insurance accidental damage. Meanwhile, if an animal causes damage to the exterior of the property it may be covered under building insurance.