Merry mishaps: will your home insurance cover accidental damage this Christmas?

Anyone hosting family and friends this Christmas should check that their home insurance includes accidental damage cover. 

Without it, you could end up with a hole in your pocket, as well as a stain on your carpet.

Research by Saga found December and January are the most expensive months for accidental damage claims, probably because of the aftermath of festive celebrations. 

Unfortunately, most policies don't include accidental damage as standard and, unless you bought the cover as an add-on, you might find your insurer won't pay out.

So for peace of mind that your home and belongings are protected over Christmas and new year, Which? explains what insurance you need and the common exclusions to watch out for.

Compare home insurance deals

Check Which? insurance ratings and compare deals using the service provided by Confused.com

Get a quote

Festive surge in accidental damage claims

Accidents can and do happen, especially at Christmas. Excited children, family pets and parties can lead to mishaps, from spilled drinks on the sofa to broken tech.

Saga, which provides insurance for the over-50s, analysed its own claims data over a three-year period and found that accidental damage was more likely during the festive season. Christmas Day alone has 35% more accidental damage claims than the monthly average. 

Claims are also the most expensive during this time of year. In December, the average accidental damage claim was worth £913, rising to £935 in January. One merry mishap totted up to a whopping £22,231.

Separate research from Aviva, which looked at data across a seven-year period, found 47% of Christmas Day claims were for accidental damage. 

Numerous customers reported broken gadgets, with one person claiming for damage after he slipped on a small toy and fell onto the TV. Knocked-over candles are also common, as are damaged cookers and hobs from making Christmas dinner. 

• Find out more: making a home insurance claim

What damage will home insurance cover?

If you're worried, double-check your existing home insurance. That's because – unfortunately – most policies don't include accidental damage cover as standard. 

The latest Which? analysis found that only 30% of buildings policies offer full cover as standard and 29% for contents. In most cases you'll need to buy it as an optional extra and choose to have it added to your existing cover. 

It will protect you against sudden, unexpected damage to your home that happens by mistake – everything from Christmas pudding on the carpet to a child knocking over a delicate ornament.

If a guest hurts themselves at your Christmas celebrations, then liability cover is usually included in standard insurance policies to cover medical costs and any legal expenses. However, you won't be covered for injuries to yourself or other household members.

Think twice before you make a smaller-value claim, however. Minor breaks or damage such as smashed glasses or scuffed floors may not be worth claiming for, depending on the value of the item compared to your excess. Claiming could also affect your no-claims discount when you come to renew your policy.

• Find out more: best home insurance

Make your money go further

Find the best deals, avoid scams, and grow your savings with our expert guidance. From only £4.99 a month.

Join Which? Money

Cancel anytime.

Not everything may be covered

Some accidental damage may not be included, even if you've taken out the appropriate insurance. So make sure you read the terms and conditions carefully. Here are some of the most common mishaps you won't be able to make a claim for:

• Wear and tear: Unfortunately, insurers won't pay out for damage caused by general wear and tear. For buildings, that includes things like fungus and weather-related structural changes; for contents, it includes mechanical faults on electrical goods.
• Pets: Furry friends can make a mess too, but many accidental damage policies won't allow you to claim for anything caused by animals. Damage caused by pests and vermin are also usually excluded.
• DIY: If you're doing a bit of home improvement, such as putting up shelves or painting, and you damage something in the process, you should be covered. But if you're trying to fix a problem you're not qualified to do, such as plumbing or electrics, then you won't be able to make a claim.
• Intentional damage: The clue is in the name – if the damage was done on purpose, rather than by accident, then you won't be able to claim.
• Gadgets: Electricals that are easily carried around, such as laptops and mobile phones, won't usually be covered for accidental damage. Instead, think about taking out a standalone gadget insurance policy or itemising them on your home contents policy. 
• Power outage: If overloaded sockets or faulty Christmas lights blow the electricity, insurers typically wouldn’t cover costs such as an electrician’s fee. However, most insurers offer a home emergency add-on that would.

Support our campaign to end the insurance rip-off

If you need to make a claim – no matter how minor – you expect the matter to be settled as quickly and as smoothly as possible. Unfortunately, when it comes to home insurance, record levels of complaints suggest insurers are increasingly letting customers down.

Claims handling is one area in which we think insurers are letting customers down too often – with recent Which? research finding that almost half of people making an insurance claim experience at least one problem in their claim journey. 

Meanwhile, the Financial Conduct Authority has commented that there are problems with 'substandard service levels across insurance sectors.'

We're therefore campaigning for wide-scale change to bring fairer value to insurance customers at large.

Learn more about our campaign to end the insurance rip-off and sign our petition here.

Which? Limited is registered in England and Wales to 2 Marylebone Road, London NW1 4DF, company number 00677665  and is an Introducer Appointed Representative (FRN 610689) of the following:

1. Inspop.com Ltd for the introduction of non-investment motor, home, travel and pet insurance, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to provide advice and arrange non-investment motor, home, travel and pet insurance products (FRN310635). Inspop.com Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to provide advice and arrange non-investment motor, home, travel and pet insurance products (FRN310635) and is registered in England and Wales to Greyfriars House, Greyfriars Road, Cardiff, South Wales, CF10 3AL, company number 03857130. Confused.com is a trading name of Inspop.com Ltd. 

2. LifeSearch Partners Limited (FRN656479), for the introduction of Pure Protection Contracts and Private Health Insurance, who are authorised and regulated by the FCA to provide advice and arrange Pure Protection Contracts and Private Health Insurance Contracts.  LifeSearch Partners Ltd is registered in England and Wales to 3000a Parkway, Whiteley, Hampshire, PO15 7FX, company number 03412386.

3. HUB Financial Solutions, for the introduction of equity release advice, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (‘FCA’) to provide advice and guidance on financial products for those who have retired or are approaching retirement (FCA Firm Reference Number: 455713). HUB Financial Solutions is registered in England and Wales to Enterprise House, Bancroft Road, Reigate, Surrey RH12 7RP, company number 05125701.

4. Alan Boswell Insurance Brokers Ltd (FRN 301), for the introduction of non-investment landlord insurances, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority to provide advice and arrange insurance contracts. Alan Boswell insurance brokers Ltd is registered in England at Prospect House, Rouen Rd, Norwich NR1 1RE, company number 02591252.

Other financial services:

Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), Unit 26 (2.06), Newark Works, 2 Foundry Lane, Bath BA2 3GZ. London & Country are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

We do not make, nor do we seek to make, any recommendations or personalised advice on financial products or services that are regulated by the FCA, as we’re not regulated or authorised by the FCA to advise you in this way. In some cases, however, we have included links to regulated brands or providers with whom we have a commercial relationship and, if you choose to, you can buy a product from our commercial partners. 

If you go ahead and buy a product using our link, we will receive a commission to help fund our not-for-profit mission and our campaigns work as a champion for the UK consumer. Please note that a link alone does not constitute an endorsement by Which?.