Accidental damage is the part of home insurance everyone thinks they understand until something actually breaks. A spilt drink, a cracked sink, a heavy foot in the wrong place. Suddenly the definition of accidental feels open to debate.
Accidental damage cover is about sudden, unintentional damage caused by a specific event. Not wear. Not neglect. Not something that’s been slowly going wrong for months.
What accidental damage cover is meant to protect
In simple terms, accidental damage covers one-off mishaps. The kind of thing you could point to on a calendar.
Dropping something. Knocking something over. Putting a hole somewhere that didn’t have one before.
- Spills that damage carpets or furniture
- Broken fixtures such as sinks or toilets
- Accidental damage to TVs, laptops or appliances
The key words are sudden and unintended.
Buildings versus contents accidental damage
Accidental damage can apply to contents, buildings, or both. These are usually separate options.
Contents accidental damage covers belongings. Buildings accidental damage covers the structure and fixed fittings.
A dropped laptop and a cracked ceramic hob sit under different sections, even if they happen at the same time.
What accidental damage usually does not cover
This is where expectations tend to drift.
Gradual damage, wear and tear, and poor maintenance are normally excluded. A leak that’s been seeping for weeks is treated very differently from a pipe damaged in a single moment.
- Scratches, scuffs and ageing
- Gradual leaks or damp
- Faulty workmanship or poor repairs
Accidental damage is not a maintenance policy.
Is accidental damage included automatically?
Sometimes yes. Often no.
Many policies include accidental damage for certain items by default, but offer wider cover as an optional extra.
This is why two policies with similar prices can behave very differently when something breaks.
Excesses and why they matter
Accidental damage claims often come with higher excesses. That changes whether claiming makes sense.
A £150 excess on a £200 repair feels different to a £150 excess on a £2,000 repair.
This is one reason accidental damage claims are more selective than people expect.
How insurers assess whether damage was accidental
Insurers look at the story and the evidence together.
Was the damage sudden? Was it unintended? Does it line up with what’s being claimed?
They are not looking for perfection. They are looking for plausibility.
What evidence helps support an accidental damage claim
Proving accidental damage usually means showing what happened and what was damaged.
- Photographs of the damage
- A clear description of how it occurred
- Receipts or proof of ownership where relevant
Timing matters. Reporting damage promptly helps establish that it was sudden rather than gradual.
Repair versus replacement
Insurers often prefer repair where possible. Replacement tends to come into play when repair is impractical or uneconomic.
New for old settlement may apply, but only if the policy includes it and the item qualifies.
Cash settlements can be lower than expected, reflecting supplier costs rather than retail prices.
Tenants, landlords and accidental damage
Tenants usually rely on contents accidental damage for their belongings. Landlords rely on buildings accidental damage for the structure and landlord contents cover for supplied items.
Damage caused by tenants to a landlord’s property is not always covered unless the policy allows for it.
Knowing which policy should respond avoids claims being aimed in the wrong direction.
Common reasons accidental damage claims struggle
Most difficulties arise from exclusions or assumptions.
The damage turns out to be gradual. The item wasn’t insured. The excess outweighs the claim. Or accidental damage simply wasn’t included.
Accidental damage cover does a specific job. When it’s understood properly, it fills a useful gap. When it’s misunderstood, it tends to disappoint at exactly the wrong moment.