Accidental damage insurance

What does accidental damage insurance cover?

Accidental damage insurance is an optional add-on to your buildings or contents policy. It covers unintentional, one-off incidents that cause physical damage to your property or possessions.

Buildings accidental damage

If you have buildings insurance, adding accidental damage protection means you’re covered for unexpected harm to the physical structure of your home. Here's some examples of what it can include:

• Cracked or smashed windows and glass doors
• Damaged walls from a DIY drill slip
• Broken bathroom fixtures
• A child’s football breaking a conservatory window

It won’t usually cover wear and tear, poor workmanship or structural issues caused over time.

Contents accidental damage

Contents insurance with accidental damage cover protects items inside your home that get damaged suddenly and unintentionally. This might include:

• Spilling red wine on the sofa
• Knocking over and breaking your TV
• Dropping a laptop or tablet
• A nail polish spill on the carpet

Bear in mind that some high-value items may need to be listed individually on your policy.

Do I need accidental damage cover?

Accidental damage cover isn’t a legal requirement, but it can save you money if the unexpected happens.

Consider adding this protection if:

• You have young children or energetic pets
• You often host guests or parties
• You own expensive or delicate items like TVs, tech, or designer furniture
• You enjoy DIY or home improvement projects

While this type of cover will increase your premium, the cost of replacing or repairing damaged property could be much higher.

Still not sure? Take a look at what’s included in home insurance to see how accidental damage fits in.

Are personal possessions insured with accidental damage cover?

Accidental damage insurance mainly covers what’s inside your home. To protect your personal belongings when you’re out and about, like your phone, laptop, or headphones you’ll need to add personal possessions cover to your policy.

This is a separate add-on that can cover:

• Accidental drops or damage while away from home
• Items lost or stolen outside the house
• Belongings taken on holiday

Not all insurers include this by default, so check your policy details to avoid surprises.

Examples of accidental damage

Here are some examples to help you spot when accidental damage cover could come in handy:

• Broken glass door: A gust of wind slams your patio door shut, cracking the glass.
• Paint spill during DIY: You’re redecorating and spill a tin of paint across your carpet.
• Dropped phone or tablet: Your toddler throws your tablet onto the tiles, smashing the screen.
• Hole in wall: You drill into a wall and accidentally hit a pipe, causing flooding.

Please note these are just examples and may not be included with your cover. Always remember to read your policy details or check with your insurer to find out exactly what is included.

Is accidental damage cover worth it?

Whether accidental damage insurance is worth it depends on your lifestyle and risk level.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the pros and cons:

Pros

• Extra protection for common mishaps
• Can prevent large, unexpected costs
• Adds value to your standard policy
• Often affordable as a monthly add-on

Cons

• Adds to your premium
• May have a higher excess
• Doesn’t cover everything (e.g. wear and tear, pet damage unless specified)

If you have a history of small accidents or are concerned about valuable items, this add-on might be worth considering.