Home insurance for carpets and flooringThe carpets and flooring in our homes are among the most vulnerable to damage, and yet they are often overlooked when shopping around for home insurance? Here we look at what should you look for from a policy and how can you keep your floorings protected. How does home insurance work?Home insurance is divided into two aspects – buildings insurance and contents insurance, which work as follows: - Buildings insurance: Covers the structure of a property, along with its permanent fixtures and fittings, against risks including storms, flooding, theft, malicious damage and subsidence (subject to policy exclusions). Depending on the policy you choose it may also protect glass in doors and windows, underground cables and pipes, and even outbuildings.
- Contents insurance: Covers the non-permanent items within a home ranging from clothing and furniture to electrical items and carpets. A policy may protect items against risks including storms, flooding, theft, accidental damage and more.
Importantly, home insurance policies vary from provider to provider and what is offered by one insurer as standard may not be included in another policy. So you should examine the cover features carefully before determining the right policy for you. Also watch out for policy exclusions – circumstances in which you will not be covered; and the policy excess, as this is your contribution towards a claim. So how can you get cover for carpets and floorings?Carpets and other types of flooring are usually included under the contents aspect of a policy and could be protected against risks such as water leaks, explosions, and fire damage, depending on the policy’s terms. To ensure that the type of flooring you use in your home is covered, declare it to your insurance company when you’re making an inventory of your possessions. Most contents insurance policies place a limit on the total you can claim following an insured event and also on individual items (the individual item limit is usually in the region of £1,500). So if your flooring cost more than this limit you may need to declare it separately on a policy. Hang on to receipts too and even consider taking photographs of the carpet or flooring to back-up a potential claim. Remember that not all home contents insurance policies are the same. Some offer “new old for cover” meaning that if your carpet/flooring was ruined during an insured event you would receive a payout for a brand new replacement. However, other home insurance companies may only offer “wear and tear” cover meaning a percentage of what you originally paid for the carpet/flooring would be deducted for depreciation. As carpets and flooring naturally suffer a great deal of wear and tear over time, it’s worth ensuring you get a brand new replacement if an insured event occurs. Also look to see what level of accidental damage cover applies to a policy you are interested in. Generally, accidental damage cover only applies to electrical items. However, it is possible to get accidental damage cover for all of the contents of your home including carpets and floorings. Check the terms and conditions carefully however, and be conscious of policy exclusions – for example will you be covered for paint spillages during a DIY project; wine spills during a party; or damage caused by a child or pet? Should you make a claim on your home insurance policy?While home insurance can provide welcome peace of mind it’s still worth avoiding claims as they may cause your premiums to rise and you will still have to pay a policy excess – your contribution towards a claim. So to avoid claims, do all you can to keep your carpet/flooring in good condition with regular vacuuming/sweeping and should a spill occur ensure you treat it immediately as to avoid stains. If you can’t deal with the problem yourself then you may still have options before making a home insurance claim. For example, you could consider calling a professional cleaner to deal with the problem – you should shop around first to ensure their service is competitive. It’s also worth looking to see if your carpet comes with a warranty and whether you can make a claim on it rather than your home insurance. Should an insurance claim be necessary, then contact your provider as soon as possible and follow its instructions carefully. The home insurance company may want to send out a loss adjustor to examine the claim so don’t attempt any repairs or buy a replacement until approved by the insurer.
| 
