What Does Home Insurance Not Cover? 7 Common Exclusions

A fire insurance policy (home insurance) covers far more than fire damage alone: water damage, storm, glass breakage and sometimes theft can also be insured. Yet the cover is not unlimited, because every policy contains clear exclusions and situations in which the insurer does not (or only partially) step in. It is therefore important to know what a fire insurance policy does not cover, so you are not caught off guard when a claim arises.

1. Intentional damage

Damage you deliberately cause yourself is not covered by your fire insurance policy.

• If you start a fire yourself or intentionally cause a loss, you forfeit your right to compensation.
• The insurer must be able to prove the intent, but the basic rule is clear: intentional damage is never covered.

This principle appears in virtually all fire and home insurance policies.

2. Wear and tear, ageing and lack of maintenance

Fire insurance is designed for sudden and unforeseen damage, not for problems caused by gradual wear and tear or poor maintenance.

Typical examples:

• a worn pipe that has been in poor condition for years;
• a roof that has not been maintained for a long time;
• damage caused by rising damp or condensation.

The insurer will often cover the consequential damage (for example, damp walls), but not the repair of the worn component itself, such as the old pipe or the entire roof.

3. Repairing the defect itself

Many policies draw a distinction between:

• the consequential damage (for example, water damage to walls, floors or furniture);
• the defective component that caused the damage (the pipe, washing machine, boiler…).

The fire insurance policy then covers:

• the damage caused by the water leak,
• but not the repair or replacement of the broken pipe or the appliance itself.

This can come into play with, for example:

• a burst water pipe;
• a faulty washing machine that started leaking;
• an electrical installation that caused a short circuit.

4. Failure to meet contractual obligations

Insurers sometimes impose additional safety or prevention requirements, for example an alarm system when the contents are of high value.

• If you fail to meet those requirements,
• and the insurer can show that this contributed to the loss,

the insurer may refuse or reduce the payout. Think, for instance, of a theft claim at a property where the policy required an alarm that was never installed.

5. Your vehicle and certain items outside the home

Fire insurance does not automatically cover everything that happens to be on your property.

• Your car in the driveway or garage: fire damage to a vehicle generally needs to be claimed through your car insurance (comprehensive cover), not your fire insurance.
• Garden items such as loose garden furniture, a barbecue or certain garden accessories are often covered only to a limited extent or not at all, unless you have taken out a specific extension or option.

Always check your policy carefully to see exactly what falls under