Home insurance is something that you may not think about much after you have put a policy in place. Who wants to think about things going wrong or their home being damaged by fire, storm, or flood? Nobody wants to imagine what they will have to do in such a scenario.

But being aware of the steps you will need to take, as well as having a good understanding of what is and isn’t covered by your home insurance policy means that if disaster strikes, the process of making a claim will be as straightforward as possible and the stress minimised.

Compensation Guide for Home Insurance

Making a successful home insurance claim

There are a number of factors you should take into account in making a home insurance claim and there are also ways to make the process go more smoothly. 

Here are some tips and pointers to making a home insurance claim:

Firstly, check the details of your policy to ensure that the loss or damage is covered by the policy. Ideally it is wise to ensure that you are fully familiar with all the details of your home insurance policy and the perils protected before you need to make a claim.

For example, your home insurance may specifically exclude cover for damage due to flooding or subsidence or you may think that you have purchased home insurance that includes accidental damage and find that this is not the case when making a claim.

Home insurance usually consists of either home buildings insurance and home contents insurance and your home insurance, or tenants insurance, may consist of one of these types of cover or both. Know which type of cover your policy includes and ensure that the damage that you are claiming for is covered.

Again, it is best to be familiar with any exclusions in your policy before you need to make a claim. 

Claims for water damage, for example, will be denied if the damage is due to a small leak undetected over time, or a lack of plumbing maintenance, such as corroding pipes.

Home security measures may get you a discount on purchasing your home insurance policy but, if you do not use locks or do not set your security alarm when away from home, then you may find that your claim is denied if your property is broken into.

Your home insurance policy will include an excess which is the amount of money that you must pay yourself before your insurer pays towards a claim.

Although insurance is intended to put you back in the position that you were in before the event occurred, in reality it may still involve a cost to you even after your claim has been settled.

You must weigh up whether it is worth making a claim on your home insurance for minor repairs, given that you may lose your no claims discount and you will have to pay the excess amount, which can vary depending on your policy and the type of damage involved. 

It is possible to get home insurance with no claims discount protection which means that you do not lose your full no claims discount on making a claim. Some home contents insurance also includes new for old cover, meaning that damaged belongings are replaced with new ones.

There is likely to be guidance on your insurer’s website regarding what to do when making a claim and it is always best to follow this. 

You will probably be able to contact a home emergency helpline, or a specific claims phone number and it is best to do this as soon as possible. 

It is important to notify your home insurer as soon as possible after the event as further loss or deterioration of your home or belongings may cause a delay in the claims process, may cause your insurer to query the cause or extent of the damage, and ultimately delay the resolution of your claim.

Give any details asked for by the insurer as truthfully and accurately as possible and follow any advice given to you by your home insurer such as submitting a claim form by a certain deadline etc.

It may be tempting to exaggerate the damage or to try to ‘bump up’ your claim but to give false information is fraudulent and may lead to your claim being rejected in its entirety, even if you have just exaggerated a small aspect of the claim.

The onus is on you the customer to prove that your claim is valid and it is vital that you provide as much information as the insurance company requires, and as much as possible to support your claim.

In the event of a significant claim, it may be worth considering the services of a loss assessor, especially where you are making a large or complex claim. 

A loss assessor is an independent professional who works on your behalf in making an insurance claim and will advise you on what will be required to make repairs following an insured event including replacement costs and timelines.

It is always worthwhile to keep photos or video evidence of any damage to your home or belongings, and keep any damaged items for the claims assessment process. 

If you have any receipts for valuables or valuations for items such as jewellery etc. then have those to hand if possible also.

Hold off on any redecorating also as the insurance company’s loss adjuster may need to inspect your property and belongings as part of the claims process. If it is necessary to make temporary repairs, document these and keep any estimates that you get for repair work.

In the aftermath of an unexpected event where your home or property has been damaged such as a fire, flood, or storm, you will understandably be very stressed. However, it is important to listen to and follow any advice given to you by your home insurer in order to avoid unnecessary delays in your claim.

Follow the claims process and keep a record of any communications between you and your insurance company including copies of any documents or photos etc that you send in support of your claim.

Insurance claims’ timelines can vary widely, depending on the type, nature, scope and complexity of your claim. The Central Bank does provide some guidelines for insurers in dealing with claims, including a time limit of ten days in informing you of developments that are relevant to your claim.

If you feel that you are being unfairly treated by your insurer, or you have a complaint, then first approach your insurer and follow their complaints procedure to make a complaint.

If your complaint cannot be resolved by your insurer in the first instance, then you may need to make a further complaint to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman.

How much can I expect to receive for a home insurance claim?

There is no set answer to this question as the nature of each claim will vary significantly. There are some statistics around the cause of home insurance claims, and the average payout made in a home insurance claim.

Allianz has provided some statistics on the top 5 reasons for home insurance claims in Ireland. These are:

  • Burst pipes – 33%
  • Storm damage – 28%
  • Accidental damage – 18%
  • Fire – 10%
  • Theft – 5%

Although details of home insurance payouts are not widely available. An average payout of €3,851 for home contents insurance, and an average payout of €3,590 for buildings insurance have recently been reported.

This would roughly tally with some estimates of damage due to Storm Eowyn in Ireland in early 2025, of €112 million in total paid in claims to 27,000 claimants which might suggest an average of approximately €4,148 per claim.

Figures for the UK for 2024 have also suggested an average claim of £5,284 per claim in the second quarter of 2024 for storm damage.

Of course, these figures are averages so some claims may involve much higher amounts, depending on the extent of the damage to the home or property. It is likely that the financial impact of a home insurance claim may be multiples of these figures in some cases.

Compare Insurance

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All home insurance claims are unique and there are many factors involved in making a home insurance claim. However, to ensure that the process goes as smoothly as possible and to maximise your chances of your claim being accepted, then follow our compensation guide.

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