A typical misconception about home insurance in India is that once you sign on that policy document, you’re now safe and everything is now covered and there can be no further discussions there. While a standard home insurance policy does provide you with protection for many of the most common causes of damage/loss, it doesn’t cover every contingency. Knowing what is included and what is not in your policy can help you decide if you need additional coverage (Home insurance riders) to provide comprehensive protection and increase the value of your coverage.
Inclusions of Home Insurance Cover
If your home insurance policy explicitly says coverage is included, you can have some peace of mind about any probable losses. However, it’s not just coverage for specific items that are in question. It’s important to understand that most home insurance policies cover claims that are primarily based on the cause of the disaster, and the nature of loss is secondary.
Here is a list of unexpected events that your home insurance company can cover you for
- Fire or lightning
- Windstorm or hail
- Explosion
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Flood
- Accidental damage
- Earthquake
- Damage caused due to aircraft
If you have experienced any of the above mentioned unforeseen events, your home insurance provider will help you ease up the burden by covering the following –
1. Structure of your home
If there is damage caused to the construction of your property, your home insurance provider will compensate for it.
2. Personal belongings
All the contents present in your home while the disaster took place will be covered by your insurer except the ones that are expensive like jewelry, electronics, etc. will not be covered. You can add a rider to your policy that can help you increase the value of your coverage so you could protect your precious belongings too.
3. Public liability
Public Liability Insurance coverage protects you against the lawful liability to pay a reimbursement for physical injury or property damage suffered by a third party due to accidents occurring in your premises and stemming from your normal daily routine.
4. Additional living expenses
If you cannot live in your home due to damage caused by an insured disaster, the additional costs of living away from home are covered by your insurer. It covers hotel bills, restaurant meals, and other costs, over and above your usual living expenses, incurred while your home is being rebuilt.
PS – This coverage in your home insurance policy has some limits, for instance, a time limit. However, this compensation is not a part of the coverage available to reconstruct or repair your home. Even if you use up your limit of this coverage, your home insurance company will still have to pay the full claim.
If the disaster has caused damage to the part of your house which is given out on rent, most policies also compensate for the rent you have lost if your home had not been destroyed.
Exclusions of Home Insurance Cover
A home insurance policy does not cover loss/damage done to your structure/contents in the following scenarios:
- Deliberate destruction of the structure and contents.
- Any property which is not constructed well and there have been speculations about its foundations.
- Damage to the structure of your home and contents that have been previously there.
- Faulty manufacturing in electrical, mechanical, and electronic items.
- Any damage that you can not explain or provide valid evidence for.
- If your carelessness caused a damage/loss
- Loss/damage directly or indirectly is caused by war.
- Loss/damage caused by nuclear activity.
- If you have left your house unoccupied for more than continuous 30 to 45 days, any loss/damage caused by burglary or theft will not be covered.
- If you have acquired the house legally
- Non-disclosure of relevant information
- Wear and tear
- Damage caused by pollution
Buying a home is a huge accomplishment and I’m sure you’d want to protect it under any circumstances. If you have been a victim of misselling or claim rejections, it is quite difficult to see the light ahead, but our experts at Insurance Samadhan are here to help you through it all! Leave your home insurance-related grievances to us and we will make sure we help you see the light!
To reach us at InsuranceSamadhan.com –
Call us at – 844 844 0626
Mail us at – corporate@insurancesamadhan.com
Register your insurance complaint here
