Introduction - Home Insurance Contracts vary from insurer to insurer. However the basic cover of home insurance coverage is usually similar. It is worth bearing in mind that for a bank or building society etc to lend money on a property, they will require you to have a valid insurance policy in force with certain sections covered.  They will want their interest noted in the policy document to satisfy the Contract Rights Act and they will usually want to see a copy of your Home Insurance policy. The following perils are fairly standard and should be used as a general guide to help your understanding:-

Buildings Insurance - Fire, Explosion, Lightning, Earthquake, Subterranean Fire, Smoke, Riot, Civil Commotion, Strikes, Labour or Political disturbances. Vandalism & Acts of Malicious persons, Escape of Water from fixed tanks or apparatus including washing machines etc. Escape of oil from any fixed domestic oil fired heating installation, pipes or apparatus, Storm or Flood, Theft or Attempted Theft, Breakage or Collapse of satellite television receiving equipment, television or radio aerials, aerial masts or fittings.  Falling trees or Branches, Impact with the Buildings by any vehicle, animal or aircraft or by articles dropped or falling from them, Subsidence, Landslip, Heave, Accidental Damage (usually an optional extra). Accidental damage or breakage of fixed glass, that forms part of the building, (including the cost of boarding up before replacing the glass).

Accidental Breakage of fixed sanitary fittings. Accidental breakage of fixed solar panels forming part of the buildings, Accidental damage of ceramic glass in cookers, hobs or built in units.  Loss of rent or costs for alternative accommodation.

Contracting purchasers extension cover (the buyer of your property can enjoy cover under your buildings insurance). Building fees and the cost of removing debris, Architects Surveyors fees, civil engineers & solicitors fees involved in repairing the building, the extra costs required in repairing your building to meet any regulations or laws imposed by Act of Parliament or local authorities.
Property Owners Liability, Liability to cover Section 3 of the Defective premises Act 1972 or Section 5 of the Defective premises (Northern Ireland) Order 1975.

Contents Insurance - Fire, Explosion Fire, Explosion, Lightning, Earthquake, Subterranean Fire, Smoke, Riot, Civil Commotion, Strikes, Labour or Political disturbances, Vandalism & Acts of Malicious persons, Escape of Water from fixed tanks or apparatus including washing machines etc, Escape of oil from any fixed domestic oil fired heating installation, pipes or apparatus, Storm or Flood, Theft or Attempted Theft, Subsidence, Accidental Breakage of Glass tops and fixed glass in furniture, ceramic hobs and mirrors.

Loss of rent or alternative accommodation cover. (If you home is unoccupied as a result of an insured peril).  Accidental Damage to Television sets, audio and video equipment and computer equipment in your home and aerials, fittings, masts and satellite dishes attached to the building.
Loss of metered water.

Accidental Damage and loss against certain perils whilst your contents are temporarily removed from the home, Damage to your contents whilst outside the home but within it’s boundaries, Wedding & Special Occasion Gift cover, Loss of Keys, Fridge & Freezer cover, Compensation for Death cover, Accidental Damage to Contents cover (an optional extra), Personal Liability Cover. Liability as Occupier of your home., Accidents to domestic employees, Unpaid court awards.

All Risks cover is usually the widest cover available and covers loss or damage to items away from the home. It is a good idea to buy this type of insurance on items such as jewellery or watches or electrical items such as camcorders that often are used away from the home. This section of your home insurance policy costs a good deal more than the basic insurance perils section thus cover is normally only taken out for specific items.

Understanding the Peril’s covered - Whilst most of the perils for which you receive cover may seem quite straight forward, some may seem a little unusual and we hope that the following notes will be of assistance to you.  It is worth bearing in mind that for a claim to be valid under your insurance, insurers refer to a terms called proximate cause. The definition of a proximate cause is as follows;

• Every event is the outcome of a chain of previous events. This immediate or effective cause, not necessarily that closest in time to the event, is termed the proximate cause thus,

• A proximate cause is the first event in a chain of events that gives rise to a claim.
  For example: if a car is being driven along the road and has to take action to avoid a pedestrian that has stopped in to the road, say the car then hits a post which collapses and damages 2 parked cars, then the proximate cause of damage to the cars is the first car swerving and not the lamppost falling.

Loss of Rent or Alternative Accommodation cover - If you home becomes inhabitable because of an insured peril such as a fire or a flood etc, your insurers mayl normally pay up to 20% of your sum insured for you to rent temporary accommodation to live in. If you are renting your property out and our course your insurers know and have accepted this, they will pay for your loss of rent up to to 20% of the sum insured under your insurance policy.

Cover whilst selling your home - If you are selling your home from the date you exchange contracts your insurance company will give the buyer the benefit of the Buildings Insurance cover provided by your policy until such time as the sale is completed. For this cover to be operative, your insurance company may want confirmation that the purchaser has not arranged their own cover elsewhere.

Building Fees & the cost of removing debris - Following a claim under your insurance policy, your insurers provider may pay the expenses of architects, surveyors and civil engineers & solicitors etc to help rebuild or repair your building. They will also pay to have debris removed from your home and if any demolishing is required to make the building safe.

Liability as owner of your previous homes - Your insurers will insurer your liability under section 3 of the Defective Premises act 1972 or Section 5 of the Defective premises (Northern Ireland) Order 1975 as owner of any previous home which you have occupied for accidents happening in and around the home that result in bodily injury to any person other than you or a domestic employee or loss or damage to property which you or your domestic employee do not own or have legal responsibility for. The usual amount of cover for this section is £1,000,000.