Overview

• An analysis of 78 policies from 35 providers found only 28% of buildings and 27% of contents policies include accidental damage as standard.
• About seven in ten policies offer accidental damage as an optional add-on or limited basic cover that can be upgraded, with some not offering it at all, and many exclude issues like pet damage or poor upkeep.
• Polling by Yonder in 2024 found 31% of buyers believed their policy covered anything not their fault, with 29% assuming possessions were protected against any event, including accidents.
• A Deltapoll survey of recent claimants in mid-2025 reported accidental damage accounted for around 19% of attempted home insurance claims.
• Which? has lodged a super-complaint with the FCA over market failings, while the Association of British Insurers says core policies focus on major perils and advises customers to review policy details or speak to their insurer.