What is Included in Home Insurance
Everything you need to know about what’s included in home insurance in Thailand.
What Is Included In Home Insurance?
Before purchasing a home insurance policy, you must find out what’s included in the policy. In general, home insurance protects both the structure of your home and your personal belongings inside from a variety of hazards, including fire, lightning, explosions, smoke, water damage, hail, windstorms, earthquakes, and floods. Home insurance may also cover burglaries, losses to electrical appliances, damages to fixed windows, and other third-party liabilities.
Key points:
- Protects your personal belongings from mishaps like fire and robbery.
- Compensation from loss due to natural damages or electrical faults.
- Compensation for loss or damages to your property due to accidents.
Coverage for the Structure and the Contents within Your Home
If your home is damaged or destroyed by covered perils, such as fire, hurricane, lightning, or hail, home insurance pays to repair or rebuild it completely. Detached structures in your homes, such as garages, gazebos, or tool sheds, may also be covered.
However, a standard policy will not pay for damage caused by a flood, earthquake, poor maintenance, or routine wear and tear. In this case, you may need to buy a separate add-on to include in your home insurance.
Furniture, appliances, clothing, and most of your home’s contents are covered if they are destroyed in a covered disaster. In some cases, you may be able to get “off-premises” coverage, which allows you to file a claim for lost jewellery no matter where you lose it. Of course, there will be a limit on the amount your insurer will reimburse you.
If you own a lot of expensive and valuable items, such as fine art, jewellery, designer clothes, or antiques, it is recommended that you pay extra to purchase a rider or add-on to cover them.
Personal Liability Protection Against Damage and Injury
This protects you from any lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage that you or your family member cause to other people. It may even pay for damage caused by your pets. For example, if your son accidentally ruins a neighbour’s expensive vase, you can file a claim to reimburse it or If your dog bites your neighbour, your insurer will pay for their medical expenses. However, if your dog bites you or your kid breaks your own vase, you will not be covered.
The level of protection varies, and you can customise it depending on your needs and budget. It is a good idea to discuss what level of protection you need with our professional team. If you want to have more coverage than what is available under your home insurance policy, you can always purchase riders for broader coverage and higher levels of protection.
If you own a lot of expensive and valuable items, such as fine art, jewellery, designer clothes, or antiques, it is recommended that you pay extra to purchase a rider or add-on to cover them.
Flood and Vandalism Coverage
Flood Coverage
Flooding can be caused by many things, both external and interior problems, such as a leaking pipe or an overflowing toilet, this type of flooding is usually covered by your home insurance. However, if the flood is caused by an external condition, such as rising rivers, flash floods, or burst dams, are not covered by the basic home insurance policy. In this case, you need to add coverage to your policy or buy a separate flood add-on.
Vandalism Coverage
Most home insurance coverage provides protection against vandalism unless it is specifically excluded. This coverage usually applies to unoccupied homes, not homes that have been vacant for a certain period of time. An unoccupied home means that your home still contains your personal property even though you are absent. On the other hand, a vacant home is empty and free of your personal property. For example, you are going to sell your home, and you have moved out, taking all of your belongings and furnishings with you to your new place. This means that your home is vacant, and after a specific period of time, vandalism coverage would no longer apply.
Most home insurance coverage provides protection against vandalism unless it is specifically excluded.
Will Home Insurance Cover Home Renovations?
The risks to your home during structural work such as an expansion or loft conversion are unlikely to be covered by your home insurance policy. Smaller work such as rewiring, plumbing or internal structural improvements may still be covered, but the most important thing is to notify the insurer before proceeding with the construction or renovation.
Many insurers may cover cosmetic work such as kitchen or bathroom improvements, but if the work is comprehensive and your insurer is unable to provide coverage, you will need to search out a specialist renovation insurance policy.
If your policy does not have a minor building works provision you must notify your insurer before any construction starts or your coverage will be invalid. When your insurer is aware of the work, it will inform you if you’ll be compensated both before and after it’s completed.
The Bottom Line
Remember that every home insurance policy and every insurer are different. Therefore, as much as you don’t want to read the fine print, you should absolutely do it. Taking the time to read the fine print will help you understand what your home insurance policy covers. This will help you a lot in the future because you know exactly what you’re covered for. You don’t want to be stuck in an unfavourable situation and discover that you’re not covered for that particular condition.