Things You Didn't Know That Are Covered By Home Insurance

Home insurance is a contract between you and an insurance company, designed to protect your home from various unexpected events. While many of us know that it provides coverage against a range of incidents, do we really know the breadth of that protection? Beyond the basics, home insurance can be a crucial investment that covers much more than you might think.

Keep on reading to discover the lesser-known perks and comprehensive benefits of home insurance in UAE.

Inclusions of Home Insurance in UAE

• Property Insured (Fire & Allied Perils/Accidental Damage)

Home insurance protects your home and its contents from a wide range of risks, including fire, storms, and accidental damage.

Example	What Your Home Insurance Covers
A large thunderstorm hits your area and a lightning strike causes a fire that damages your roof and living room	Repairs to your home’s structure Replacement of Furniture Electronics Other belongings damaged by the fire or water used to extinguish it

• Breakage of Fixed Glass and Sanitary Fixtures

Home insurance coverage financially protects fixed glass and sanitary fixtures in your home, such as windows, mirrors, bathtubs, and toilets, against breakage.

Example	What Your Home Insurance Covers
During a family gathering, a game in the backyard goes awry, and a ball is accidentally thrown through a large glass patio door	The resulting broken glass would be covered under this part of your home insurance in the UAE Glass replacement It will also cover, if necessary, any related damages to the frame or structure caused by the breakage

• Underground Facilities

Insurance for underground facilities covers the repair costs for damages to underground plumbing, wiring, and other utilities that serve your property.

Example	What Your Home Insurance Covers
During a home renovation, a contractor may mistakenly dig up and damage the underground sewer line leading to your home	Expenses for repairing the sewer line Any associated clean-up

• Removal of Debris

After a covered event like a fire or natural disaster damages your property, there will likely be debris that require clearance before reconstruction can begin. This coverage pays for the cost of removing debris from your property to make way for repairs and rebuilding.

Example	What Your Home Insurance Covers
After a severe hurricane, your property might be littered with fallen trees, shattered glass, and destroyed building materials	Costs of hiring a company to remove all this material safely (under the debris removal coverage)

• Owner’s Legal Liability to the Public

This home insurance coverage protects you from financial liability if someone is injured or their property is damaged while on your premises.

Example	What Your Home Insurance Covers
A delivery person trips over an uneven step at your front door and breaks their leg . They decide to sue you for their medical expenses and loss of earnings	Legal defence and any damages occurred (covered under owner's legal liability coverage)

• Building including Permanent Fixtures and Fittings

Home insurance covers the physical structure of your home. It also covers permanent fixtures and fittings, such as built-in cabinets, plumbing, and permanently installed appliances and systems.

For Instance	What Your Home Insurance Covers
A severe earthquake causes significant structural damage to your home, including cracks in the walls and broken plumbing in the bathrooms	Repair of these damages, including the costs to replace or fix permanently installed fixtures and fittings

• Valuables, Personal Belongings, and Portable Equipment

The coverage of home insurance in the UAE ensures that your personal items such as jewellery, artwork, electronics, and portable equipment are covered against theft, loss, or damage.

Example	What Your Home Insurance Covers
Burglars break into your home while you are on vacation and steal valuable jewellery and your high-end camera equipment	Incurred losses

• Loss of Money and Documents

Home insurance also provides financial protection against the loss of money from your premises due to theft or robbery.

Example	What Your Home Insurance Covers
You run a small business from home, and one evening, robbers force entry and steal a safe containing a significant amount of cash.	The loss of money coverage in your home insurance policy would reimburse you for the cash stolen — up to the limit specified in your policy

• Home Assistance

Home insurance in the UAE provides immediate support services such as plumbing, electrical repairs, or locksmith services in case of emergencies at home.

For Instance	What Your Home Insurance Covers
Your heating system fails in the middle of winter	Arranging a technician to come out and fix it quickly (under home assistance coverage)

• Cost of Alternative Accommodation

If your home becomes uninhabitable due to an insured event like a flood or fire, this coverage pays for your temporary accommodation.

Example	What Your Home Insurance Covers
You have to vacate your home while extensive mould remediation is being carried out	The cost of your stay in a rental property or hotel during this period

• Your Contents When Moving Houses within UAE with a Moving Company

This unique coverage in home insurance protects your household items against damage or loss during a house move handled by a professional moving company.

Example	What Your Home Insurance Covers
While moving to a new home, a moving truck is involved in an accident, resulting in damage to your furniture and electronics	Cost of repairing or replacing the damaged items

• Up to 30 or 60 Days While You're Away (Unoccupied Home Insurance)

Interestingly, the coverage in home insurance also extends to your unoccupied home when you are away — for up to 30 or 60 days. It provides financial protection against risks like burglaries or environmental damage that might occur in your absence.

Example	What Your Home Insurance Covers
While you are on a long vacation, a pipe bursts and causes water damage	Repair and cleanup costs, even if the home was unoccupied

• Home Insurance Burst Pipes

This specific coverage protects against the costs incurred from the sudden bursting of pipes. It covers the repair of the pipe and any associated water damage to your home and belongings.

Important: It does not cover damage due to wear and tear or gradual deterioration like a slowly leaking, rusted pipe.

Example	What Your Home Insurance Covers
A pipe bursts due to a sudden increase in water pressure or a freeze, causing extensive water damage to your kitchen	Repairs to the pipe and any necessary restoration work in your kitchen

Add-Ons in Home Insurance in the UAE

When considering home insurance, it's essential to understand not just the standard coverages but also the additional protections available through various add-ons.

Let’s take a look at some of the major add-ons -

• Loss of Metered Water - This coverage is particularly useful if you incur costs due to the accidental loss of water from a damaged metre or plumbing.
• Garden Cover - Gardens can represent a significant investment in landscaping, plants, and garden structures. Garden cover protects this investment by covering the cost of repairing or replacing garden elements damaged by insured events. For instance, if a vandal damages your decorative statues or a hail storm ruins your outdoor gazebo, this add-on would cover the costs of restoring your garden.
• Fire Brigade Charges, Extinguishment & Mitigation - This add-on in home insurance covers the expenses incurred when the fire service is called to handle a fire at your property. These charges can include the cost of the firefighting services and any preventive measures they implement to stop the fire from spreading.

Key Takeaway

Home insurance stands as a fundamental safeguard and protects one of your most valuable assets from unforeseen circumstances. The diverse range of coverages and additional add-ons provide comprehensive protection against a variety of risks — from structural damage to personal property losses.

By investing in a home insurance policy, you can get financial security and be well-prepared for any emergencies or unexpected events. For those seeking to secure their homes and maintain stability in the face of adversity, home insurance is a wise choice.

To get more details or simply find the best coverage options tailored to your needs, visit the home insurance section of policybazaar.ae.