Acts of God

What is an Act of God? 

In the home insurance world, the phrase ‘Act of God’ refers to a range of different disaster scenarios that may impact you and your home. They usually include extreme, unforeseen acts of nature which are unavoidable and are out of human control.

They are also sometimes known as ‘force majeures'.

What is not considered an Act of God? 

If someone or something is to blame for an incident, and it could have been prevented or avoided, then it’s not an Act of God.

For example, a flood caused by a leaking tap or a fire that started because of an iron left on. These are both examples where a person is the cause of the incident and therefore aren’t classed as Acts of God.  

Does my home insurance cover Acts of God? 

There isn't consistency in which 'Acts of God' or 'force majeures' insurers provide cover against. That's why instead of using either of these terms, most insurers will list which specific events you are and aren’t covered for in your home insurance policy details.

The following 'Acts of God' are generally included: 

• Storms 

• Lighting  

• Floods 

• Tsunamis 

• Volcano eruptions 

• Tornadoes

Can I buy Act of God insurance? 

There aren’t specific ‘Acts of God’ insurance policies. Your standard home insurance should cover you for Act of God scenarios, such as floods and fires.

Does my home insurance cover natural disasters? 

Yes, your home insurance policy should cover you for natural disasters such as lightning strikes, floods, fires, and storm damage.

The amount of cover you have depends on your policy and the level of cover you have bought. This should all be listed in your policy documents, which will have been sent to you by your insurer.

Not every scenario will be covered, and there will also be exclusions, which should be listed in the documents. For example, unless you have a specific garden insurance add-on there may limitations on the cover provided to structures and items outside your main building.

Does my home insurance cover floods and storm damage? 

Yes, most home insurance policies provide some cover for flood and storm damage.

If you live in a flood-risk area (you can check if you do on the Gov.uk website) your insurance is probably going to be more expensive, or you may have to pay a higher excess if you make an insurance claim.  

Properties in high flood risk areas can also get protection from the Government’s Flood Re scheme which will provide cover if standard insurers won’t. You can find a list of insurance providers who are members of the scheme on the Flood Re website.