Will home insurance cover carpet damage?

Key takeaways

• Carpets are generally covered under home contents insurance

• Insurance usually covers carpet damage caused by fire, escaped water, or theft

• Stains and spills are usually only covered if you added accidental damage insurance

Does home insurance cover carpets?

Yes, your home insurance policy will generally include cover for your carpets under your contents insurance.

That means that if your movable carpets, mats and rugs are damaged by fire, escaped water, or theft, you'll be covered for the cost of repair or replacement.

Is my carpet covered under buildings or home contents insurance?

Carpets usually come under home contents insurance.

While your buildings insurance policy covers the structure of your home, including any permanent fixtures or fittings like fitted kitchens, this doesn’t usually include your carpets. This is because unlike other types of flooring, carpets can theoretically be rolled up and placed in another property.

The exception is if the carpet is glued to the floor, in which instance it could come under buildings insurance. You can check this with your insurer.

What types of carpet are covered in my home insurance policy?

Most types of fitted carpets will be covered as part of your contents insurance. Your contents insurance should also include mats and rugs.

However, if you own particularly valuable rugs or carpets then to protect them fully you will need to add them to your insurance as individual high-value items. That is because home insurance comes with single-item limits. These cap how much you can claim for any given item.

What type of damage is covered?

Your carpets will usually be covered against damaged caused by:

• fire

• escaped water

• tears and rips

• theft or vandalism

Different policies have different inclusions and exclusions, which will be laid out in your insurance documents.

Are my carpets covered against spills and stains?

Probably not if you have standard cover.

However, stains from spilled wine or oil, or other types of damage like burns and tears might be covered by your home insurance policy if you have accidental damage cover included in your policy.

This is usually an add-on you pay extra for when you take out your insurance.

Are my carpets covered against pet damage?

No, most insurers do not cover carpets against pet damage, like scratching or chewing.

This is the case even if you have accidental damage cover.

Are my carpets covered against damage caused by children?

Damage caused to your carpet from spilled orange juice or finger painting will likely only be covered if your policy includes accidental damage cover.

Are my carpets covered against damage caused by building works?

If you have accidental damage included in your home insurance policy it should cover damage caused by DIY works. You must have taken reasonable steps to protect your carpets - for example, putting dust sheets down. If not, your claim may be refused on the argument that it was caused by your negligence.

If your carpets were damaged by tradesmen, they should have public liability insurance, which covers them if they accidentally damage someone's property. You can therefore claim on their insurance for the repair or replacement of your carpets.

Is it worth claiming on my insurance for carpet damage?

It is sometimes cheaper to pay for damage yourself rather than claiming on your insurance. To make this calculation, consider:

• The excess: If this is higher or not much lower than the cost of the repairs, it is not worth making a claim

• Future insurance premiums: Claiming tends to increase insurance prices going forward, and insurers often offer a no-claims discount if you haven't claimed for over a year

💡 Top tip: If the damage is severe and the repair costs far exceed your excess, claiming is probably the most financially beneficial thing to do. After all, this is what insurance is for!

Are landlords responsible for carpets?

If the landlord provided the carpet, they are responsible for repairing or replacing it if the damage is caused by external factors: fire, theft, damp, mould, pests etc. They can cover these costs with landlord contents insurance.

If the tenant directly causes damage to the carpet - for example, if you rip, burn or stain it - you are responsible for the costs, even if it was an accident. Your landlord may deduct the costs from your deposit. Alternatively, you can take out tenants liability insurance. This is generally included as standard in renters content cover.