What can invalidate my home insurance?

Key takeaways

• Leaving your home empty and bodged DIY jobs can invalidate your home insurance

• Rental properties won’t be covered by home insurance - you need landlord cover

• Non-disclosure - not telling your insurer important facts - can also lead to invalidation

What happens if your home insurance is invalid?

If an insurance policy is invalidated, it is like it never existed. The insurer will not pay out when you make a home insurance claim and you will have to cover any expenses yourself.

What can invalidate my home insurance?

• Leaving your house unoccupied for longer than your home insurance policy allows

• Not making necessary repairs 

• Failing to secure your home, for example by leaving doors and windows unlocked

• Giving inaccurate information when taking out your policy

• Not updating your policy with changes such as renovations to your home

• Failing to inform the police of a break in within 24 hours 

• Damaging your home while attempting a DIY job

Why are some home insurance claims rejected?

Insurance providers will often reject home insurance claims if you fail to follow the rules set out in your policy documents.

Your policy might contain clauses about:

• Occupancy (how may days in a row you can leave your home unoccupied for)

• How you use your home (i.e. if you run a business or do Airbnb)

• Negligence and maintenance

Home insurance claims will also be rejected if the insurer suspects you of fraud, such as knowingly inflating the value of your home contents to make money on a contents insurance claim. 

How long can I leave my home unoccupied before my home insurance is invalid?

Most home insurance policies stipulate that you won’t be covered if your home is left unoccupied for more than 30 consecutive days,

Unoccupied property is at more at risk of burglary or more serious damage from undiscovered leaks etc.

If you’re planning an extended holiday, you can normally pay extra for extended cover.

Can I claim on insurance if I damage my home doing DIY?

No - very few home insurance policies include cover for DIY as standard. Policies generally won’t pay out for wear and tear or poor maintenance either.

Do I have a duty to repair my home?

Yes, it’s important to keep your home in a good state of repair. Failing to do so may result in future home insurance claims being rejected – for example, if failing to maintain your roof leads to a flood in your home.  

Do I have to tell my home insurance provider about renovations?

Yes, you need to tell your home insurance provider about renovations.

Where possible, tell your insurer about your renovation plans before work starts. If you are employing professionals to carry out building work, ensure they have public liability cover to cover any damage they cause.

Adding an extension or a conservatory will increase the rebuild cost of your home, and therefore increase the cost of your buildings insurance.

Is my home insurance invalid if I work from home?

Your home insurance may be invalid if you work from home and either:

• Stock materials or goods at your home

• Have work-related visitors to your home

If you work from home and do admin or computer-based work, your home insurance will usually still be valid.

However, your contents cover usually won’t cover items in your home that are property of your employer and not personal property, for example a company-owned laptop. If you try to make a claim for these items on your home insurance policy, it's likely that your claim will be rejected.

If you want to protect your home business, rather than relying on your home insurance, it may be more appropriate to take out business insurance which can cover your equipment, stock, and provide you with public liability insurance.

Should I tell my insurer if I rent out a room?

Yes, you should give your insurer a call if you plan to make some extra cash by renting out your home or a room in it. Failing to do so can invalidate your home insurance.

You may have to pay an extra premium if you take in a lodger but at least you will be covered if your home is damaged by your guests or tenants. However, some policies will not pay out if your guests steal from you and there are no signs of forced entry.

Does posting holiday photos on social media invalidate home insurance?

Yes, in some cases posting holiday photos on your socials can cause issues with a home insurance claim.

If you broadcast the fact you are away online, your chances of being burgled can increase significantly.

In some cases, insurance companies may take the view that posting lots of holiday snaps online invalidates your cover because you have essentially advertised the fact your home is unoccupied. 

Does home insurance cover pests like rats or mice?

Many home insurance policies exclude damage caused by vermin such as rats or mice. However, it is possible for home insurance to cover pest removal if you have home emergency cover added to your policy.

How can I avoid invalidating my home insurance?

Easy ways to reduce the chances of invalidating your home insurance policy include: