How do I make a home insurance claim?

Key takeaways

• To make a home insurance claim, contact your insurer promptly and provide details of the incident along with any supporting evidence.

• Common reasons for home insurance claim failure include wear and tear, poor maintenance, and claims below the policy excess.

• Ensure you have the right amount of buildings and contents insurance and familiarise yourself with the claims procedure to avoid mistakes.

When should I make a home insurance claim?

You should make a home insurance claim as soon as possible after the loss or damage occurs, once it is safe to do so, and within any time limits set out in your policy.

Recent MoneySuperMarket claims data shows the most common reasons for home insurance claims were:

• Accidents (24.41%^{^} of claims)

• Escape of water (29.26%^{^} of claims)

• Theft (12.63%^{^} of claims)

• Storm damage (12.60%^{^} of claims)

How soon can I claim on my home insurance?

You can usually claim on your home insurance as soon as an insured event happens. Just contact your insurer, provide details of what’s happened, and follow their claims process.

It’s best to report a claim quickly (within 48 hours). Delays could make it harder to verify your claim or affect your payout.

How many home insurance claims are accepted?

According to The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), 73% of of home insurance claims were accepted between 2022-2024. There were more than 2.5 million home insurance claims which that paid out, with insurers handing over more than £9 billion for repairs and replacements.

However, there was significant differences in the acceptance rates of different insurers.

The claim reason also impacted the rejection rate. For example, under a third of home owners who claimed for storm damage received a payout.

Why do home insurance claims fail?

The reasons behind the failure of home insurance claims are varied. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) identifies several common pitfalls, including:

• Wear and tear or damage resulting from poor maintenance.

• The damage cost is less than the policy excess, leaving the policyholder to foot the bill.

• The incident not being covered by the scope of the policy.

How can I make a successful home insurance claim?

To make a successful home insurance claim, report the incident to your insurer as soon as possible, provide clear and accurate details of what happened, and supply strong supporting evidence.

To increase the chances of your claim being a success, you need to:

• Ensure you have adequate cover. This means selecting the right amount of buildings insurance and contents insurance to fully protect your property and belongings.

• Document everything: The more proof and supporting documentation you have for your claim, the more likely your claim is to be accepted.

• Review your policy to understand exactly what your policy covers.

• Understand the house insurance claim process.

House insurance claims process: step-by-step

When the unexpected strikes, here’s how to make a home insurance claim:

• Stay safe: Make sure everyone is safe and take steps to prevent further damage.

• Immediate action: Obtain a police crime reference number if necessary, and document the incident meticulously.

• Contact your insurer: Promptly inform your insurer, providing all the relevant details of the incident.

• Documentation: Collect evidence such as receipts, photographs, and any other pertinent information.

• Claims form: Fill out the claims form with accuracy and care.

• Insurer's investigation: Be prepared for the insurer to conduct their own investigation, which may include sending an assessor to evaluate the claim.

How long does a home insurance claim take?

The time it takes to process a claim can vary widely, from a few days to several months, depending on the complexity of the situation.

Is it worth making a claim on home insurance?

the damage, your excess, and how much a claim might affect your future premiums.

In cases of minor damage, it might be more economical to handle the repairs yourself to prevent future hikes in insurance rates.

What if I disagree with a claim rejection?

If you disagree with a claim rejection, you should first ask your insurer to explain their decision and review it carefully against your policy wording.

You can then submit additional evidence or information and request that the claim is reconsidered.

If you’re still unhappy, you can make a formal complaint through your insurer’s complaints process.

As a final step, you can escalate the issue to the Financial Ombudsman Service. But before you do this, you must have received either a ‘final response’ from your insurance company or waited eight weeks with no communication from them. The FOS can independently review the case and decide whether the insurer has treated you fairly.

How can I prevent a claim rejection?

To help prevent a claim rejection, make sure you understand your policy and only claim for events that are actually covered.

Always provide accurate information when taking out insurance and keep your details up to date.

If you need to claim, report it as soon as possible and provide clear supporting evidence such as photos, receipts or reference numbers. It’s also important to follow any policy conditions, like using approved security measures or maintaining your property properly.

How can I find home insurance with a high claim acceptance rate?

There’s no official ‘best list’ of insurers by claim acceptance rate that you can easily filter by, so the most effective approach is to focus on insurers known for strong claims performance and compare them carefully.

When your annual renewal comes around, don't simply settle for the first quote from your current provider. It's always wise to shop around for a better value deal with a different insurer.

Using MoneySuperMarket to compare home insurance quotes is a quick and straightforward way to find affordable cover for your home and possessions.