How to claim for accidental damage
Accidental damage is irksome, someone or something has damaged your property and it needs to be made right. Don’t worry, that’s what you’ve got home and contents insurance for and we’re here to help.
IMPORTANT: If your house is unsecured, unsafe or vulnerable to more damage, get a professional to make the house safe and we can work through the costs together later.
Key takeaways
- Accidental damage cover protects against sudden and unexpected damage caused unintentionally.
- Whether accidental damage is covered depends on the type of policy you have and the circumstances of the event.
- Accidental damage can apply to both home and contents claims, depending on your selected cover.
- Examples of accidental damage include spilling paint on carpet, breaking a window accidentally or damaging your home while carrying out everyday activities.
- Damage caused by wear and tear, gradual deterioration, poor maintenance or neglect is generally not accidental damage.
- If you’re unsure whether something is covered, it’s best to check your policy wording or contact our Claims team.
If you think your claim will be under $5,000, here’s what you need to do:
- Take photos of the damage.
- Get a quote to repair any damage.
- Log in your dashboard on the initio website and click on ‘Make a Claim’. Fill in the form and attach your photos and quotes.
- We’ll email or call you within one business day.
If the damage is severe, we might need an assessor’s opinion, here’s what you need to do:
- Log in to your dashboard on the initio website and click on ‘Make a Claim’. Fill in the form and attach any photos you’ve taken.
- We’ll email or call you within one business day.
Is it accidental damage?
| Scenario | Accidental damage? |
|---|---|
| You drop your laptop and it breaks. | ✅ |
| You knock over paint and stain the carpet. | ✅ |
| You accidentally break a window. | ✅ |
| A pipe slowly leaks over several months. | ❌ |
| Carpet wears out over time. | ❌ |
| A shower seal deteriorates and causes damage. | ❌ |
| Appliances stop working due to age. | ❌ |
A stranger accidentally reversed their car into this garage door, damaging not only the door, but block work too. Initio worked with the property manager and repairer to get the door replaced and brickwork repaired efficiently and with as little fuss as possible to the tenants. Best of all, initio recovered the costs from the driver and refunded the excess to the insured.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my own repairer or do initio have approved repairers that I must use?
You can use any repairer you like, as long as their costs are reasonable and you’re happy with the standard of work, then we’re happy.
Who will pay my excess: me, or the person who damaged my house?
This is case-by-case. If a tenant caused the damage accidentally, then we cannot hold them responsible. However, if a neighbour accidentally drives through your fence, then we’ll probably be able to get the money back from their insurance company and your excess will be reimbursed to you.
What are some examples of accidental damage?
Examples of accidental damage may include:
- Dropping and breaking an item covered by your policy.
- Accidentally spilling paint on carpet.
- Breaking a window while carrying out normal household activities.
- Accidentally damaging a fixture or part of your home.
“All claims are different and they are assessed on their own merits and facts. The above does not imply a guaranteed approach to all such claims”
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