As Crufts returns this week, Aviva has opened its annals (or ought to that be kennels?) to showcase a few of its most uncommon UK house insurance coverage claims linked to furry associates.
Aviva reveals it receives round 800* unintended harm claims within the UK every year the place canines play a component. These embody objects knocked over by household pets, harm attributable to pups tripping up house owners and possessions misplaced whereas taking canines for a stroll. On common, claims from dog-related incidents are valued at round £1,100 every.
Carpets, TVs and laptops are sometimes on the receiving finish of canine capers, though one pup wreaked havoc to a whole kitchen when he bought curious.
The younger Labradane (Labrador / Nice Dane cross) bought into sizzling water when he managed to activate the – fortunately chilly – faucet in his kitchen, whereas his house owners have been out briefly. “Whiskey” triggered round £4,000 of harm by flooding the room. He was caught on the home’s safety digicam carrying a decidedly hangdog expression after he realised the results of his actions.
Different dog-related claims embody:
- A buyer was cleansing out her fish tank and had buckets of water on the ground. Her laptop computer was plugged in charging close by on the arm of a chair. The client’s canine ran previous, caught the charging cable and pulled the laptop computer right into a bucket.
- One man was adorning his touchdown space and had arrange a step-ladder. His canine knocked over the ladder, spilling a two-litre pot of paint down the steps.
- A canine was not directly liable for one other damaged laptop computer when he refused to get within the automobile. The client was going to a gathering and put his laptop computer on high of the automobile whereas he put the canine inside. He then drove off with the laptop computer nonetheless on the automobile roof.
- One proprietor’s canine bought excited when he noticed one other canine on TV. He jumped up on the display and knocked the set off its stand.
- A girl was cleansing her rest room with a bucket of bleach and water. Her canine ran in, knocked over the bucket, spilling it onto the corridor carpet.
- A pal came over a buyer at her house. The customer was startled when the client’s canines barked and knocked an vintage barometer off the wall.
- One other canine bought excited when a caller knocked on the door whereas his proprietor was adorning. The canine knocked a pot of paint off the windowsill, ruining the client’s couch.
- An unhelpful hound hit a bitter notice when he tripped up his proprietor who was carrying a drink – which landed on his high-end electrical keyboard.
- One more carpet was broken when an excited pet bought its lead tangled round an ironing board. The younger pup managed to tip the board over, pulling the new iron plate-down onto the carpet.
“There are many dog-related incidents the place house insurance coverage – and notably unintended harm cowl – can come to the rescue.”
Kelly Whittington, UK Property Claims Director for Aviva says: “Canines are beloved members of tens of millions of UK properties. They become involved in all facets of household life – and our possessions are typically on the receiving finish!
“Most house insurance coverage insurance policies have exclusions for harm attributable to chewing, scratching, tearing or fouling by home animals, so we’d urge clients to verify their cowl. However as our information present, there are many dog-related incidents the place house insurance coverage – and notably unintended harm cowl – can come to the rescue.
“Unintentional harm cowl is a helpful addition to house contents insurance coverage, in case of surprising breakages and spills within the house. If clients want to make certain they’ve one of the best cowl for his or her wants, we’d urge them to talk to their insurer or dealer.”
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Additional info
Knowledge pertains to house insurance coverage claims underwritten by Aviva between 2016 and 2021.