People commonly have claims rejected due to pets

Insurers have rejected £801.8 million worth of home insurance claims for damages caused by pets, as many Brits don’t realise it is often excluded from home cover, research from Go.Compare home insurance shows.

Almost half (45%) of pet owners said they didn’t know home insurance typically doesn’t cover damages caused by pets.

This means thousands of policyholders will have seen their claim rejected, which would also result in a needless increase to future premiums.

Nathan Blackler, home insurance expert at Go.Compare, said: “It’s clear from our survey that many pet owners don’t realise their home insurance probably won’t cover them if their pet causes damage to their property, which is leading to thousands of rejected claims.

“Having a claim rejected can also result in higher premiums, so it’s crucial to check that you’re definitely covered before making a claim.

“You can find protection for these damages from some providers if it’s something you feel you’ll need, but you might have to shop around.

“Before you buy a policy, you should always check what’s covered and what’s excluded. If pet damages aren’t included, see if the provider offers accidental damage cover as an add-on, and check whether this will protect you against cat or dog damage.”