When you're looking to make a heat or fire related claim, the first thing you'll want to check is what you are and aren't covered for.
We've outlined the details of what is and isn't covered below for fire and heat related damage. To see the full details for all claims, download your home insurance policy booklet.
If you bought your Ageas policy via a Broker, please check your policy booklet as your cover may be different.
What do we mean by 'buildings' ?
When we use the word ‘buildings’, we mean the structure of your home, including any fixtures and fittings. We also mean:
Garages and outbuildings, such as summer houses, sheds and greenhouses, as long as they are fully enclosed. Just to be clear, outbuildings doesn’t include structures that are designed to be open on any side, such as carports or gazebos.
Garden walls, gates and fences.
Paths, drives and patios.
Permanent swimming pools (made of brick, stone or concrete), fixed hot tubs and ornamental ponds.
Hard tennis courts.
Solar panels.
what do we mean by 'CONTENTs'?
When we use the word ‘contents’, we mean any items that you or your family own or are responsible for, including Personal Belongings. Just to be clear, ‘contents’ does not mean:
Aircraft, gliders, hang gliders and microlights, or any of their parts or accessories.
Any motorised watercraft or sail boats, or any of their parts or accessories.
Animals, birds or fish.
Items held or used for business purposes (even if only occasional business use), except home office equipment that is used for administrative activities undertaken at your home.
Caravans, trailers and ‘motor vehicles’, or any of their parts or accessories, except motorbike clothing and helmets.
Interior decorations
BUILDINGS cover
You’re only covered under this section of the policy if it says so on your Statement of Fact, which was given to you when you bought this insurance.
fire & earthquakes
What's covered?
What's not covered?
We’ll pay claims where your buildings are damaged by fire, smoke, explosion, lightning or by an earthquake.
We won’t pay claims caused by scorching, singeing or melting.
subsidence, ground heave & landslip
What's covered?
What's not covered?
We’ll cover you for damage to your buildings as a result of subsidence, ground heave or landslip.
Subsidence is the downward movement of the ground underneath your buildings.
Ground heave is the upward or sideways movement of the ground underneath your buildings, which can happen as a result of the soil expanding.
Landslip means the downward movement of sloping land underneath your property. For example, if you lived on a hill and the ground below your property moved, causing damage to the main building of your home.
Your policy won’t pay out for damage to your buildings if the materials that they’re built from shrink or expand.
We also won’t pay for damage to the buildings or their foundations caused by something known as settlement.
Settlement is the downward movement of the buildings caused by the soil underneath them becoming compressed by the weight of the buildings. It’s different to subsidence, because it’s caused by the weight of the property, rather than the soil changing underneath your property. It tends to happen in the early years after a building or extension has been built.
We won’t pay for any damage that’s been caused by the sea or a river eroding the land underneath or around your buildings.
We also won’t pay for damage to any part of your buildings, except your garage, unless your main building is also damaged at the same time and by the same cause.
That means we won’t pay for damage to things such as outbuildings, swimming pools, tennis courts, walls (including retaining walls), gates, patios, fences, septic tanks, paths and driveways unless your main building is damaged at the same time and by the same cause.
Similarly, we won’t pay claims for damage to solid floors unless the foundations underneath the outside walls are damaged at the same time and by the same cause.
We won’t pay for damage caused by faulty materials, poor design or poor workmanship. This includes any work on your buildings that didn’t meet building control regulations when the work was completed.
Finally, we won’t pay claims where you’re entitled to compensation from another person or organisation.
Being forced to leave your home
What's covered?
What's not covered?
We’ll pay for suitable alternative accommodation for you, your family and your household pets if a local authority won’t allow you to live in your home because of damage to a nearby property.
But we’ll only cover these costs for a maximum of up to 30 days from the date you’re forced to leave your home.
Claims under this part of your policy won’t count towards your maximum claim limit. Check your Statement of Fact to see how much it is.
CONTENTS cover
You’re only covered under this section of the policy if it says so on your Statement of Fact, which was sent to you when you bought this insurance.
This section of your policy only covers your contents when they’re at your home unless we specifically say otherwise.
fire & earthquakes
What's covered?
What's not covered?
We’ll pay claims where your contents are damaged by fire, smoke, explosion, lightning or by an earthquake.
We won’t pay claims caused by scorching, singeing or melting.
subsidence, ground heave & landslip
What's covered?
What's not covered?
We’ll cover you for damage to the contents of your buildings as a result of subsidence, ground heave or landslip.
Subsidence is the downward movement of the ground underneath your buildings. Ground heave is the upward or sideways movement of the ground underneath the buildings, which can happen as a result of the soil expanding.
Landslip means the downward movement of sloping land underneath your property. For example, if you lived on a hill and the ground below your property moved, causing damage to your main building.
We won’t cover you for any damage to your contents if it happens as a result of your buildings’ foundations shrinking or expanding.
We also won’t pay claims if your contents are damaged as a result of the sea or a river eroding the land around your buildings.
We won’t pay for claims which are caused by faulty materials, poor design or poor workmanship. This includes any work on your buildings which didn’t meet building control regulations when the work was completed.
Finally, we won’t pay claims where you’re entitled to compensation from another person or organisation.
BEING FORCED TO LEAVE YOUR HOME
What's covered?
What's not covered?
We’ll pay for suitable alternative accommodation for you, your family and your household pets if a local authority won’t allow you to live in your home because of damage to a nearby property.
But we’ll only cover these costs for a maximum of up to 30 days from the date you’re forced to leave your home.
Claims under this part of your policy have a separate limit and won’t count towards your maximum claim limit. Check your Statement of Fact to see how much it is.
