Average home insurance claim for damage caused by dogs is £1,200 says Aviva

Thousands of dogs across the country have been responsible for costly home insurance claims, new data shows.

Insurer Aviva said it accepted 3,825 insurance claims from pet owners whose dog caused significant damage to their home in the five years between 2018 and 2022.

Damages averaged £1,200 per claim and so far it has already received 100 dog-related claims this year.

It suggested puppies knocked over objects or tripped their owners in regular incidents, leading to damage in and around the home.

Laptops, TVs, and phones are said to be common victims of their pets’ playful behavior.

In some cases, dog owners have also lost items such as jewelry, hearing aids, watches and wallets while walking their dogs.

Pet owners should read their policy carefully to ensure such damage is covered.

Coverage varies and some policies have “chewing, scratching, tearing or soiling” exclusions. For example, this could be a dog or cat that has scratched a rug or sofa.

Claims are also subject to a deductible, so some people may think about claiming but decide not to if the value of the damaged items is relatively low.

Aviva would not say how many dog ​​insurance claims it has rejected in the past five years.

Owners should read their home insurance carefully to make sure they are covered for damage caused by a pet

Dog causes £500 worth of damage

Pet owners should read their policies carefully to ensure they are covered for damage caused by their pets.

Pictured: This dog caused £500 worth of damage at home after jumping up at the front door

Not all policies cover such damage, dog owner Andrew Barlett discovered.

He explained, “While I was gone, my dog ​​jumped up at the front door and pushed down the night latch button, which locked the front door from the inside.

“I didn’t see her do it, but I could tell because she also pulled down the curtain that covers the back of that door.

‘I thought it would be cheaper and safer to get the lock fixed instead of breaking a window and getting in that way. But the emergency locksmith then had to drill out the lock, knock off the deadbolt and replace everything, costing £500.

This damage is not covered by my home insurance policy. I had additional home emergency coverage with Homeserve, but it only covered the cost of replacement keys – not the cost of locks.”

Some policies cover these things, while overs do not. Some insurers even cover damage caused by pets eating their owners’ belongings.

Examples of this found by Aviva included dogs eating small, valuable items such as hearing aids, jewelry and dentures – and in one case part of a handbag.

During the five-year period analyzed, more than 100 claims were made for hearing aids eaten by dogs.

And while the average dog-related insurance claims are £1,200, some dog calamity causes were much more expensive – even venturing into the five-figure region to rectify.

Aviva said that while the more expensive claims usually involve jewelery and watches, in one case a dog – who ended up safe and unharmed – fell into a family’s swimming pool and damaged the pool lining.

Kelly Whittington, from Aviva UK, said: ‘Around a third of UK households have a best dog, so it’s perhaps not surprising that their antics sometimes lead to claims.

Many home insurance policies have an exclusion for damage caused by chewing, scratching, tearing or soiling by pets. Cover can be provided under the optional personal effects section, but it is important that customers check their policy text and cover. That said, dog-related incidents — such as knocking things over or tripping their owner — can happen in homes with even the most well-behaved pets, so accidental damage coverage can be a useful addition to home insurance.

“Personal property insurance can also be a valuable addition, covering items while on dog walks — or even outdoors, anywhere in the world. Whether a dog tilted a TV, sent its owner’s phone flying, or even turned on a tap and flooded a kitchen, we’re here to help our customers – even if it makes their dog a doggy dinner made.’