From slips to spills: Everyday accidents make up a third of home insurance claims

As the bank holiday weekend approaches, new analysis from Aviva shows that accidents account for almost a third (32%) of all home insurance claims over the past four years, underlining the role of accidental damage cover in protecting households^[1].

In fact, the average value of an accidental damage claim has increased by 63% - from £1,148 in 2022 to £1,869 in 2026^[2].

According to the data, TV-related incidents account for just under a fifth (18%) of accidental damage claims. This includes scenarios where claimants have accidentally knocked the TV over or hit screens by mistake.

Furnishings are also vulnerable to everyday accidents, with 8% of claims relating to damaged sofas and carpets. Examples include spilled drinks and liquids, from turmeric shots and salad dressings to oil and paint. Several people also claimed for scorched carpets as a result of using irons, hair curlers and hairdryers.

The data shows that adults aren’t solely to blame, with children accidentally contributing to one in 13 (8%) claims – from thrown toys and spilled drinks, to treading on gadgets.

Laura Lazarus, Director of Home and Lifestyle claims at Aviva, said: “Easter weekend is usually a busy time of the year, with many people seeing family and friends, spring cleaning or fixing odd jobs in the house – which can often be an accident waiting to happen.

“As our data shows that accidents and mishaps contribute to just under a third of claims, it’s important to make sure you have the right level of cover. Accidental damage, for example, is often available as an optional add‑on to home or contents insurance and can provide cover for everyday accidents, such as a TV being knocked over or a football smashing a window.

“It’s important that you take the time to check your policy to understand what your home insurance does and doesn’t cover, particularly if you’re planning any DIY this weekend or making changes to your home. Some types of work may need to be disclosed to your insurer, so if in doubt, it’s worth getting in touch to check your cover is up to date and suitable for your needs”

What is home insurance?

Home insurance is designed to protect your home and belongings if something unexpected goes wrong. It can typically be bought in three ways:

• Buildings insurance covers the structure of your home – such as the walls, roof, floors, and permanent fixtures – against risks like fire, flooding, storms, theft or damage. This type of cover is usually only needed if you own your home.
• Contents insurance protects your belongings, including furniture, electronics, clothes and valuables, if they’re damaged, destroyed or stolen. It’s worth considering this regardless of whether you own your home or rent, as it protects your belongings rather than the property itself and can provide temporary accommodation cover if your home was uninhabitable for a period of time.
• Combined buildings and contents covers the structure of the home and its contents. This can be a cost-effective option if you’re a homeowner.

You can usually add optional extras to your policy, such as accidental damage or personal belongings cover, for an extra cost to give you added protection.

Busting the myths of accidental damage cover:

What does accidental damage cover?

Accidental damage is often defined as damage that happens suddenly and unexpectedly as a one‑off event, as opposed to damage from wear and tear or poor maintenance. It isn’t always included as standard in policies, but is an optional add-on to buildings insurance, contents insurance, or both - usually at an additional cost.

Typically, accidental damage cover will protect you against:

• Spills and breakages – for example, knocking over a drink onto a sofa or carpet, or dropping a TV, laptop or tablet
• DIY and home mishaps – including drilling through a pipe or cable, or accidentally damaging fixtures or fittings
• Children’s accidents – such as broken furniture, smashed ornaments or damaged electronics during play
• Everyday slips and knocks – like cracking a sink, hob or toilet, or breaking a mirror or glass panel
• Damage during building work (to contents) – accidental harm to insured belongings caused by renovations

What isn’t covered by accidental damage?

Although home insurance covers a range of scenarios, it isn’t designed to cover every eventuality.

Accidental damage won’t cover gradual deterioration over time, such as worn carpets or any damage caused by lack of maintenance, such as a gradual water leak. It also won’t cover mechanical or electrical failure (e.g. a TV that stops working on its own) or poor workmanship, design faults or defective materials.

Although accidental damage would typically provide cover in the event of a pet accidentally knocking over an item, it wouldn’t cover instances such as chewed furniture or scratched doors.

Each insurer will have its own definitions of accidental damage however, so it’s worth checking with your provider directly to confirm what is and isn’t covered under the terms of your policy.

If you’re planning to do any DIY this Easter, Aviva has put together some top tips on how to help protect your home:

Tell your insurer about the work

If you’re planning significant renovations – such as a loft conversion or extension - it’s important to let your insurer know in advance. Some insurers require you telling them, and failing to do so could affect your cover while work is ongoing.

Check your contents insurance

Even if your buildings insurance doesn’t cover damage caused by renovation work, your contents policy may still protect your belongings. If you have contents insurance, it’s worth considering adding accidental damage cover to help safeguard your possessions should anything go wrong.

Think about adding legal cover

If you’re planning major building work, you may want to add legal protection to your home insurance. With an Aviva policy, legal cover can provide up to £100,000 towards legal expenses, helping you deal with any disputes with neighbours if they arise.

Make sure your builder is properly insured

Standard home insurance policies usually won’t cover major building projects, so it’s important to check that your builder has their own liability insurance in place. Most reputable contractors will be insured to cover their work and any damage it causes – including damage to neighbouring properties. It's worth verifying that this coverage is in place before proceeding with any works to your home.

Review your cover once work is finished

If renovations increase your home’s value or add features like an extension, extra bedrooms or a loft conversion, you may need to update your rebuild cost and contents sums insured to ensure you’re properly protected going forward.

Keep your property secure while you work

Renovations can make homes more vulnerable, especially if doors, windows or roofs are temporarily removed. Ensure your property is secured at the end of each day and check whether your insurer has any security requirements during building work.

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References:

_{¹ Aviva home claims data from January 2022 - March 2026 [↑]}

_{² Aviva home claims data – looking at accidental damage claims - from January 2022 - March 2026 [↑]}

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