Accidental Damage

At John Lewis, we've been helping customers create their dream homes for over 150 years, so we know how important your belongings are to you. From the kitchen table where you gather as a family, to the children’s tablets which they use to learn and relax, it’s these things that make a house a home.

Now, with many of us working and socialising at home with the family close by, there’s more opportunity for spills, breakages and other accidental damage to your home and the things in it.

That's why John Lewis Home Insurance customers with Bronze, Silver, or Gold policies can choose flexible Accidental Damage add-ons for contents and buildings. These are designed to cover you for any accidental loss or damage to your belongings and your home respectively.

• Accidental damage cover for buildings or contents – choose either or both add-ons depending on your needs.

• Add cover at any time so if things change halfway through the policy, it’s no problem.

Bronze, Silver and Gold John Lewis Home Insurance is brought to you through our Home Insurance provider, Munich Re Digital Partners Ltd.

What is accidental damage insurance?

In our Bronze, Silver and Gold policy documents you’ll see it defined as 'sudden, unintentional and unexpected physical damage caused by an identifiable external means.'

With our Accidental Damage Home Insurance add-ons for Buildings or Contents, you’re covered for a range of major and minor home disasters. Whether it’s putting your foot through the ceiling or dropping something heavy on your brand new butler sink.

Accidental Damage cover is not included as standard with our Bronze, Silver and Gold Home Insurance policies, so you may choose to add this cover on. We offer two types of accidental damage add-on, one for contents and one for buildings.

For Specialist Home Insurance customers, cover against accidental damage is included as standard.

Do you need accidental damage insurance?

This depends on your home set-up, but if you have a busy family life accidental damage insurance can be handy because you’re covered for breakages caused by exuberant children.

Likewise you’re covered for grown-up mishaps such as the dreaded red wine on the new carpet. And if you’ve spent time choosing a nice new kitchen or bathroom, it might be reassuring to know your new sinks and mirrors are covered. Not to mention the fancy new light fittings you’ve been keen to show off to the neighbours. 

As with any insurance, a good rule of thumb is to weigh up the cost of the cover against the cost of repairing or replacing the items yourself.

What is covered by Accidental Damage Insurance?

We offer two separate Accidental Damage add-ons to our Bronze, Silver or Gold policies, giving you the flexibility to choose the level of cover that suits your needs:

• Accidental Damage cover for Contents

• Accidental Damage cover for Buildings

Here’s an overview of what they cover:

Insurance for contents when you move house

Our Accidental Damage for Contents add-on helps gives you peace of mind for fragile items packed by a professional removal company that’s accidentally damaged in transit during a house move.

So if you’re moving within the British Isles and you use a professional removal company, we’ll safeguard your fragile belongings while they're in transit.

What isn’t covered by Accidental Damage Insurance?

With both of our Accidental Damage add-ons, you’re covered for most loss and damage but you're not covered for anything that happens:

• While you’re away for more than 60 days in a row and your home is left unoccupied.

• If your home is lent, let or sub-let to anyone other than your family.

• As a result of water entering your home other than by storm or flood.

• Due to a mechanical, electrical or electronic fault or breakdown.

• Damage caused by pets or vermin.

If you’re working from home in a clerical role, you’re covered. But if you’re using your house for any other business purposes, you’ll need separate business insurance.