Is animal damage covered by home insurance?

An unwelcome animal in a home could cause a lot of damage. But whether that damage is covered by a Suncorp Home Insurance policy depends on the animal, the circumstances, and the specific policy.

Does home insurance cover damage caused by wildlife?

For damage by wild animals, we’ve got you covered. Our policy covers loss or damage caused by a wild animal if it’s accidentally trapped in your home. For example, if a bird flies in and becomes trapped or a joey hops its way into your kitchen and makes a ruckus trying to get out again.

Keep in mind that if you entice or invite a wild animal into your home, we won’t cover any damage that occurs – we only provide cover for accidental incidents where a wild animal becomes trapped.

If that happens, you can quickly and easily make a claim online or via the Suncorp Insurance App.

Make a claim

Does home insurance cover pet damage?

Damage that is caused by pets is not covered by a Suncorp Home Insurance policy. That includes damage by any animals that are:

• owned by you or that you’re responsible for
• owned by someone living or staying with you, or
• allowed onto the property by you or anyone staying with you.

Does home insurance cover termites or rats?

Suncorp Insurance doesn’t cover damage caused by insects, vermin or rodents.

That includes things like a termite infestation eating away at timber, mice chewing through wiring or wear and tear damage from something like rodents scuttling in a roof.

When it comes to these sorts of pests, prevention is the best cure. The good news is, there are simple steps you can take to ensure they don’t wreak havoc on your home.

Preventing pest damage

Protecting your home from termites and other pests doesn’t just help maintain your family’s health, it also helps you maintain the value of your home. Here are a few tips that may help prevent pests invading and damaging your property:

• Before buying a home, have it thoroughly inspected.
• Have regular pest inspections – ideally annually – performed by a professional.
• Patch up any openings in your roof or walls.
• Seal cracks and gaps around the windows and doors.
• Don’t leave pet food exposed in the home.
• Termites love moisture, so make sure drainage pipes don’t drip into the soil. Fix all leaking pipes or water damage around the house quickly.
• Don’t store untreated timber or other ‘termite food’ near your home.
• If you have a brick home, ensure the weep holes (gaps between the bricks around the base of the perimeter of your home) are kept clear of concrete, dirt, garden mulch or anything that would allow termites to gain entry to your house.
• If you see signs of termites or other pests, contact a professional pest controller immediately. Don’t try to deal with them yourself.

Where else can Suncorp Home Insurance help

Sometimes unexpected things happen. Suncorp Home Insurance can help with the repair or replacement of items impacted by insured events.

It covers those times when an uninvited animal finds its way into your home and causes some unexpected damage after becoming trapped – and it also covers many other insured events. This includes some that might surprise you. Check out the Product Disclosure Statement to decide if it’s right for you.

Explore Home Insurance

Read more:

• 5 common incidents where Personal Valuables insurance can help
• Home security tips
• 10 tips to protect your home and contents

Exclusions and conditions apply. Insurance is issued by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 trading as Suncorp Insurance. Limits and exclusions apply. Read the Product Disclosure Statement before buying this insurance. The Target Market Determination is also available. This advice has been prepared without taking into account your particular objectives, financial situations or needs, so you should consider whether it is appropriate for you before acting on it.

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