House Insurance - FAQs

What is Accidental Damage?

This provides cover for property damage caused by unexpected and unintended incidents. For example, spilling paint accidentally on a carpet is covered under the contents accidental damage extension; putting a foot through the attic floor is covered under the buildings accidental damage extension.

In addition Allianz offers automatic accidental damage cover on TV and audiovisual equipment up to €1,300 even if accidental damage on contents is not selected.

Am I covered if I work from home?

Generally we will not cover losses arising from business activities at home. In specific circumstances we may extend the policy, at an extra cost, or you may need to buy a specific policy to cover you business activities. Each case must be referred to Allianz before cover is confirmed. There are strict guidelines for providing this type of cover. 

Does the policy cover liability arising from child minding in the home?

Yes, the standard Allianz household insurance policy covers a child minding facility at the premises for up to 2 children. If there are more than 2 children, a separate public liability policy is required.

Is there a theft/burglary cover for items left in a car?

Yes, provided that you have All Risks cover for these items. The items must be completely concealed within a closed compartment or locked boot and all windows, including sunroof and doors must be securely locked.

Are sheds/garages/outbuildings and their contents covered?

Sheds, garages and domestic outbuildings are all defined as premises and are covered, the contents are also covered as long as they are of standard construction and are for private domestic use only. Outbuildings should always be kept locked and secure.

Are contents covered elsewhere while renovations take place?

Cover for home contents can be arranged if moving to another premises while renovations are going on at the main premises. It is necessary to contact Allianz to arrange this type of cover.

Are contents covered while in storage?

No, we do not provide cover for contents while in storage.

Will my ring be covered if it was lost within the boundaries of my home?

Yes, provided you have All Risks cover of the amount that would cover the value of the ring or it is specified on the policy. If there is no All Risks cover in place the loss of the ring will not be covered under the home contents insurance policy.

Is money and/or credit cards covered?

Yes, Money is covered under the home contents insurance section of the policy up to the maximum of €650. There is also cover for fraudulent use of credit/debit/charge/cheque/cash cards up to the maximum of €1,300 in any period of insurance. Cover for personal money outside the home for up to €765 is also available for an additional charge.

Are bicycles covered under home contents insurance?

Yes, bicycles are covered under contents*. With an Allianz standard household insurance policy, cover is also provided under contents in the open (up to €125 on a bicycle). If you need cover away from the home you should specify the bicycle.

Any item over 10% of the Contents Sum Insured has to be declared.

Are my possessions covered away from the home, on holiday for example?

Loss away from the home can be chosen under the All Risks section. These are Personal Possessions you would like to specifically insure outside your home such as sports equipment, jewellery and valuables if they are accidentally lost, destroyed, damaged or stolen.

What if a tree on my property falls and causes damage to my neighbour's car or other's property?

Under Allianz policy you are covered up to €3,175,000 against all sums which you become legally liable to pay in the event of death, bodily injury or illness to any person other than members of your household and employees of yours or members of your household.

If the Insured accidentally hits somebody with a golf ball while playing golf, is this covered?

Under Allianz policy you are covered up to €3,175,000 against all sums which you become legally liable to pay in the event of death, bodily injury or illness to any person other than you, members of your household and employees of yours or members of  your household.

If a bath is damaged as a result of an insured cause and needs to be replaced, will the policy replace all items of the bathroom suite (toilet, sink)?

No, only the part that is damaged is covered, any undamaged item which is a part of a set, pair or suite is not covered.

Is the removal of a fallen tree from the garden covered?

Not unless it has otherwise resulted in a valid claim under the policy, e.g. a tree falling on the house.

Where water or oil has escaped from a domestic pipe, is the cost of repairing the pipe covered?

No, only the damage caused by the water/oil is covered e.g.: damage to a carpet following a leak from a pipe is covered but replacing the pipe is not covered.

If my dog bites someone, is this covered?

Yes, the Insured is covered against all sums which they may become legally liable to pay in the event of death, bodily injury or illness to any person other than members of the household and employees of either the Insured or members of the household.

The restricted breed dogs as specified in Regulations must  be muzzled, under effective control, and capable of identification at all times.

Do expensive items have to be specified to be covered?

No, there is automatic cover for expensive items eg TVs, under the contents section of the policy. It should be remembered that if an item exceeds 10% of the Contents Sum Insured it has to be declared.

What to do when a flood strikes

Are loss of earnings covered during jury duty?

No, Allianz does not provide cover for jury duty.

FAQ are based on standard Allianz household policy cover. Answers may vary for different insurance companies. For full Terms, Conditions and Exclusions on Allianz household insurance you must refer to the policy document.

How much land does the house insurance policy cover?

Allianz will accept risks where the site on which the private house is built is not greater than 2 acres in area. We can provide cover where a house is situated on not more than 5 acres for an additional premium where use is for solely domestic purposes. Each case must be referred to Allianz prior to the commencement of cover.

Is a ride- on lawn mower covered?

Yes, cover is provided under contents for mechanically propelled lawn mowers.  In addition liability cover is provided while the lawn mower is being used at the premises.

Does the Liability to Others section cover events organised at the premises, e.g. weddings, open garden days, fund raising events etc?

The Liability to Others section can be extended to cover such events for an additional premium. Each case must be referred to Allianz before cover is confirmed. There are strict guidelines in place for insuring these events.

Am I covered to keep paying guests?

Yes, the Allianz policy automatically provides cover for up to 6 paying guests staying in the Insured’s own home. Cover can be provided for up to 12 paying guests for an additional premium.

What if a visitor slips in my garden?

Under Allianz policy you are covered up to €3,175,000 against all sums which you become legally liable to pay for death, bodily injury or illness to any person other than members of your household and employees of yours or members of  your household

Is there any premium reductions available if I take extra steps to protect my property?

Having a working burglar alarm installed, a working smoke detector or being a member of an approved neighbourhood watch scheme can all mean a cheaper premium.

My home is in a subsidence-prone area, will I still be able to get insurance?

Unfortunately, some areas are more prone than others and the risk will be viewed on an individual basis. Please call us on 1890 484 848 to discuss.

Rebuilding calculator

Allianz Insurance have designed a quick and easy guide to use when estimating your buildings.

Click here for rebuilding calculator

Can I insure a small boat?

Yes, as long as it does not exceed 17 feet in length, travels less than 17 knots per hour and is not more than 15 years old.

Can I insure a mobile home/caravan?

Yes, as long as it is not more than 15 years old.

What is the difference between specified and unspecified all risks?

Specified All Risk is when cover is required on a specific item for a specific amount e.g. an engagement ring valued at €4,000. Whereas unspecified All Risks is more like an umbrella style cover where the Insured is covered for a number of different personal effects that are normally worn or carried on their person while out and about. The minimum level of cover for unspecified All Risks is €2,000. This provides cover for the likes of glasses, mobile phones, handbags etc. up to the limit of €2,000 for any one item. Both Specified and unspecified All Risks cover can be purchased on the policy.

What is the Self Insurance clause for high value items?

This is used for items of jewellery over €60,000 where responsibility for an agreed proportion of the risk is placed on the customer.  A condition of this clause is that no other insurance is arranged for this item (to cover the insured’s proportion of the risk). This applies only in very few cases and would be fully explained to the insured at policy inception.

What is considered a standard/non-standard construction?

A standard construction is a building constructed of brick, stone or concrete (including timber framed with concrete brick external cladding) and roofed at least 70% with slates, tiles, metal, concrete or asphalt. Example of non-standard construction would be a house with a thatched roof, a log/timber house, a house with a torch on felt timber roof.

What is Sum Insured?

How do I work out the 'Sum Insured' for my buildings insurance? 'Sum insured' is the amount it would cost to rebuild the entire property, and is not the same as its market value which may be greater or sometimes lower. If you are moving house, your surveyor should be able to assess the sum insured for you or you can calculate it yourself. You need to calculate the square footage/meter of the property (multiply the length x the width. If it is two story multiply by 2) Then use the rebuild guide provided. This is a guideline only. You should review the sums insured regularly especially if you have extended your house.

What is an average clause?

This means that if the sum insured at the time of the loss is less than the insurable value of the property, the amount claimed under the policy will be reduced in proportion to the under-insurance.

In the event of a loss, is the Premises automatically covered for the full sum insured?

The maximum we will pay in the event of a total loss is the sum insured, however if the cost of repair/replacement is less, we will pay this amount. If it turns out you are mistakenly under-insured we will pay up to your sum insured. Most companies apply an average clause.

Is there cover for items that I have just bought that are damaged or stolen while being transported from the shop?

Yes, the standard household Allianz policy covers you for up to €320, however not all insurance companies offer this cover.

What if it turns out that I am underinsured when I make a claim?

No average clause applies on Allianz buildings insurance policies. If a partial loss occurs and the amount insured at the time of the loss is not enough to cover the risk, the claim will be paid up to the sum insured. However some insurance companies in Ireland apply average clause.

Read the policy document together with the schedule, endorsements, proposal form and declaration.

There are may types of house insurance policies so always read your policy document with the schedule, endorsements, proposal form and declaration. Pay particular attention to the terms and conditions under your policy. Also read the proposal form carefully and make sure that all the information is correct before taking out the insurance as this is a legal contract and any omissions can result in the house insurance policy being void.

Make sure the sums insured are adequate.

The buildings should be insured for the rebuilding cost including professional fees, statutory and site clearance costs, not the market value of the property. You might find the Chartered Surveyors website www.scs.ie useful- this offers a guide to calculating rebuilding costs. The contents should be insured for the replacement cost if you were to buy the item new. You should review the sums insured regularly especially if you have extended your house or bought an expensive item such as a flat screen TV.

Make sure your home is well maintained and in good repair.

You must keep the home in good repair and take all steps to ensure the safety of your property and to prevent accidents. Claims relating to wear and tear are excluded from cover. Always replace items that are worn or have stopped working properly, e.g. replace the radiators if they are leaking due to age or condition.

Policy excess.

Most house insurance policies include an excess. This is the first amount of any loss that you will have to pay in the event of making a claim. The level of the excess depends on which part of the policy you are claiming on. e.g. subsidence excess is usually higher than the standard excess.

Change in Risk or Circumstances.

You must tell your insurer immediately of any change which which may affect the insurance or increase the risk of loss, damage or injury e.g. if the occupancy of the home changed or if a business is being carried on from the Premises as failure to do so could invalidate the cover provided.

In the event of a claim.

Inform your insurer about any loss, damage or accident. You will be required to provide information about the loss. You should not proceed with repairs (other than emergency repairs necessary to limit damage) without approval of your insurer. If something has been stolen, maliciously damaged or if you lose an item, you must always inform the Gardai as soon as possible.