In addition to safeguarding your home and belongings from damage and theft, your home and contents insurance also includes a lesser-known type of coverage called liability insurance.
Liability insurance, included in your home policy, offers protection in case someone gets accidentally injured in your home or if you or a family member accidentally harm someone outside your home. It also covers situations where you or a family member are responsible for damaging someone else's property.
This insurance coverage ensures that you and your family are financially protected and covers various expenses, such as damages, compensation, and medical treatment costs, so you won't have to bear the financial burden yourself.
Liability insurance is designed to protect you in common situations where you might be held responsible for causing harm or damage.
For example, if a guest visits your home and accidentally trips and falls, this could be covered by your liability insurance.
Another common scenario is dog bites. If your dog bites someone and you're found liable, the medical expenses can be claimed under your contents insurance.
Similarly, if a tree branch from your backyard falls and causes damage to your neighbour's cars, garage, or roof, and you're found liable, the costs for repairing the damage can be claimed through your home insurance.
Landlords have complete responsibility for the properties they rent out to tenants, which means they can be held legally liable if a tenant gets injured while inside the property.
Tenants have the right to live in a safe and secure property, so landlords should promptly address any known issues or necessary repairs and take reasonable measures to prevent any loss, damage, or injury. If a landlord fails to fulfil their duty of care or responsibility to a tenant, they may face financial consequences.
For instance, if a landlord was informed about a loose balcony railing but didn't take any action, and their tenant fell and got injured because the railing collapsed, the landlord may not be covered by insurance.
Therefore, it is crucial for landlords to stay proactive in property maintenance, particularly when a tenant's safety is at risk.
Liability insurance for landlords should be a consideration right from the moment they acquire a property. This insurance can provide valuable protection in case of unforeseen incidents or accidents involving tenants.
There are certain situations where exclusions may apply in terms of legal liability, which means you may not be covered if that specific event occurs.
One significant exclusion is when the incident causing damage or injury is intentional. This means that if you or someone in your family intentionally caused the incident or gave consent for it to happen, it won't be covered by the insurance.
Additionally, if you cause damage to your own property or if you injure a person who lives with you, you won't be covered under the liability insurance.
Liability claims related to your trade or business, as well as claims that could be covered by workers' compensation, are not included in personal liability insurance. For example, if a tradesperson has an accident while working in your home, their workers' compensation would cover the claim, not your personal liability insurance.
October 25, 2022
October 25, 2022
October 25, 2022
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