Can I claim on my home insurance for a broken TV?

Can I claim on home insurance for a broken TV?

TVs are often one of the more expensive electronic items in our homes and can cost a lot to repair or replace.

However, if you have contents insurance as part of your home insurance cover, you might be able to make a claim for your broken TV.

Contents insurance can cover the cost of replacing your TV, and the other belongings in your home, if they get unexpectedly damaged, destroyed or stolen.

What types of TV damage will contents insurance cover?

Standard contents insurance policies will cover your TV and contents for damage or loss due to sudden events, including:

• Flooding
• Fire
• Theft
• Storms
• Burst pipes and water damage
• Subsidence

Policies vary between providers, so always check what situations yours will and won’t cover. You may need to buy policy add-ons to get the right cover for your needs.

What types of TV damage aren’t covered by contents insurance?

Although home insurance is a great way to make sure your home and contents are protected, it won’t cover your TV and belongings for every situation.

For example, standard contents policies won’t typically cover:

• General wear and tear - Contents insurance is designed to cover damage or loss from sudden, unexpected events, not gradual damage that happens over time
• Accidental damage - Cover for accidental damage, like accidentally knocking over your TV, isn’t typically included as standard. You’ll usually need to buy this as a policy add-on
• Mechanical or electrical breakdown - If your TV breaks down it’s unlikely to be covered by contents insurance, but you may be able to claim through the manufacturer's warranty
• Homes left unoccupied for a long time - Your policy will specify how long your home can be left empty for. Most won’t cover unoccupied homes for more than 30 days
• Claims over the single-item limit - There’s usually a single-item limit on contents policies, which is often around £1,500. If your TV’s worth more than this limit, you’ll need to pay extra to cover its full value

How can I make a claim for a broken TV?

To make a claim, you should contact your insurer as soon as possible. Most will have a dedicated claims line - just have your policy number to hand when you call.

You’ll need to provide as much information as you can about your TV and how it was broken.

If your TV was damaged during a break-in, you’ll need to get a crime reference number from the police to support your claim.

You may be asked to complete a claims form and send this with any evidence you have, like photographs and receipts.

Depending on your insurer, your claim could be settled in around a week, but it could take longer if more details are requested.

How much will home insurance pay out for a damaged TV?

It will depend on which type of cover you have purchased:

New for old cover

If you have new for old contents insurance, you’ll get a like-for-like replacement or receive the cash value for a brand-new equivalent, no matter the condition of your TV when it was damaged

Indemnity insurance

With indemnity contents insurance, also known as wear and tear cover, you’ll be reimbursed for the current value of your TV. This means any payout you get will reflect your TV’s age, condition and current second-hand value

As a new for old contents policy will typically pay out more, the premiums tend to be higher than those for indemnity insurance.

If you’re not sure which type of cover you have, check your policy details.

What else can affect my claim payout?

A number of factors will be assessed by your insurer when deciding the payout amount you’ll receive.

For example, if your TV is worth more than your policy’s single-item limit, you won’t be reimbursed for its full value - unless you’ve listed the TV separately on your policy.

You’ll also need to consider your policy excess.

This amount is usually deducted from any payout you receive. So, if the TV was worth £450 and the excess was £250, the maximum payout from your insurer would be £200.

So, if your TV isn’t worth much more than your excess, you might find it’s not worth claiming for, especially as any claim you make will cause your premium to rise when it comes time to renew.

Do I need proof of purchase to make a claim?

This will depend on your insurance provider, so check your policy details to find out what information you’ll need to include.

Generally, it’s best to provide as much evidence as you can when making a claim.

If you no longer have the receipt for the TV, you might still have a record of when you bought it on your bank or credit card statement, or an email purchase confirmation. And check whether you still have a copy of the warranty or guarantee it came with, as you might be able to use this as extra proof.

And if you’ve got any photographs that show the TV in your home, it could help your claim.

Can I get TV only insurance?

Yes, it’s possible to buy separate insurance that’s just for your TV. Unlike home insurance, this will cover it for mechanical or electrical breakdowns and other malfunctions.

And if you take out home appliance insurance, you can cover your TV and the other appliances in your home under one policy.

But before you take out separate cover, make sure that you aren’t already covered through your TV manufacturer’s warranty. This should cover any faults that happen within the first one to two years after you’ve bought it.