When renovating home, accidents can happen to everyone: a newly bought lighting fitting falls and breaks during installation, an attachment breaks while mounting legs to a brand-new sofa, or a new TV falls and breaks in the corridor. But can home insurance help in such situations?

Although the biggest causes of damage in home insurance tend to be pipe leaks, accidents with appliances and, in recent years, damage related to roofs and fallen trees caused by storms, insurance is also sought in cases where appliances or furnishings have broken during installation.

“If a lighting fitting falls and breaks during installation or transport, a sofa part breaks, a TV falls out of your hand or an oven door or hob breaks, then from the insurance point of view, these are events of all-risk insurance, which are also usually subject to indemnification,” explains Dagmar Gilden, Home Insurance Product Manager at Seesam.

Refusal of indemnification may be possible if there is something completely unreasonable about the installation process. For example, in order to install a TV on the wall, the installer drives a nail through it.

According to the insurer, the items that most often fall and get damaged include TVs and lighting fittings, but tools used during installation also fall and damage a cupboard, table or chair.

“It is definitely worth thinking about choosing all-risk insurance for anyone who is planning to bring new items into their home and is also planning to install them themselves – whether it is a new door, lighting fitting, appliances or furniture. If you buy installation services from a master crafter or a company, it is worth asking them about insurance too. This will help avoid situations where it turns out after a workman has installed an Italian glass chandelier costing thousands of euros, an expensive TV on the wall, or a costly kitchen worktop that a chunk has come out or there is a crack somewhere, but the installer throws up his hands and leaves you alone to deal with it,” Gilden recommended.

In summary, while home insurance may indemnify items broken during installation, care should always be taken to ensure that the installation is carried out in accordance with the instructions and safety requirements to avoid potential damage and insurance denial.