When you purchase insurance coverage for your home, business, or other property, the policy outlines specific events or causes of damage that are covered. These events are known as “insured perils.” Understanding insured perils is crucial because they determine whether your insurance provider will compensate you for any losses or damages incurred.
So what is an insured peril? An insured peril is essentially a risk or hazard that is explicitly stated as being covered by your insurance policy. If the cause of damage or loss to your insured property falls under the definition of an insured peril, your policy may respond, subject to its terms, conditions, limits, excess and exclusions.
Common examples of insured perils
Insured perils can vary depending on the type of insurance policy and the provider. In most standard Irish home insurance policies, you’ll find coverage for common household perils like fire and smoke damage, water damage from burst pipes or appliance leaks, theft and vandalism, electrical surges, and windstorms with hail. These are the everyday risks that most homeowners face, and standard policies are designed to protect against them.
However, it’s important to understand that standard Irish home and commercial insurance policies typically do not cover certain catastrophic natural events without specific endorsements or separate policies. Flood damage is included in many Irish home policies, but some properties have flood excluded or limited, so check your policy schedule. This catches many policyholders by surprise, so it’s worth reviewing your policy carefully to understand which natural perils are actually covered.
Most people only read their policy closely after something has gone wrong. Our loss assessors work for the policyholder: we establish what caused the damage, check it against the insured perils in the policy, and prepare and present the claim on that basis.
Does insurance cover an insured peril?
If the cause of damage or loss to your insured property is an insured peril listed in your policy, the claim should be covered, subject to the policy’s excess, limits and exclusions. The key word here is “should” because there’s often more complexity involved than simply checking whether something is listed as covered.
Your policy will have an excess you pay first, limits that cap how much the insurer will pay, and exclusions that can apply even to listed perils in certain circumstances. This is why it’s essential to carefully review your policy to understand not just which perils are covered, but also any limitations or exclusions that may apply to your specific situation.
What isn’t covered under standard policies
Certain events or causes of damage are almost never considered insured perils under standard insurance policies in Ireland. Wear and tear or gradual deterioration won’t be covered because insurers expect you to maintain your property. Pest infestations fall into the same category. Mould or fungus growth is typically excluded unless it results directly from an insured peril like a burst pipe. Earth movement is different: subsidence, heave and landslip are commonly included in buildings cover, often with a higher excess. Acts of war or terrorism require separate policies, and damage caused deliberately or through neglect is not usually covered.
These exclusions exist for good reason from the insurer’s perspective, but they can leave significant gaps in your protection if you’re not aware of them. Understanding what’s not covered is just as important as knowing what is.
How loss assessors help when disaster strikes
In the aftermath of an insured peril, loss assessors play a crucial role in assisting policyholders with their insurance claims. Loss assessors are independent professionals who work on behalf of policyholders to evaluate the extent of damage, document losses, and represent the policyholder’s interests during the claims process. This is fundamentally different from the loss adjuster your insurance company will send, who works for the insurer.
A loss assessor inspects your property, records the damage and prepares detailed reports to support your claim. They read the policy wording closely and know how each type of damage is treated under it. They also negotiate with the loss adjuster on your behalf. This matters most in complex claims, where the damage goes beyond what is visible or where the policy wording is open to different readings.
Which insurance policies contain insured perils?
Insured perils appear in virtually every type of property insurance policy, though the specific perils covered will vary significantly. Home insurance and tenants’ contents insurance both list insured perils, though contents policies cover belongings rather than the structure itself. Commercial property insurance includes business-specific perils and often has different coverage limits. Business interruption insurance protects against income loss from covered perils. Flood cover is included in many Irish home policies, but it can be excluded or limited for some properties, so check your schedule.
The key is understanding that not all policies are created equal. Two homeowners policies from different insurers might cover different perils or apply different exclusions to the same peril. Reading your policy carefully and asking questions about what’s covered is time well spent.
Help for homeowners and businesses
Insurance Claim Solutions has been acting for policyholders since 2009. Trevor Kelly Insurance Claim Solutions Limited, trading as Insurance Claim Solutions, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (Reg. No. C423441). We act for policyholders, not insurers, from the first inspection through to settlement. If you are not sure whether your damage was caused by an insured peril, we can review your policy and the damage and explain how your insurance claim is likely to be assessed.
We handle various types of claims, including fire damage, water damage, storm damage, flood damage, malicious damage, and subsidence. Whether you’re a homeowner dealing with a burst pipe or a business owner facing extensive property damage, we can document the damage and present your claim.
Contact us at info@insuranceclaimsolutions.ie or call 01 870 9210 for assistance with your insurance claim.