Does Home Insurance Cover Electrical Wiring in the UK? Find out Here

As a business owner, protecting your property is crucial. But does home insurance cover electrical wiring issues in the UK? We’ll explore what standard policies typically cover and outline steps to ensure your business property’s electrical system is adequately protected.

What Do Standard Home Policies Cover?

Standard home insurance typically includes buildings protection, covering the structure of your business premises, including walls, roof, floors, and permanent fixtures and fittings. However, when it comes to electrical wiring, the coverage can be more complex.

In the UK, most standard commercial policies provide coverage for sudden and accidental damage to your electrical wiring. This damage must be caused by an insured event, such as a fire or lightning strike.

What Electrical Issues Are Typically Covered by Home Insurance?

Here are some common scenarios where your home protection may cover electrical wiring issues:

Fire Damage

Your policy may cover damages to your property’s wiring caused by fires resulting from an electrical fault. Depending on the extent of the damage, they may cover the cost of repairs or a complete rewire.

Lightning Strike

A lightning strike can significantly damage your electrical system. Most policies cover lightning damage, including the cost of repairing or replacing damaged wiring, sockets, and switches.

Accidental Damage

Some policies offer optional accidental damage cover. This may cover unintentional damage to your electrical wiring, such as damage caused during renovations or maintenance work.

When Doesn’t Home Protection Cover Electrical Problems?

It’s essential to understand that property policies typically do not cover electrical wiring issues resulting from wear and tear, lack of maintenance, or faulty workmanship. Here are examples of situations where your policy may not cover the cost of repairs:

Wear and Tear

Electrical wiring can deteriorate over time due to age and usage. Insurers consider this a property maintenance issue. As a result, they typically won’t cover the cost of replacing old wiring or fixing problems caused by general wear and tear.

Neglect or Lack of Maintenance

Insurers may deny claims where an electrical fault occurs due to neglect or poor maintenance. For example, if the business fails to address known wiring issues or doesn’t conduct regular inspections by a qualified professional.

Poor Workmanship or Faulty Wiring

If an unqualified electrician performs electrical work that doesn’t meet safety standards, your insurance may not cover any resulting electrical faults or damage. Insurers typically require that all electrical installations comply with the latest wiring regulations.

What About Complete Rewires?

A complete rewire involves replacing all your electrical wiring. It’s a major undertaking and is usually only necessary in older properties with outdated wiring.

Standard property insurance policies will typically not cover the cost of a complete rewire unless it’s necessary due to an insured peril, such as a fire or flood. Some insurers may offer additional coverage for this as an optional extra or as part of a more comprehensive property policy.

When undertaking any new electrical work, it is important that the work follows current standards, such as: 

• The British Standard BS 7671 outlines the regulations for electrical installations and is critical in ensuring safety for both domestic and commercial properties.
• Part P of the Building Regulations: Introduced in 2005, this part of the Building Regulations specifically covers electrical safety in domestic properties, ensuring that work is carried out safely and competently.

Home Emergency Cover

Some insurers offer emergency cover as an optional add-on to standard policies. This can provide extra protection for electrical emergencies, often including:

• Access to a 24/7 helpline for quick reporting of electrical problems
• Rapid response times to limit business disruption
• Cover for call-out fees and labour costs for emergency repairs
• Temporary repairs to restore power or make your property safe

However, it’s crucial to read the policy wording carefully, as home emergency cover may have limitations, such as:

• A cap on the number of claims per year
• A maximum claim amount
• Exclusions for claims made within a certain period of taking out the cover

How to Make a Claim for Electrical Problems

If you need to make an claim for electrical issues in your property:

1. Safety first: If there’s an immediate safety concern, turn off the main power supply and contact a qualified electrician or the emergency services.
2. Document the damage: Take photos and notes about the extent of the damage.
3. Contact your insurer: Notify your insurance company as soon as possible.
4. Get professional assessment: Have a professional assess the damage and provide a detailed report.
5. Keep records: Maintain all correspondence, reports, and receipts related to the claim.

Ensure Your Business Property Is Fully Protected With Brisco

While standard home protection provides basic protection, additional covers like business interruption insurance and home emergency cover can offer more comprehensive protection for electrical issues.

At Brisco Business, we understand the unique insurance needs of businesses. Our easy-to-use comparison platform lets you compare quotes instantly, ensuring you get the best cover at the best price.

Compare quotes with Brisco today, and enjoy peace of mind knowing your business property’s electrical system is protected against unexpected risks.

Darragh Timlin

With over 25 years’ experience, Darragh is an expert in all things insurance. Starting his career in commercial property underwriting, Darragh has worked for a number of global insurers and is now Managing Director of Brisco Business, part of the wider Henry Seymour Group.

All articles by Darragh Timlin