Does home insurance cover pet damage?

Pets are an integral part of the family for millions of Australians and we welcome our furry friends into our homes and hearts more than ever before. But living with pets doesn't always go so smoothly as we'd like. And it's important to know why your home insurance won't usually cover you if your pet causes accidental damage to your house or contents.

Is pet damage automatically included in your home insurance policy?

Not necessarily. In fact, many insurers don’t offer accidental damage cover as standard, and you’ll need to purchase it as an optional extra if you want to be covered for loss or damage caused by unfortunate mishaps. Even then, some policies will exclude damage caused by pets, so you’ll need to read the fine print to check whether this exclusion will affect your cover.

However, while you should never assume that pet damage is automatically included in your home insurance policy, it is possible to find the cover you need. Once you have a policy that covers accidental damage and doesn’t exclude damage caused by pets, you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your home and your contents can be covered if your dog or cat scratches the walls, for example, or knocks the TV over and smashes the screen.

What is accidental damage?

Accidental damage is harm to your home or contents caused by an unforeseen, one-off incident. For example, if you spill red wine on the carpet or if a kids’ game gets out of hand and leaves you with a smashed computer, either of these would be classed as accidental damage.

While many people assume that accidental damage will always be covered by home insurance, this isn’t always the case. Many insurers only offer accidental damage cover as an extra-cost option, though there are some providers that include it as standard.

Exclusions also affect the type of situations and accidents that are covered – for example, you may not be covered if your pet urinates on a guest’s contents – so it’s important to read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) closely before buying cover.

Will pet insurance cover damage to the home?

No. Don’t expect your pet insurance policy to cover you when your pet accidentally damages your home or contents – it simply isn’t designed to provide this type of cover. Instead, pet insurance offers a similar sort of cover to what health insurance provides for people.

Pet insurance covers up to 80% of your vet bills when your pet suffers an illness or injury, while many policies also provide additional cover for routine care procedures like vaccinations and desexing.

What pet cover will home insurance provide?

How can home insurance cover you and your pet? There are a few key areas of cover that may provide important benefits for you:

• Accidental damage. If you select accidental damage cover, your policy can cover your pets causing accidental damage to your building and contents. So if your pitbull gets a little over-excited watching Bondi Vet and accidentally knocks your TV over, your contents insurance can provide the protection you need.
• Pet cover. Often offered as an extra-cost option, pet cover under a home insurance policy can provide similar protection to a pet insurance policy. This option provides cover for your veterinary bills when your dog or cat suffers an accidental injury.
• Temporary accommodation for your pet. If your house and/or contents are damaged by an insured event and your home is uninhabitable as a result, you may need to put your pet in a boarding facility until it’s safe to return home. When this happens, most policies will provide cover for pet boarding fees.

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Promoted 8.7 Great Youi Building and Contents Insurance	8.7 Great			Optional		Our verdict: With a a range of options available, Youi Building and Contents Insurance is a great pick for homeowners who are after a policy that allows them to find cover to suit their needs.	Get a quote View details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Promoted 9.4 Excellent QBE Home & Contents Insurance	9.4 Excellent			Optional		Discount: Get 20% off your first year with a combined policy. T&Cs apply.	Our verdict: Finder's Top Pick for Floods plus cover for other common claims such as fire and theft.	Get a quote View details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Promoted 9 Excellent Budget Direct Contents Insurance	9 Excellent		Optional	Optional		Get 15% off your first year's premium if you purchase online. T&Cs apply.	Our verdict: The most popular insurer on Finder, Budget Direct prioritises low-cost cover. You need to pay extra for flood cover and accidental damage.	Get a quote View details Compare product selection Compare	loading
9.4 Excellent Coles Combined Home & Contents Insurance	9.4 Excellent		Optional	Optional		Discount: Save up to 30% (15% Online + Up to 15% Combined) off your first year's premium when you take out a new Combined Home & Contents Insurance policy online. T&Cs apply.	Our verdict: This covers what you'd expect in a home and contents policy; fire, storm and theft. There are plenty of optional extras available for those who'd like more thorough coverage.	Get a quote View details Compare product selection Compare	loading
9.3 Excellent Budget Direct Home & Contents Insurance	9.3 Excellent		Optional	Optional		Discount: Up to 30% (15% Online + Up to 15% Combined) off your first year's premium for a new combined Home and Contents policy purchased online. T&Cs apply.	Our verdict: The most popular insurer on Finder, Budget Direct prioritises low-cost cover.	Get a quote View details Compare product selection Compare	loading
9.2 Excellent Qantas Home and Contents Insurance	9.2 Excellent		Optional	Optional		Bonus points offer: Earn up to 35,000 Qantas Points for joining by 25 November 2026. Plus save up to 30% on your 1st year’s premium - 15% when you take out a new policy online, and up to 15% when you combine home and contents. T&Cs apply.	Get a quote View details Compare product selection Compare	loading
8.5 Great Kogan Home & Contents Insurance	8.5 Great			Optional		Discount: Get up to 10% off your first year's premium when you apply online and $10 monthly Kogan credit (valid on $100+ purchases) for active policyholders. T&Cs apply.	Get a quote View details Compare product selection Compare	loading
7.8 Great Huddle Black Home and Contents Insurance	7.8 Great					Discount: Get 10% off your premium when you purchase Home and Contents Insurance. T&Cs apply.	Get a quote View details Compare product selection Compare	loading

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Options for landlords

As a landlord, you have the final say on what pets (if any) are allowed to live on your property. Deciding to make your property pet-friendly can allow you to attract a much wider range of potential tenants, but there are always risks associated with opening your doors to furry, feathery or scaly tenants. From soiled carpets to claw marks on the walls, pets can potentially cause a wide range of damage to your home.

However, if you do decide to allow your tenants to keep pets, there are several simple things you can do to minimise the risk of pet damage affecting your property:

• Draw up a pet agreement. It’s often a good idea to set up a pet agreement between you and your tenant. This could outline any rules and guidelines you expect your tenant to follow – for example, having the carpet steam cleaned when they move out or maybe keeping their dog outside at all times – and the consequences if they fail to meet those requirements.
• Consider modifying the property. You can make some simple changes to your property to make it easier for tenants to maintain. For example, replacing carpets with easy-to-clean tiles or floorboards promises easier maintenance, while installing secure fencing will make your rental property an attractive option for tenants with outdoor pets.
• Inspect regularly. Conduct regular inspections to make sure the property is being well looked after and kept in reasonable condition. You can also check in with the neighbours to make sure the pet is not being a nuisance and creating too much noise.
• Maintain a good relationship. Maintaining a good relationship with your tenants is important regardless of whether they own pets or not, and is a great way to ensure that you find out about any pet-related issues as soon as they arise.
• Get landlord insurance. Not all landlord insurance policies will cover damage to the property caused by tenants’ pets, but some will. Compare your options and read the fine print to find a policy that protects you against pet damage as well as a range of other important risks, such as malicious tenant damage, loss of rental income and legal liability.

Options for renters

Finding a rental property is often hard enough, let alone finding a pet-friendly rental property. Many landlords will automatically oppose requests to keep pets, but there are several simple things you can do to help convince them that you’ll be a responsible tenant:

• Create a pet CV. If your landlord is “umm-ing and aah-ing” about whether or not to allow you to keep pets, consider creating a pet CV. Just like your own CV presents you in the best possible light to a prospective employer, this profile highlights your pet's best qualities to a potential landlord. It should include a photo, details of your pet’s breed and temperament, and details about their vaccinations, parasite treatment and microchipping and possibly a pet character references from previous property managers or your vet.
• Offer more rent. If your landlord is unsure whether the risk of allowing a pet into the property is worth it, you may want to consider paying a little extra rent each week to sweeten the deal.
• Suggest a trial period. Ask for a chance to prove that you are a responsible pet owner and your pet is an excellent tenant. If your landlord will allow you to keep a pet for a trial period, let’s say three months, this could give you the chance to show that you and your furry friend will keep the property safe and sound.
• Keep it clean. You have a responsibility to keep the property clean during your tenancy and also leave it in a fit state when you move out. However, some landlords may also only allow you to keep pets if you agree to have the carpets steam cleaned and/or deodorised when you move out.
• Choose the right property. If you own a Kelpie that needs to run 20km daily to stay happy and healthy, locking it in an apartment while you go off to work for ten hours each day is a disaster waiting to happen. By choosing a property that suits your pet, you can greatly reduce the risk of any unfortunate accidents and mishaps.
• Get renters insurance. Renters insurance provides cover for loss or damage to your contents caused by fire, theft, storm and a wide range of other insured events. Look for a policy that includes cover for accidental damage caused by pets or an aquarium, so you’ll be protected if your pitbull likes the look of your dinner and accidentally knocks the dining table (and everything on it) over and onto the carpet. You may also be able to add cover for veterinary bills if your pet suffers an accidental injury, plus enjoy cover for boarding costs when your contents are damaged by an insured event that leaves the property uninhabitable.

Welcoming your pet into your home ensures that you and your furry friend will develop a strong and lasting bond. However, it’s worth ensuring that you have the right home insurance cover in place before you let your pet become your new housemate.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What types of pet damage are typically not covered even with accidental damage insurance?

  Even with accidental damage cover, certain types of pet damage may still be excluded. This often includes gradual damage such as prolonged chewing or scratching that occurs over time, damage caused by insects or pests that your pet introduces and general wear and tear from pet activity. It is crucial to review your Product Disclosure Statement to understand these specific exclusions.

• Will my home insurance cover damage caused by unusual or exotic pets?

  Most home insurance policies focus on common domestic pets like dogs and cats. Damage caused by unusual exotic or farm animals may not be covered under standard accidental damage clauses or could be explicitly excluded. If you own an exotic pet it is essential to discuss your specific needs with insurers to see if any cover can be arranged.

• How do I find a home insurance policy that properly covers pet damage?

  To find a policy that covers pet damage you should first look for policies that offer accidental damage as an optional extra or as standard. Then carefully read the Product Disclosure Statement to ensure there are no specific exclusions for pet related damage. Some insurers may offer specific pet damage add ons or have more inclusive accidental damage terms. Comparing policies from various providers is also a good approach.

• Does my home insurance cover my pet if it causes injury or damage to someone else's property?

  Yes, your home insurance policy may include legal liability cover which can protect you if your pet accidentally causes injury to another person or damages someone else's property outside your home. This could apply if your dog bites a visitor or your cat scratches a neighbour's car. Always check the limits and exclusions of your liability cover in your policy document.

• What steps should I take if I need to make a home insurance claim for pet damage?

  If your pet causes damage and you believe it is covered by your home insurance you should contact your insurer as soon as possible. You will typically need to provide details of the incident photographs of the damage and any relevant veterinary records if the pet's health contributed to the damage. Be prepared to fill out a claim form and follow your insurer's specific claim process.

Written by

James Martin

Journalist

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James Martin was the insurance editor at Finder. He has written on a range of insurance and finance topics for over 7 years. James often shares his insurance expertise as a media spokesperson and has appeared on Prime 7 News, Insurance News, 7NEWS and The Guardian. An experienced journalist, James' work has featured in publications including The Irish Times, Companies100 and In Business. He holds a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification and a Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification, both of which meet the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio

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James has written 167 Finder guides across topics including:

• Car, home, life, health, travel and pet insurance
• Managing the cost of living
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