Renters insurance: Aquariums

Waking up to find your floor covered in pools of water, big shards of glass and sad-looking bits of coral and seaweed – not to mention fish – isn't any renter's idea of a good morning.

When a home aquarium or fish tank is damaged due to an accident or another unexpected event, it can be upsetting. It can also be expensive, given the costs of repairing or replacing the tank, and the fact that a damaged aquarium can also cause damage.

So, as a renter, what can your insurance do to help in a scenario like this? Is the tank itself covered? What about its occupants? Would the financial responsibility for damage that the aquarium caused be yours or your landlord's?

Let's find out.

What type of insurance do I need as a renter?

The short answer? Contents insurance.

Renters insurance and contents insurance is pretty much the same thing. The reason you probably want contents insurance is that, as a renter, insuring the building itself is the landlord's (or strata's) responsibility, not yours.

But while the landlord's insurance should cover, say, a leaking tap, it won't cover your leaking aquarium and any damage it causes to your belongings.

Compare renters insurance for your aquarium

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Name	Product	Escape of Liquid	Accidental Damage to Home or Belongings	Home Contents Cover	Fire, Storm & Theft Damage	Online Discount
Budget Direct Contents Insurance			Optional				Get 15% off your first year's premium when you buy a Budget Direct Contents insurance policy online. T&Cs apply.	Get a quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Youi Contents Insurance			Optional				Get a quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Huddle Comprehensive Contents Insurance							Save up to 10% on your policy in the first year.	Get a quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
ANZ Contents Insurance			Optional				Get a quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
QBE Contents Insurance Green Company			Optional				Save 10% on your first years’ premium with QBE Contents only Insurance.	Get a quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Seniors Top Contents Insurance							Buy online and save up to 20% on a new contents insurance policy. T&Cs apply.	Get a quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Qantas Contents Insurance			Optional				Earn up to 20,000 Qantas Points when you apply. Points awarded will be based on your premium. T&Cs & exclusions apply.	Get a quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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What's covered by renters insurance?

With the right policy, your aquarium can be covered against a range of insured events, including:

• Storm damage
• Fire damage
• Impact damage (e.g. from a falling tree or branch)
• Theft
• Water damage
• Accidental damage (usually as an optional add-on)

Many contents policies will also cover your legal liability if someone gets injured at your rental (e.g. by broken glass from a fish tank).

Why should I get renters insurance for my aquarium?

As well as being expensive to repair and replace, home aquariums can be accident-prone.

And they're not just damageable – they're also capable of causing damage to your other belongings.

That's why insurers tend to group them with other potentially troublesome "water containers", such as hot water systems, water supply tanks and (interestingly) waterbeds.

Renters insurance with accidental damage cover can protect your aquarium and other contents in case the unexpected happens. Add in your landlord's insurance to protect the building itself, and your aquarium-related cover starts to look pretty comprehensive.

Does rents insurance cover aquarium leaks?

Yes – with a few important caveats.

Different insurers have different approaches to aquarium leaks, so it's crucial to do your research first. Some policies will cover fish tanks but not fish bowls. Some will only cover aquariums containing a defined volume of water. Some will cover accidental glass breakage, while others won't.

What led to the leak will also be a key factor. Was it something sudden and unforeseeable, or could you have seen it coming (e.g. a slowly expanding crack)?

Importantly, most insurers distinguish between:

• Damage caused by "escape of liquid" or water damage from an aquarium, which standard policies generally do cover.
• Damage to the aquarium itself, which many standard policies don't cover.

Your landlord's insurance should cover any damage to carpets, flooring or other parts of the building that your aquarium damages. But as an aquarium-owning renter, it's recommended that you look into adding accidental damage insurance, which can strengthen your cover for the tank itself.

Should I get accidental damage cover?

Yes. Most standard policies will cover any damage a leaking aquarium causes to your home and/or contents but not the costs of repairing or replacing the aquarium itself.

If you add accidental damage insurance to your policy, your aquarium could be covered for the costs of accidental glass breakage, as well as mishaps like dropping the aquarium while you're unloading, installing or moving it.

Be sure to research what different insurers define as accidental damage, specifically in relation to aquariums and water containers.

Which brands offer cover for accidental damage?

Brand	Do they offer accidental damage?
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Picture: Getty Images