‘It’s clear from our survey that many pet owners don’t realise their home insurance probably won’t cover them if their pet causes damage,’ says home insurance professional
Insurers have rejected home insurance claims worth an estimated £801.8m that are related to damage caused by pets – an exclusion many policyholders remain unaware of, according to new data from Go.Compare, released in June 2025.
The comparison site warned that nearly half a million UK pet owners may have had a claim declined for this reason, with many seeing their premiums rise as a result of disclosing the rejection at renewal.
Pet damage in the home could include scratched furniture or chewed carpets, for example.
Nathan Blackler, home insurance expert at Go.Compare, said: “It’s clear from our survey that many pet owners don’t realise their home insurance probably won’t cover them if their pet causes damage to their property, which is leading to thousands of rejected claims.”
Go.Compare’s research included a February 2025 survey of 2,000 UK residents, as well as an analysis of FCA claims data.
The findings from this study revealed that around 12.5 million pet owners – equal to 45% of the UK’s pet owning population – did not know that home insurance policies typically excluded pet related damage, unless accidental damage cover is specifically added.
Pet ownership pain
Go.Compare calculated that around 480,000 pet damage claims had been turned down by home insurers over the last 65 years, with an average value of £1,670 per claim.
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Awareness of pet damage exclusions on home policies varied by age and pet ownership too.
For example, Go.Compare found that only 46% of the under 35s it surveyed were aware that pet damage was often not included as standard in home insurance policies, compared to 64% of those aged over 54. Owners of more pets were also better informed, with 88% of those with four or more pets aware of this exclusion.
Despite the prevalence of rejected claims, Go.Compare said that more than half of pet damage claims – around 519,000 – had been accepted, resulting in payouts totalling approximately £862.4m.
“Taking the time to investigate these details will prevent unwanted surprises and avoidable price hikes whenever your cuddly companion gets up to mischief,” Blackler added. “That’s why you should always compare policies to find a provider that offers the level of cover you need for a price you can afford.”
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