Home Insurance for Fires | Saga Home Insurance

Home Fire Insurance

What does home insurance cover in a fire? Discover exactly how it works.

Published - 26 Sep 2023

Protect your possessions with up to £100,000 in home fire insurance contents cover.

When it comes to protecting your home, there are few things – if anything – more fundamental than fire safety. So here’s what you need to know about home insurance for fires.

What is home fire insurance?

‘Home fire insurance’ refers to any insurance policy which pays out if your property is damaged by fire, or if your home possessions are lost, damaged or destroyed following a fire.

Does home insurance cover fire?

Most home insurance policies will include home fire insurance as standard within the policy. So if you have buildings or contents insurance – or both – you should be financially protected if a fire damages your home or possessions.

What does home insurance cover in a fire?

Your home insurance can cover you in a range of scenarios following a fire. For example, Saga Home Insurance covers the following:

Loss or damage caused by fire.
Loss or damage caused by smoke.
A fatal injury (to you or your partner/spouse) following a fire.

What isn’t covered by home fire insurance?

If a fire breaks out and causes damage to your home or belongings, you might not be able to make a successful claim in the following scenarios:

Your property has been left unoccupied.
The fire was started deliberately.
Your smoke alarms or heat detectors are faulty.
Fire and smoke damage has been caused by bonfires.
Additionally, some insurers may not cover you if you’ve misrepresented your smoker status.

What is classified as a fire?

Your insurer will consider a fire to be an event that results in burning flames that can cause damage. For example, an incident where your possessions were scorched would not count as a fire.

How much will my home fire insurance cover?

Fire damage is covered as standard on both Saga Select and Saga Plus. Buildings insurance can cover you up to £1 million for the cost of rebuilding your house following a fire, whilst our contents cover can provide a sum insured up to £100,000. If you need more cover than this, there's also Saga TailorMade for higher-value homes.

What should you do if there’s a fire in your home?

If a fire breaks out in your property, here’s what to do.

1. Stay calm.

Time is of the essence, so try and remain calm so you can make the best possible decisions.

2. Extinguish the blaze if you can.

Many fires are caused by cooking with oil, grease or fat. You can attempt to put out the fire by turning off the heat and covering the pan with a lid, but never pour water onto a grease fire.

3. Safely evacuate.

Raise the alarm, leave your valuables and move quickly towards the exit with anyone else you live with. If you need to escape through an area where fires are burning, it’s safest to crawl beneath the smoke.

4. Call 999

Once you’re safely outside, call the fire brigade and alert them to the blaze. Keep a safe distance to avoid smoke inhalation and any falling debris from the building.

5. Contact your insurer.

It’s a good idea to get in touch with your insurer so you can make your home fire insurance claim. You should take photos and evidence of the fire damage to support your claim, and retain receipts for any repair works.

Home fire safety checklist

No one wants to have to make a home fire insurance claim, but by taking certain precautions, you can reduce the chances of a fire breaking out. Here is a simple home fire checklist to help keep you and your loved ones safe.

Install smoke alarms correctly on each level of your house, and check these are working on a regular basis.
Fit a heat detector in your kitchen. This is triggered when the temperature rises (rather than smoke).
Keep flammable objects (such as tea towels) away from your cooker and hobs.
If you’re a smoker, never smoke indoors, and make sure your cigarettes or cigars are extinguished.
Switch off devices that aren’t being used.
Avoid leaving appliances running or charging (such as washing machines and e-bikes) while you’re not in the property.
Be cautious about using candles and consider using battery-powered options instead.
Don’t overdo the amount of cooking oil you need – use the minimum amount necessary.
Never put anything metal in the microwave.
Don’t use too many electrical sockets at the same time, especially with extension leads and powerful appliances.

Who are Saga's home insurance policies underwritten by?

Saga Home Insurance policies, exclusively for people over 50, are unique products designed specifically for our customers. They are underwritten by a number of carefully selected insurers that provide our high standards of quality and service.