What’s not covered by your home insurance?
Learn about the things that aren’t usually covered by your home insurance policy. And find the right cover with Tesco Home Insurance.
Published: 1 August 2025

Learn about the things that aren’t usually covered by your home insurance policy. And find the right cover with Tesco Home Insurance.
Published: 1 August 2025
Home insurance is designed to protect your home and belongings in case something happens to them. But there are some things it doesn’t cover you for, even if you think it should.
Did you know, for example, that DIY accidents aren’t always covered?
Tesco Home Insurance, like all policies, doesn’t cover you for everything. And, for some things that are covered, your insurer might not pay out if you invalidate your policy.
It can be hard to understand your insurance, and easy to assume you’re covered. Here, we look at the top things that are excluded on a homeowner’s policy, so there's no surprises if you come to make a claim.
First, let’s look at what’s covered by standard home insurance policies. With Tesco Home Insurance, you can choose from 3 different types of cover:
Not all home insurance policies are the same, but most have the same types of exclusions. So, it’s best to check your cover - and be prepared - for things you can’t claim for.
For Tesco Home Insurance customers, here are the most common things you’re not covered for.
Like most standard home insurance policies, Tesco Home Insurance doesn’t cover damage caused by your pets. That’s because some pets are better behaved than others, so it’s difficult to know what the risk is.
Pet damage includes things like:
When you have home insurance, your insurer expects you to look after your property. So, you’re likely to have a claim rejected for things like:
Home insurance is meant to protect you from sudden, unexpected events. Not from poor-quality work or preventable issues. This includes:
There are some things that are normally covered by your home insurance, but your claim might still be rejected. That can happen if you’ve done something to invalidate or void your policy.
Here’s the most common examples.
If you leave your house empty for an extended period - 60 days or more, in most cases - your insurance might not cover you. This includes things like:
If you’re going to be away from home for a while, you should let your insurer know. That way, you can check if you’re going to be covered.
For top tips on how to keep your house secure before you go on holiday, see our guide: Keep your home secure while you’re away.
If you’re planning to upgrade your home, you’ll need to let your insurer know about it. That’s because building work can mean there’s a higher risk of a claim.
You should also note that:
If you’re making home improvements or getting building work done, see our guide: Home insurance while renovating - what to tell your insurer.
Got a question about your cover? Our friendly, UK-based customer service team is here to help.
Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am-8pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am-2pm.
Tesco Home Insurance is arranged and administered by Tesco Insurance and is underwritten by Tesco Underwriting Ltd.
You'll find complete details of the cover, monetary limits, exclusions, excesses and terms in our policy documents.
Find the right cover for the place you call home. Choose Tesco Home Insurance and save money with your Clubcard.