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Home Insurance
Home Insurance
Comprehensive Home Contents Insurance · Personal Legal Liability · Worldwide Coverage
Home insurance is a comprehensive policy that protects your household belongings—such as interior renovations, furniture, and appliances—as well as your legal liability towards the public (third parties), allowing you to enjoy every moment at home with peace of mind.
Coverage Scope
Scope of Coverage
Coverage encompasses two main areas—comprehensive home contents insurance (all-risks) and worldwide personal liability insurance—with optional add-ons available for valuables and building structure protection.
Comprehensive Home Contents Insurance (All-Risks)
Provides coverage for accidental damage to or loss of household belongings within the insured premises, including losses caused by incidents such as fire, flooding (e.g., burst pipes, overflowing water tanks, rainwater ingress), theft, typhoons, and landslides.
Personal Legal Liability (Worldwide)
You are covered—wherever you are in the world—against legal liability and associated litigation costs arising from bodily injury to others or damage to property caused by the negligence of you or your resident family members; however, the legal proceedings must be handled by the courts of Hong Kong.
Water Damage and Burst Pipes
Compensation is available for damage to household property caused by events such as burst pipes, overflowing water tanks, or the influx of rainwater (however, the cost of repairing the pipes themselves is not covered).
Theft and Vandalism
Compensation for property loss and damage to doors and windows resulting from burglary or forced entry into the residence is available in accordance with the terms of the policy.
Global All-Risk Coverage for Valuable Personal Property (Add-on)
Wherever you are in the world, you and your co-habiting family members are fully covered against accidental damage to or loss of insured personal valuables (such as jewelry, ornaments, high-end camera equipment, etc.) that you are carrying.
Building Structure All-Risks (Add-on)
Provide comprehensive coverage for your property structure against damage caused by incidents such as fire, flooding, typhoons, landslides, and theft.
Extra Benefits
Complimentary Extended Coverage
In addition to standard coverage, almost all the home insurance policies we sell include the following extended protections at no extra cost.
1
Costs for replacing windows, door locks, and keys
2
Temporary accommodation expenses
3
Temporary storage of household goods and valuables
4
Costs of cleaning up waste following an accident
5
Temporary relocation of household belongings
6
Interior renovation project
7
Food in the refrigerator is spoiling.
8
Personal financial loss
9
Personal Accident Coverage
Note: Each complimentary extended coverage benefit is subject to specific maximum indemnity limits and deductibles (if applicable); please refer to the respective insurance company's policy terms for details regarding the scope and limits of coverage.
Partner Insurers
Partner Insurance Companies
We partner with numerous renowned insurance companies to compare the most suitable private car insurance plans and premiums for you.
Product Features
Features
- Comprehensive Home Contents Insurance Coverage
- Coverage for fire, lightning, and explosion
- Coverage for typhoons, landslides, and earthquakes
- Coverage for Loss of Domestic Helper's Personal Property
- Interior Fit-out and Fixtures
- Global additional coverage is available for valuable items.
- Personal legal liability applies globally.
- Coverage for water damage and burst pipes
- Theft and Malicious Damage Coverage
- Rental costs for temporary accommodation
- Compensation for spoiled food in the refrigerator
- Comprehensive coverage for the building structure is available as an add-on.
Main Exclusions
Key Exclusions
- Wear and tear, scratches, mold, or rust resulting from normal use.
- Damage caused by misuse or by mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic failure.
- Contact lenses, mobile phones, laptops
- Exercise equipment in use
- Household property kept outdoors
- Losses occurring during a period of continuous vacancy exceeding 30 days up to 60 days.
- Losses incurred during a period of travel abroad exceeding 90 days
- Applicable Excess
- War, terrorist activities
The above is a summary; for details, please refer to the policy terms and conditions of the respective insurance companies.
Main Exclusions
Key Exclusions
- Wear and tear, scratches, mold, or rust resulting from normal use.
- Damage caused by misuse or by mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic failure.
- Contact lenses, mobile phones, laptops
- Exercise equipment in use
- Household property kept outdoors
The above is a summary; for details, please refer to the policy terms and conditions of the respective insurance companies.
- Losses occurring during a period of continuous vacancy exceeding 30 days up to 60 days.
- Losses incurred during a period of travel abroad exceeding 90 days
- Applicable Excess
- War, terrorist activities
Important Information Regarding Insurance Coverage
Before purchasing home insurance, please note the following to ensure the policy takes effect smoothly and claims can be processed:
1
The insured amount must align with actual needs; if the insured amount is lower than the total actual value of the property, the compensation will be reduced on a pro-rata basis.
2
For valuables such as jewelry and antiques, items should be itemized in detail and an appropriate insured amount agreed upon prior to taking out insurance.
3
"Building fire insurance" covers only the building structure; for comprehensive protection, it is advisable to also purchase home contents insurance.
4
If your home needs to be left unoccupied for a period of time due to travel or renovation, you must notify the insurance company in advance.
5
The floor area of the terrace must be included when calculating the premium (contents located in the garden or on the terrace are not covered).
6
Please retain the purchase receipts for all items to facilitate the assessment of actual value in the event of a future claim.
Claims Guide
Claims Guide
In the event of an incident that may give rise to a claim, please notify our Claims Department immediately; we will assist you throughout the entire claims process.
Instant Notifications
Following the incident, you should notify the insurance company as soon as possible and complete a claim form, providing a preliminary assessment and a detailed description of the events, the damaged property, and the losses incurred. Failure to provide timely notification may result in the claim being rejected.
Retain evidence and documents
Retain damaged property—do not discard it without the insurance company's consent—and take photographs for your records; submit purchase receipts and quotations from repairers or contractors; and in cases of theft or malicious damage, report the incident to the police immediately and provide the police case reference number.
Assessment and Settlement
The insurance company or its appointed loss adjuster will assess the loss and determine liability; once the compensation amount is agreed upon by both parties, a release of liability document will be issued, and the claim payment will be made upon receipt of the signed document from the client.
Points to Note Regarding "Personal Legal Liability" Claims
- In the event of personal injury or property damage involving a third party, you should notify the insurance company and complete the claim form as soon as possible, regardless of whether a claim has been received.
- In the event of property damage involving a criminal element, please notify the police immediately and provide the police case reference number.
- Record the details of witnesses present and take photographs of the scene and any damaged property for the record.
- If anyone is injured, try to record the injured person's name, age, contact number, address, and details of the injury.
- Please bear in mind that you must not admit liability, enter into any agreement, or promise compensation to anyone without the written consent of the insurance company.
- If you receive any letter or summons from a third party, lawyer, the police, or another insurance company, do not reply to it yourself; instead, forward it to the insurance company immediately.
The Claims Department will contact you immediately.
Please note that a delay in notification may result in the insurance company refusing to process your claim in accordance with the terms of the policy.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
We have compiled frequently asked questions from the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers and insurance companies to help you quickly understand the key points of home insurance.
Q1: What is "home contents insurance"?
Home contents insurance (comprehensive household insurance) covers loss of or damage to household belongings—such as furniture, interior décor, electrical appliances, kitchenware, clothing, and personal valuables—caused by accidents or natural disasters. Coverage typically extends to losses resulting from fire, lightning, explosion, falling aircraft, burst pipes, theft, vehicle impact, earthquakes, typhoons, and strong winds; loss of domestic helpers’ property; costs for alternative accommodation during home repairs; public liability; and personal accident protection for the policyholder.
Question 2: Should I purchase "building fire insurance" or "home contents insurance"?
To ensure comprehensive protection, you should purchase both types of insurance. “Building Fire Insurance” covers only the building structure—specifically the costs of repairing or rebuilding the building’s shell, such as walls, floors, and ceilings. In contrast, “Home Contents Insurance” primarily covers household belongings like furniture, appliances, and interior renovations; it typically also includes coverage for household accidents, domestic helper protection, and third-party liability.
Question 3: What is property owner liability?
Property owner’s legal liability refers to the liability incurred as the owner of an insured property (including interior decorations, fixtures, and fittings within the building) for bodily injury to a third party or damage to their property caused by negligence. For instance, if a passerby is injured by a brick falling from the building’s exterior wall, the owner would be held legally liable.
Q4: Is damage to a neighbor's property caused by water seepage covered?
Coverage is provided if the loss arises from the negligence of the insured or their family members in their capacity as occupants (e.g., forgetting to turn off a tap). If the leaking fixture was installed by the landlord or was already present when the property was purchased, liability arising from the leakage rests with the landlord; however, if the insured is the property owner, compensation is generally available under additional coverage.
Q5: Does home insurance cover burst pipes?
Damage to household property caused by a burst water pipe is covered; however, since the pipe itself does not fall within the definition of household property, the cost of repairing the pipe and associated renovation work is not compensable. Most pipe bursts result from long-term disrepair and a lack of maintenance—issues that fall outside the scope of insurance coverage.
Q6: What coverage amount should I purchase? How is the compensation calculated?
The insured amount can be determined based on the size of the home or the total value of the household contents. Policies typically specify a maximum compensation limit for each item; high-value items should be itemized and their insured values agreed upon prior to taking out the policy. If the insured amount is lower than the actual total value of the property, the compensation will be reduced on a pro-rata basis. When a claim is made, the insurance company determines the compensation amount based on the actual value of the property (adjusted for depreciation) at the time of the incident, the total insured value, and the policy’s compensation limits.
Q7: Do I need to notify the insurance company if my home is left vacant for a period of time?
Yes, it is required. Most policies stipulate that if the insured property remains unoccupied for a certain period, the policyholder must obtain the insurer’s consent to maintain coverage. The vacancy period varies—ranging from 14 days to several months depending on the specific policy—so policyholders should consult their insurer to discuss potential adjustments to premiums and coverage details.