How Home Insurance Covers Flood Damage?
A standard home insurance policy can protect both the structure of your home and its contents against flood-related damage. It protects the house's structure, such as foundation, walls, flooring, door, windows, electrical wiring and fittings. Additionally, it covers permanent fixtures like built-in wardrobes, false ceiling, and plumbing.
Under its content coverage, it protects furniture, appliances, electronic appliances, kitchen items, and portable devices such as tablets, mobiles, and laptops.
Coverage Under Home Insurance with Flood Damage Protection
Inclusions
Here are the inclusions of the policy:
- Structural coverage
- Household contents coverage
- Electronics & appliances coverage
- Built-in fixtures, such as modular kitchens, wardrobes, false ceilings, or permanent fittings.
- Repairs & reconstruction costs, including labour, materials, and expenses required to restore the damaged property.
Exclusions
Here are the exclusions of the policy:
- Gradual seepage or pre-existing damage
- Poor maintenance or negligence
- Damage caused by war, terrorism, or intentional harm
- Undisclosed basement storage
*Disclaimer: All these are general coverage of this policy, which may change from insurer to insurer. Always check the policy coverage before buying it.
Highly Recommended Add-ons in Flood-Prone NCR Areas
Add-ons refer to those optional coverages that you can buy with your basic home insurance policy to enhance its coverage by paying an extra premium to get that coverage.
Here we have explained 3 essential home insurance add-ons that you must buy to enhance the scope of coverage:
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Alternate Accommodation Cover
This cover offers you a temporary accommodation in case your insured home becomes uninhabitable due to flood damage, such as waterlogged walls, damaged flooring, or any electric short-circuits causing major damage. It provides financial coverage for those extra living expenses, including rent, hotel stay, or similar costs for a specific period or until your damaged home is repaired & is safe again.
Why important in Delhi NCR? Many high-rise societies in Gurugram or Noida have faced flooding in basements and ground floors, forcing families to move out for weeks. Having this cover, means the insurer will bear all relocation costs to stay in any hotel or a rented place.
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Valuable Items Cover
As the name suggests, a valuable item cover protects the high-value or expensive personal belongings, such as jewellery, luxury watches, paintings, antiques, or collectables. These items are covered against flood damage, theft, or accidental loss.
Why important in Delhi NCR? Many households keep family jewellery or artworks at home. Any flood damage to these valuables means repairing/restoring them is often impossible. That is why, this add-on cover provides protection to these valuable items.
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Electronic Equipment Cover
This add-on explicitly protects gadgets and high-value appliances that can be damaged in a flood, such as laptops, mobile phones, cameras, home theatre systems, or even office electronics if you work from home. It covers the replacement or repair costs if these insured items are damaged due to water seepage, short-circuiting, or humidity.
Why important in Delhi NCR? Since most of the people are working in hybrid/remote setups, laptops and electronic equipment are significant for their livelihood. Floods and power fluctuations during monsoon can cause severe damage, making this add-on essential.
How to File a Flood Insurance Claim in Delhi NCR?
For a smooth settlement for flood damages in a home insurance policy, follow the procedure below:
- Step 1: Inform your insurer of the damage within 24–48 hours by calling their toll-free number or reporting it online.
- Step 2: Keep the required documents handy and submit them when the insurer asks.
- Step 3: The Insurer will appoint a surveyor to visit the damaged property, and it is advised to avoid disposing of the damaged items until the survey is completed.
- Step 4: After the surveyor verification is completed, the claim settlement is done within 15-30 days via reimbursement at their policyholder account or directly paying the bills on their behalf while fixing the damages.
Common Mistakes to Avoid While Filing Claims
- Do not delay claim intimation
- Ensure you hold proof of ownership/invoices
- Disclosure is essential, such as providing complete damage details.
Flood-Proofing Your Home in NCR
To minimise the effect of damage, you can follow these preventive tips:
- Ensure waterproof basement walls and floors
- Install strong electrical wiring and backflow valves in drains
- Keep essential documents and valuables on higher levels
- Regularly cleaning the drainage system
- Consider sump pumps or water barriers if you reside in a low-lying area. These will help move accumulated water in your basement or act as physical barriers to hold back floodwaters.
- Last but not least, buying home insurance online and required add-ons to avoid unnecessary financial burden in an emergency.
