With excitement building and summer gatherings expected to kick off across the UK, Tamzin Metcalfe, Home insurance expert at Go.Compare, is urging homeowners to check their insurance policies before hosting World Cup watch parties.
As the weather warms up, Brits will be heading outdoors for BBQs, garden get-togethers and match-day celebrations. But even a seemingly harmless gathering can quickly lead to unexpected damage and costly claims.
“It might not be something you’d consider but you’d be surprised how easily an innocent get-together can escalate into a costly nightmare if homeowners aren’t careful,” says Tamzin.
While public liability insurance might protect you against accidental injury claims or damage by third parties2, it isn’t always included as standard on all home insurance policies and if it is, there might be some exclusions – potentially leaving homeowners dangerously underinsured.
“‘It’s coming home!’ doesn’t sound nearly as exciting when it’s actually referring to a legal case against you or a costly bill you need to fork out for because you didn’t check the fine print”.
The hidden risks of hosting
When the sun comes out, spontaneous social occasions soon come rolling in. Summer might be the peak season for entertaining – but it can also bring added risk for unexpected incidents.
If someone gets hurt during a summer get-together, the homeowner can be liable. Tamzin Metcalfe explains: “Hosting a World Cup watch party is all fun and games until someone trips over an extension lead or puts a foot through some rotten decking. What a lot of people don’t understand is that the moment you invite people over, you owe them a legal duty of care. If a guest gets hurt on your property, you could easily find yourself facing a massive public liability claim.”
Scenarios that could leave homeowners at risk include:
- Slips that turn serious – Ifa guest slips over on a wet floor, falls down a broken step or trips over an unsecured rug, a minor stumble could lead to something more dangerous
- Unexpected visitors – Giving up on the BBQ and ordering pizza? If a delivery driver gets injured on your property and ends up out of work, you could find yourself at risk of paying out for loss of earnings3
- Hidden hazards – While your garden might seem perfectly safe on a sunny day, unexpected dangers can crop up from uncovered ponds to trip risks from raised tree roots or garden equipment left out and about
- Unsafe outdoor amenities – Your brand-new hot tub or fire pit might look the part, but these items pose additional risks and could need a higher level of insurance cover
Host with peace of mind this summer
Make the most of the sunny days ahead and welcome guests with confidence. As hosting season approaches, Tamzin urges homeowners to do their homework on public liability insurance: “Although your standard home insurance likely includes public liability cover, lots of policies have exceptions. Many have limits on guest numbers, exclusions for ‘organised events,’ or loopholes that void your cover if temporary kit like outdoor projectors and marquees are involved. If someone sues and your insurer points to the fine print, you’d have to foot the legal bills and compensation payouts out of your own pocket.”
“So if your home is the go-to party house, remember to check your policy for public liability cover. It’s a standard feature in most home policies, but an optional extra in others – and it’s worth checking the fine print to see if hosting events is excluded. Take five minutes to read your documents now so you can host with peace of mind.”
