Building and contents insurance are often bought in a package because it is less expensive, but this sometimes makes the extent of coverage unclear. It is important to remember that anything that can be carried away from the property, or that is not permanently fixed to the structure itself, would be insured under a contents policy.

This means that anything that is fixed to the structure like bathroom fixtures (sinks, toilets), kitchen items (cabinets, sinks), or light fixtures, as well as the actual structure of the building like walls and floors, are all covered by the building insurance. Fences, walkways, garages, sheds, and outer walls are also covered. These are some very important aspects for any policy holder to consider for a better understanding of insurance coverage.

A laptop computer that is knocked from a counter-top and smashes on the floor would be covered under contents accidental damage. This type of accident would not be covered at all by building insurance, because the laptop can be moved away from the property. If a built-in bookshelf becomes warped when the owner attempts to add another shelf, this would not be covered by contents insurance. The shelf is built into the wall of the structure. This is the type of thing that building accidental damage insurance is made to cover.

If a car is driven through the garage door, this is covered by building accidental damage insurance. This also applies to a fence or an outer wall. It is important to see just how much will be covered in the event of an accident. An accident can be a very expensive event. Insurance that is bought merely to cover the requirements of a mortgage loan is never enough to pay for any serious accidental damage, if the accidental damage is covered at all. The limit could be as low as £1,000, which would not begin to pay for a broken garage door or repair a ruined fence. It might not even cover the price of the warped bookcase.

It is impossible to predict when the daily routine will be disturbed by burst pipes or an overflowing toilet that cause extensive water damage to both floors and ceilings. Building accidental damage insurance will assure that the repairs will start as quickly as possible and the family will not be paying the price, both figuratively and literally, for years to come.