What Happens if You Cause a Fire in Your Home?

It’s a scary thought, but accidental fires at home can happen to anyone. Knowing what to do next, and what your insurance covers, makes a real difference when it matters most.

Let’s cut to the chase: here’s what to expect, what your insurance might cover, and what steps you need to take afterwards.

What am I covered for?

Most standard buildings insurance policies cover fire damage caused by accidents, such as a cooking mishap or an electrical fault. If your policy includes contents insurance, your belongings damaged in the fire should also be covered, from furniture to electronics, up to your policy limits.

The key thing to watch out for is negligence. If a fire occurred because candles were left unattended or a known hazard wasn’t dealt with, your insurer may question the claim. It won’t automatically be refused, but it could complicate things.

For a full breakdown of what contents insurance covers for fire damage, it’s worth checking your policy in detail before you need to make a claim.

What to do after a fire at home

Just dealt with a fire? Here’s how to handle the aftermath, step by step:

• Get everyone safe. Evacuate immediately, call 999 if you haven’t already, and don’t re-enter the property until the fire service gives the all-clear.
• Secure the property. Once the fire is out, make sure the area doesn’t pose further hazards. Tape off broken glass, unstable furniture, or anything that could cause injury.
• Contact your insurer straight away. Most insurers will guide you through what to do next. With Lemonade, you can start a claim directly through the app, any time of day.
• Document everything. Take photos of all damage as soon as it’s safe to do so, and write down what happened while it’s fresh. This supports your claim and speeds up the process.
• Ask about temporary accommodation. If your home is uninhabitable, check whether your policy covers temporary housing. Many do.

Costs and consequences

Your insurer will typically cover the cost of repairs following an accidental fire, but there are a few financial realities worth understanding before you make a claim.

Your excess. You’ll need to pay your excess before your insurer covers the rest. Excess amounts generally range from £100 to £1,000 depending on your policy, so check your documents to confirm yours before you proceed. If the cost of the damage is only marginally above your excess, it may be worth weighing up whether making a claim is the right move, or whether paying for the repair yourself preserves your no-claims history.

Repair and rebuilding costs. The scale of fire damage can vary enormously. A small kitchen fire might result in a few hundred pounds of smoke damage and a damaged appliance. A more serious fire can affect the structure of the property itself, requiring significant rebuilding work. Buildings insurance covers the structural repairs, while contents insurance covers your belongings. Make sure both elements of your cover are adequate and that your buildings insurance reflects the full rebuild cost of your home, not just its market value.

Temporary accommodation. If the damage makes your home uninhabitable, many home insurance policies include cover for alternative accommodation while repairs are carried out. Check your policy to confirm whether this is included and what the limits are.

Impact on your premium. Making a fire claim could affect your premium at renewal. Insurers may view you as a higher risk after a claim, so a potential increase is worth factoring in. It’s not guaranteed, but it’s not unusual either. The size of the claim and your claims history both play a role in how much, if at all, your premium changes.

Your no-claims discount. A fire claim will typically affect any no-claims discount you’ve built up, which can also contribute to a higher premium at renewal. It’s worth asking your insurer how a claim would affect your discount before you decide whether to proceed.

How to reduce the risk next time

Most home fires are preventable. A few simple habits make a big difference:

• Never leave cooking unattended. It’s one of the most common causes of house fires. Kitchen fires can start faster than you think, so knowing the key risks is worth your time.
• Test your smoke alarms monthly and replace the batteries once a year. If you’re not sure whether you’re testing your smoke alarms correctly, it’s easier than you’d expect to get it wrong.
• Be careful with candles. Always blow them out before leaving a room. There’s more to using candles safely at home than most people realise.
• Don’t overload plug sockets. It’s a surprisingly common cause of electrical fires, and overloaded sockets are easier to overlook than you’d think.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. A small extinguisher or fire blanket can stop a small fire from spreading.

Reducing the risk of fire at home doesn’t have to mean overhauling everything at once. Small, consistent habits are what make the difference.

Bottom line

Accidental fires are frightening, but knowing how to handle the aftermath makes the recovery process a lot smoother. Act quickly, document everything, and contact your insurer without delay.

And if you’re not yet sure whether your contents are fully covered, it’s worth checking your policy. Lemonade’s home insurance is designed to be clear about what’s included, so you’re not left guessing when it matters most.

Fire in your home FAQs