18 Jun 2020

UAE residents often dismiss insurance as a first line of defence when it comes to protecting their homes – and why wouldn’t they? The UAE is a safe place with some of the lowest rates of crime in the world, while extreme weather conditions are thankfully very rare.

A poll of UAE residents by Dubizzle Property, for instance, found that two thirds of respondents did not insure their homes, with nearly a quarter believing it is the landlord’s responsibility.[1]

But this could be a costly misjudgment, with the reality being that people need to proactively protect themselves against a multitude of risks beyond theft and natural disasters.    

So what is home insurance? And is your landlord responsible for providing it?

Home insurance is a policy that protects your home and personal belongings against damage in the event of an accident, fire, burglary, weather damage and more. The plan helps to cover the cost of repairing or replacing damage to your household and its content.

Broadly speaking, a landlord is only required to provide insurance to a mortgaged house, and even then, this only covers damages to the physical structure of the building. Therefore you (the tenant) will need to consider covering your personal belongings inside the house through a home insurance plan catered to your needs.

To put that in perspective, imagine a burst pipe that leads to water damage in your house. The landlord would cover the repair of the property but is not responsible for any damages to your personal belongings that may have been lost or destroyed from this occurrence. If the pipe bursts above your home entertainment system or wardrobe, the replacement costs could be considerable.

Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNIC) is one of the leading regional multi-line insurance company in Sharjah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi & across UAE offering both corporate/business insurance and personal insurance. Contact us today.