A Guide to Insurance for Foster Homes

What's in this guide?

In this guide we explain some of the key benefits and exclusions of a foster home policy in more detail to give you a better understanding of what you get from foster home insurance and why it’s different to regular home insurance.

How is foster home insurance different from a standard home insurance?

Like a standard home insurance policy, foster home cover will protect aspects like your home, fixtures, fittings and your contents against various risks that could cause loss or damage. In addition to the more standard aspects, foster home policies can include cover for the possessions of your foster child/children too. Though we hope it will never happen, insurance of this nature can also protect against intentional damage, theft or attempted theft caused by foster children to your home or contents. It’s not nice to think about but with these policies you know the cover is there if you need it. So all in all just think of it as your home insurance, plus a little extra.

What are the benefits of foster home insurance?

There are several types of cover that can be applied when insuring your foster home so here is a bit more explanation into what the cover means for you. Our policy will ensure you are covered for all foster children within you home regardless of their background or criminal records. You only need to tell us if you have more than four foster children in your home at any one time.

Here’s a selection of just a few of the best aspects of insuring your home with Towergate:

• Buildings and contents cover - There are a variety of different risks we can cover both your building and contents against. We include cover for perils such as fire, storm, flood, theft and accidental damage.

• Contents insurance for foster children staying in your home - We can insure the contents owned by any foster children that come to live with you. Just be wary that this cover may not apply to all items and sometimes they will need to be listed on the policy so it’s always best to make us aware.

• Alternative accommodation - If an insured risk does cause damage to your home and as a consequence you cannot live there for a while, this cover includes the provision of an alternative place for you to stay. This means that while repairs are carried out, your insurance will cover you and your family to live somewhere else. Not only that but we try to ensure the new location is somewhere equivalent geographically and in size so you can get on with normal life until you can move back in. There is sometimes a maximum amount you can claim on this cover so always check with your adviser to make sure you’re happy with the amount.

• Cover for replacement locks if you lose your keys - We know with everything else on your mind that keys can easily go astray. The security of your home is important to us too as the more secure it is, the less likely it is you will need to claim. That’s why if you do lose your keys, our cover will make sure your locks are replaced and your home is back to being safe.

How do I get the best value from your foster home insurance?

The Fostering Network - We offer an exclusive 10% discount on our policy for members of The Fostering Network. If you are a member, simply let us know and we will apply your discount to your quotation.

You can also receive a discount if you comply with certain security requirements at your home – ask us for more details.

Optional extras

Student’s contents 

They may not be in your home anymore but we can bet you still want to protect the contents of any students in the family. The likelihood is, they will be backwards and forwards with them too so it’s good to be covered in all places.

Cover away from the home 

For items like bikes, this cover can extend to insure possessions when you’re away from home, so let us know if this is something you might need.

Exclusions explained

Be sure you read the full list of exclusions in the policy documents when you take out your policy. You can also view the policy details on our Foster Home Insurance page.

In the meantime, here are some aspects which our policy unfortunately can’t cover:

• Excess - You will need to pay the excess stated on your documents towards a claim. It’s important to check through your documents or ask an adviser which excesses apply to your policy as they may vary depending on the type of claim you need to make.

• If you away for more than 30 days - If you and your family leave your home unoccupied for more than 30 consecutive days, your insurance cover may not apply. We will not be able to cover loss or damage in this instance so it’s important to remember that if you are away for more than 30 days, give us a call and we can discuss your options to make sure you still have cover in place.

• Loss or damage before the start of your policy - As with all insurance policies, if you have experienced a loss or any kind of damage before your policy start date with us, you will not be able to make a claim related to it.

• Wear and tear - This is another exclusion that applies to most insurance policies. Any general wear and tear will not be covered. This includes gradual deterioration or mechanical breakdown, just any damage that is not caused by an insured peril but instead has happened inevitably over time.

These are just a few of the exclusions you will find on a foster home insurance policy so it’s important to read through your documents carefully and fully understand which ones will apply to you. You can always ask one or our team about exclusions, even if you do not have a policy with us yet.

Jargon buster

A number of terms used to describe insurance are not used in everyday language. We’ve put together definitions for a few of these you can refer to if you ever need.

• New for old policies - You will be covered for replacement as new. (If we cannot replace your TV with the same make or model we will work with you to find the best equivalent).

• Unspecified personal effects - this refers to items that you may need to cover when you are out and about away from the home e.g. Laptops/tablets or pedal bicycles

• Excess - A payment you make towards a claim on your policy.

• New for old - You will be covered for replacement as new. (If we cannot replace your TV with the same make or model we will work with you to find the best equivalent).

• Policy schedule - Your insurance document, this outlines the period during which your policy is valid and some of your main aspects of cover. It can be used as proof of insurance and is sometimes referred to as an insurance certificate.

Our claims team

Should you need to claim, we will guide you through each step of the process and advise you on how to gain a resolution. It's our aim to take the stress out of what is likely to be a stressful situation. Just give us a call, and one of the team will take you through the next steps.

Can we help you with anything else?

We provide travel insurance, caravan insurance, boat insurance and holiday home insurance.

Plus, if you run your own business, you can get expert business insurance from our specialist SME team. We cover tradesmen to beauty therapists, so get in touch today to see how we can help protect your business. 

Visit our dedicated Foster Home Insurance page

Tel: 0345 266 1252

Email: fosterhome@towergate.co.uk

Write to us: Towergate Insurance, Kings Court, London Road, Stevenage, SG1 2GA

About the author

James Cooper is a respected industry leader with over 10 years' experience in the home and property insurance sector. He works across a broad range of insurance product and policy development and delivery, including product development; customer sales and marketing; and P&L accountability.