Aviva plc says accidental damage now tops home insurance claims as costs jump 63%
Aviva on Thursday reported that accidental damage accounted for 32% of home insurance claims in its data from the past four years, making it the top claim type for the insurer. The average payout for these claims jumped 63%, climbing to 1,869 pounds in 2026, up from 1,148 pounds in 2022. The company shared these stats just before the Easter bank holiday weekend. Why does this matter? Britain’s home insurers are absorbing steep property payouts, even with policy prices edging down. According to the Association of British Insurers, property claims climbed to a record 6.1 billion pounds in 2025. The typical home claim jumped 15% to 6,000 pounds, while the average buildings-and-contents premium dropped to 379 pounds in the fourth