Home insurance: your safest bet before typhoons wreak havoc

According to the Hong Kong Observatory, the city is expected to see between five and eight tropical cyclones this year – which is normal to high on the frequency scale. So when a typhoon strikes, you should pay close attention to weather reports and be prepared for extreme conditions, especially if you live in low-lying areas, you  should take precautions against flooding. Even when you are indoors, you should not take the situation lightly. For example, avoid standing by windows to prevent injuries caused by shattered glass. When Super Typhoon Mangkhut hit Hong Kong in 2018, the catastrophic cyclone shattered at least 500 glass windows and damaged walls, caused more than 40,000 households to suffer power outages, and flooded numerous buildings along the territory’s coastline. So as we enter typhoon season this year, now is time to assess your need for comprehensive home insurance. This will provide your home with financial protection, and will give you peace of mind.

Home insurance on the market generally covers property damage caused by accidents. This includes water leakage resulting from heavy rain, electrical appliances sustaining water damage, or the spoilage of frozen food due to power outages.

Insurance companies also provide protection against typhoons in Hong Kong during the rainy season. Specifically, this tends to cover the cost of reinstalling windows due to typhoon damage. Indoor flooding and broken windows caused by powerful storms are also covered by home insurance, with compensation available for costs, such as temporary housing expenses (proportional to the number of affected days). This is not only to ensure that the insured has somewhere to live while home repairs are carried out, but also to reduce their financial losses.

When shopping for home insurance, it is important not to focus only on the level of premiums. One must compare the scope of coverage and covered amounts, as well as assess whether the exclusions are appropriate for one's personal needs. If a home accident happens because of a typhoon, the best thing to do is to stay calm and attempt to regain control of the situation. First, move household items or electrical appliances away from any influx of water. Don’t be tempted to throw away the damaged items or try to fix them yourself. Instead, you should carefully take photos or videos as these will be used as evidence for any subsequent insurance claim.

Insurance companies are actively working to provide simpler and faster online claims services. Claimants can fill in the claims form online, upload relevant documents, such as receipts for repair services or photos of visible property damage. It gives great assurance to customers that follow-up reviews and compensation-related matters can be handled retrospectively, which fast-tracks the processing time of insurance claim applications.

If you have any queries regarding different home insurance plans, please feel free to contact us or find out more about our insurance plans:

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