If you are a home owner, check that you have buildings and contents insurance. If you rent your home, check that you have home contents insurance and make sure you have told the landlord in writing that you are fostering (the landlord is responsible for ensuring they have buildings insurance). If you do not declare you are a foster carer, your policy may become invalid.
If the cover is new, check for any exclusions or deductions for wear and tear.
Most insurance policies do not automatically include cover for any unspecified accidental damage caused by your own children or fostered children. This additional cover is usually available at an extra cost.
Please be aware that ‘accidental’ damage does not include any deliberate or ‘malicious’ damage caused by either your own or your fostered children.
Most household policies will automatically provide cover for any legal liabilities you have as a home owner including the public/personal liability for you, your family, or members of your household. This will cover you in respect of any members of the public that may make a claim against you (for example, if your child causes an accident that damages someone else’s property). If your child’s actions result in an injury to a member of the public, then the household public/personal liability cover will be used to deal with the claim.
Remember that foster carers can be held liable for any injury to a member of the public caused by a fostered child, if it is deemed that the foster carer failed to maintain proper control over them.
Furthermore, cover does not apply to you and your family and permanent members of your household should they suffer injury as a consequence of a fostered child’s actions.
