How safe is your home from a fire? Check now!
We all hope it never happens, but damage to your home is more common than you think, and the consequences – financial or otherwise – can be severe. Fortunately, there are some things you can do right away to minimise the risk.
The first step: download our checklist at the end of this article and check how well your home is prepared for a fire.
What legal requirements apply?
It’s not only wise to improve your home’s fire safety, it’ also required by law. In Belgium, for instance, every floor of your home must be equipped with a smoke detector, regardless of whether you own or rent it. Various standards apply at the local level as well, such as guidelines for electrical installations and escape routes.
Belgian law even considers your protection after you incur damage. For example, tenants in Flanders and Wallonia are required to take out home insurance. While this requirement doesn’t apply in Brussels, it is often included in tenancy agreements. Home insurance is not compulsory by law for homeowners in Belgium, but it is strongly recommended. After all, you never know what might happen!
The checklist: how did your home score?
Electricity and appliances
- All cables and sockets are undamaged
- I only charge electrical appliances when I’m home
- I clean my dryer filter after every use
- I switch off electrical appliances when not in use
Open fire
- My candles are placed at a safe enough distance from flammable materials
- I keep all matches and lighters out of reach of children
- I have a fire blanket near my kitchen
Smoke detectors
- Every floor and bedroom in my home is equipped with a smoke detector
- I test and clean my smoke detectors at least once a month
- Rooms with a gas- or oil-fired heating appliance are equipped with a carbon monoxide detector
Escape routes
- The route to my front door is always clear
- Everyone in my home knows what to do in case of an emergency
- I close my interior doors at night to minimise the spread of smoke
Seniors living with you
- Extra mobility and safety measures are in place
- Equipment is in place to ensure safe and fast evacuation
- The smoke detectors in the home emit light and sound signals in the event of an emergency
Tips: what can you do right now?
Fire safety doesn’t have to be complicated and it shouldn’t be put off until tomorrow. Here are five things you can do right now:
- Test your smoke detectors
Press the test button once a month to make sure they work when they need to. - Keep escape routes clear
There shouldn’t be any obstacles near your front door and in your hallway. Every second counts in an emergency. - Keep an eye on things
Don’t leave your smartphone, laptop or electric bike to charge unattended at night. - Close your interior doors at night
Closed doors slow down the spread of smoke and fire, giving you more time to escape. - Clean your dryer filter
Every time you take your laundry out of the dryer, be sure to clean your filter too. This will help prevent the lint from catching fire.
What is covered by KBC’s home insurance policy?
As you can see, you can easily manage your own fire safety. And if something does happen, you can rest assured that KBC’s home insurance has you covered.
By taking out home insurance, you not only protect yourself against the financial consequences of fire damage, you’re also covered against risks including damage caused by storm, water, natural disasters and collisions. It ensures you’re well-prepared for unexpected events affecting your home.
You also have the option of extending your insurance cover to include your garden, swimming pool or heating oil tank. What’s more, your solar panels, charge point or home battery are automatically included in your home insurance policy.
More information about KBC Home Insurance
KBC Home Insurance is a property insurance policy. This product is governed by the laws of Belgium. Insurance cover under this policy is valid for a term of one year and tacitly renews, unless it is terminated no later than three months before the main renewal date.
Your intermediary is the first point of contact for any complaints you may have. If no agreement can be reached, or if you have taken out this insurance online, please contact KBC Complaints Management, Brusselsesteenweg 100, 3000 Leuven, complaints@kbc.be, tel. 016 43 25 94. If you cannot find a suitable solution, you can contact the Belgian insurance industry’s ombudsman service: Ombudsman van de Verzekeringen, de Meeûssquare 35, 1000 Brussels, info@ombudsman-insurance.be, www.ombudsman-insurance.be. This does not affect your legal rights.
Visit our website or contact one of our insurance experts to request a quote for KBC Home Insurance. KBC Home Insurance is a product provided by KBC Insurance NV – Professor Roger Van Overstraetenplein 2 – 3000 Leuven – Belgium. VAT BE 0403.552.563 – RLP Leuven – IBAN BE43 7300 0420 0601 – BIC KREDBEBB Company licensed by the National Bank of Belgium, de Berlaimontlaan 14, 1000 Brussels, Belgium, for all classes of insurance under code 0014 (Royal Decree of 4 July 1979, Belgian Official Gazette of 14 July 1979). Member of the KBC group.
What’s covered?
- For tenants and owners
- Damage caused by fire or explosion
- Water damage
- Storm, hail or lightning damage (like lightning destroying electric appliances or a storm or heavy winds damaging your garden furniture)
- Natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes
- Damage caused by a collision
- Vandalism or (attempted) theft in your home or even objects outside your home, such as your electric bike parked in your driveway
- Pets (insured everywhere)
- Specifically for tenants
- Damage to fixtures or improvements you made to the home as a tenant, at your own expense (like when your garden shed is damaged during a storm)
- Specifically for landlords
- Third-party liability for loss or damage to your tenant, if caused via:
the building, the grounds, any adjacent footpaths, the garage (also if it is located elsewhere or you are renting it) or their contents - odd jobs done at the property you rent out
- Third-party liability for loss or damage to your tenant, if caused via:
- Holidays
- When you’re on holiday, we insure your luggage in the holiday home you rent or in your hotel room
- Your pets are also insured worldwide wherever you travel
What’s not covered?
- Specifically for tenants
- Typical rental damage caused, for instance, by wall plugs or limescale on sanitary fittings
- Damage caused by pets
- General
- Loss or deliberate damage
- Damage caused by:
- Instability of the sub-surfaces of structures built less than two years ago, or of terraces and driveways
- Groundwater or precipitation that has seeped inside due to your cellars or exterior walls not being waterproof
- Works
- Correction of construction flaws
- Theft of or from a vehicle that is parked elsewhere than at the address which is insured
Note that our all-risks cover for the contents does not apply to unique objects such as antiques and artwork. We recommend our specific ‘Valuables’ cover for this purpose. For further information, please contact your Insurance Expert.
This list is not exhaustive. See our product fact sheets below for full details of what is and isn’t covered.