Kids vs Pets: Who causes the most havoc in Brits’ homes?

Whether it’s your child drawing all over the walls or your dog chewing through the sofa, both kids and pets can cause havoc in the home. In fact, our research reveals that a number of parents and pet owners have had their property damaged by their children or pets. But which one is really the worst culprit? And how many Brits have had to make claims on their home insurance because of it?

To uncover the facts, we questioned 2,000 adults who are either parents of children under 18 or owners of cats or dogs.

Kids cause more damage at home than pets

We asked parents and pet owners if their children or pets have ever caused any damage at home. The results reveal that kids cause the most damage. 40% of parents say they’ve had to deal with damage caused by their children, compared to only 31% of pet owners.

Damage caused by kids vs damage caused by pets

What do kids damage most?

Kids have incredible imaginations, however it seems they display that creativity in the wrong place. Drawing or painting on the walls is the most common type of damage caused by kids - in fact, half of parents say they’ve had to deal with it. Staining or ripping the sofa comes second, with 45% of parents saying it’s happened in their home.

Broken windows are the least common type of damage caused by kids, although surprisingly, one in three parents have experienced it. But this can be expensive – parents in Brighton, for example, have been out of pocket by an average of £400 due to their children breaking windows at home.

The cost of kid and pet damage

Children cause more damage at home than pets, but the damage caused by our animal companions is more expensive. On average, pet damage costs owners £225 per incident, compared to £187 for damage caused by children. Smashed TVs, stained/damaged sofas and ripped/stained carpets are, on average, the most expensive types of damage for both parents and pet owners.

Parents in London take the top spot for forking out the most money for damages caused by their children (£234), followed by parents in Birmingham (£228) and Brighton (£225). Whereas damage by children in Belfast costs their parents the least at £99.

Pet owners in Leeds are forking out the most every time their furry friends cause damage, with an average cost of almost £300. This is followed by pet owners in Birmingham (£269) and London (£261).

What do pets damage most?

Whether it’s the dog making a mess or the cat getting their claws into it, the most common damage caused by pets is ripping or staining the carpet, as over 42% of pet owners have experienced this.

The sofa is the second most likely thing for pets to target, with 38% of pet owners saying they’ve dealt with damage to their upholstery - this is also the second most common type of damage caused by kids. Walls, doors, or skirting boards are the next on the list as over a third (35%) of pet owners have dealt with this.

Are parents or pet owners more likely to claim on their home insurance?

Although pets cause less damage to the home than kids overall, our survey found that pet owners are more likely to claim on their home insurance: almost a quarter of pet owners admitted to doing so compared to only 15% of parents. 

Of the parents and pet owners who haven’t claimed for damage, most say they either didn’t think it was worth claiming for, didn’t want to claim on their insurance in case their annual premium went up, or didn’t think that they could claim for the damage on their home insurance.  

Will home insurance cover damage caused by kids or pets?

A standard home insurance policy might not cover damage caused by children or pets, so it’s important to check the small print to make sure you get the cover you need. First, see if your policy includes accidental damage. If not, you should be able to add it on at an extra cost. However, even this may exclude most or all damage caused by pets. You may be able to get pet damage cover as an add-on or by upgrading to a more expensive policy. 

Brought to you by our home insurance experts at Compare the Market.