These are some of the more unusual reasons behind the claims made by policyholders to Saga Home Insurance.

The insurer, which as released details of its most out-of-the-ordinary claims, to mark its 25th anniversary, said during a storm in July 2015, a customer’s house in Co. Durham was hit not once but twice by lightning, damaging the rendering on the gable. The storm, which affected large parts of the North East, also saw hailstones the size of golf balls crashing into properties, prompting a flurry of calls from worried homeowners.

A couple who kept bird seeds in plastic containers in their garage got a shock when the containers spontaneously combusted, causing £36,000 worth of damage to the outbuilding itself and its contents.

One policyholder was having her cavity walls insulated when she discovered the builder had been pumping the expanding foam into her cloakroom instead of the wall, filling it to the brim.

Saga has dealt with many instances of damage caused by pets. Cats have a tendency to knock glasses of liquid over expensive electronics. One customer left his hearing aids on a coffee table, only for his dog to eat them. Not all insurance policies cover pet damage, so Saga advises those with pets to review their policy.

Sue Green, head of home insurance at Saga, said: “Looking back on 25 years of claims, it’s clear you never really know when or how misfortune can strike. Whether its pets, human error, the weather or even a freak accident, having the right level of cover in place makes all the difference when it comes to replacing items, or repairing damage.”

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