Can you claim for a wedding dress on home insurance

[Thesofaisnotatrampoline]

I got married 8 years ago and my wedding dress has been stored in a box under our bed since.

We moved into a new home in January and there has been a significant mould problem.

Anyway - last night I discovered that my wedding dress is starting to show signs of potential mould damage. I'm gutted to say the least (even though I'm not likely to wear it again!) and I'm planning to send it to be thoroughly cleaned and reboxed.

But part of me is wondering about whether it's worth claiming for it on our home insurance. Is this type of scenario covered in general terms do you think?? I'd need to check the small print in terms of mould/mildew etc but can I justifiably make a claim given that I'm not intending to wear it again??

And if I did claim for it would I have to send it in to be assessed/disposed of? Just don't think I can face going through a whole rigmarole with them if they're going to shut the door in my face!

It’s isn’t really worth any in monetary terms now is it? Second hand wedding dresses are pennies. You don’t need a wedding dress again so what would you spend any money you received on?

My wedding dress was ruined by one of my kittens weeing on the box under our bed. I was gutted but it’s life isn’t it.

I don't know about your home insurance question but I am interested in this as someone whose dress in in the wardrobe!! Why are we both saving it? What for? If this happened to my dress I would address my plans for the future of the dress rather than jump to cleaning and reboxing

Barbara - I don't need another one but i could do all manner of things with the money!

I guess I'm just wondering what the best thing is to do. Having the dress at home and watching it gradually rot away is pretty heartbreaking. But I left it too late to sell it and now if the damage is irreparable no one would want it anyway.

Unless it had been professionally cleaned and appropriately layered/boxed by a company who guarantee their work then I wouldn't think you'd have a claim against anyone /your house insurance particularly if it's just in a box under the bed.

There is a charity which makes angel gowns for lost babies, out of wedding dresses. There is a waiting list, I think. But better than letting it go to waste.

Sillies - love your MN name btw! We've been singing that all week!

I totally totally agree - what are we keeping these dresses for? I'm finding the pressure of looking after it/worrying it might be ruined so stressful.

It is very sentimental to me - not least since I lost my dad last year, it feels like a link to him somehow but I have boys and even if I had a DD I wouldn't expect her to be very interested in it?!

Well I would have thought you could claim for any household content/personal possession on your house insurance.

Personally, mŷ question would be, would I want to? Every claim could affect your monthly premium and excess on renewal and as you generally have to share claim history for at least the last 5 years when buying insurance , it could affect it with any provider.

You’re never likely to wear it again. I would just see if cleaning brings it up, but accept the fact it may not do.

Luckily the damage at the moment looks like it's to the back seam underneath the dress so not visible from the front. And a little bit on the side of the skirt right at the bottom. But again, it's not like I'm going to wear it again. I guess I'm just wondering if an insurance claim is a reasonable way to recoup my losses?

Don't think I can handle seeing the mould get worse and worse 😢

They may pay out for the dry cleaning but I highly doubt they will give you the money for a new dress!!

Check if mould damage is covered in your policy

I think if you would rather have an insurance payout than the dress, that's your answer to whether you should keep it!
Oxfam have a bridal branch.
Or yes, send it to be remade (and in that case you could cut off a bit to tuck into the back of your photo album)

Haven't RTFT. I had the same problem, and I couldn't claim on the contents insurance (we're renting) as it had a clause excluding mould problems from cover. That was with Admiral, hope you have more luck!

I've worked in insurance and think it's highly unlikely any insurer would pay out for that I'm afraid.
Rather than pay what would have been the excess on your policy, use the money for specialist cleaning perhaps?

I get where youre coming from.. someone tipped loads of drinks over my dress at my wedding party 4.5 years ago. Its been in the bag in the cupboard ever since and i dont know what to do with it

Almost 99% certain to be a no, sorry. It will be excluded as a gradually operating cause. Insurance covers one off events, accidents that occur suddenly. Mould takes time to develop so is an insurance no no.

Yes pp is right. This wouldn't be covered. Mould is not covered on house insurance.