When most people think of home insurance, they picture coverage for fires, floods, and maybe a fallen tree or two. But home insurance can do a lot more than just replace a roof or fix a water-damaged ceiling. In fact, some of the things it’s covered in real-life claims are downright bizarre.
Let’s have a little fun with insurance! Here are seven of the weirdest things home insurance has been known to cover.
1. A Meteorite Through the Roof
It’s rare, but it happens. In 2021, a woman in British Columbia had a meteorite crash through her ceiling and land on her pillow. Thankfully, she wasn’t in bed at the time. Even better? Her homeowner’s insurance covered the damages — because a “falling object” is often part of standard policies. Take that, outer space.
2. A Flaming Wheel of Cheese
A restaurant owner once stored a large wheel of parmesan cheese near a heating source — and the cheese caught fire. The blaze caused smoke damage not only to the kitchen but also to the upstairs apartment. Amazingly, home insurance covered it, thanks to fire protection clauses in the building’s policy. Let this be your reminder: even cheese can be a fire hazard.
3. A Home Invasion by a Drunken Deer
Imagine waking up to shattered glass, a trail of destruction, and a deer stumbling through your living room. It’s happened — more than once. Insurance adjusters have paid out for damaged furniture, broken windows, and even scratched-up floors caused by panicked wildlife.
4. A Turkey That Set the House on Fire
Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude — and apparently, insurance claims. One family’s deep-fried turkey adventure turned into a fiery fiasco when the oil overflowed and ignited, setting their garage and part of the house ablaze. Thankfully, their homeowner’s insurance covered the damage, even though the fire was technically self-inflicted.
5. Frozen Pipes That Created an Indoor Ice Palace
A burst pipe in winter is bad enough. But when one Michigan family returned from vacation, they found an entire room frozen — walls, ceilings, and even the furniture encased in solid ice. Their home insurance covered it, but not before it made the rounds on local news for looking like Elsa had moved in.
6. Artwork… Made by a Toddler
A 3-year-old got hold of a permanent marker and turned a rare, signed movie poster into a modern art piece. The damage was considered accidental (and the item was valuable), so the parents’ insurance helped cover the cost of restoration. Picasso might’ve approved. The adjuster? Not so much.
7. A Drone Crash Into a Neighbor’s House
With drones becoming more common, so are the accidents they cause. In one case, a homeowner accidentally flew their drone through a neighbor’s window during a backyard BBQ. Their home liability insurance kicked in to cover the damage — and possibly saved the neighborhood friendship.
What’s the Takeaway?
Home insurance is more flexible than you think — and sometimes, a little weird. While these cases are unusual, they show just how valuable coverage can be in the most unexpected moments.
Of course, every policy is different. So if you’re not sure whether your home insurance would have your back if a flaming cheese wheel or rogue drone caused chaos, now’s a great time to check your coverage.
