As a homeowner, it’s crucial to keep your property, loved ones, and guests protected from potential hazards and danger. This means being aware of all potential liabilities on your property, including any “attractive nuisances.” An attractive nuisance is an element on your property that may interest children and pose a potential danger to them.
Understanding how an attractive nuisance can impact your homeowners insurance coverage is crucial. In this article, we’ll explore what circumstances qualify as an attractive nuisance, discuss how to determine whether you have one or more on your property, and outline how it might impact your home insurance policy.
What is an attractive nuisance?
An attractive nuisance is any potentially hazardous feature or condition on your property that is likely to attract and interest children but may also be dangerous for them. These features can include:
Trampolines
Abandoned appliances
Construction sites
Rusted-out/broken-down cars
Other potentially dangerous structures or equipment
Children and visitors might need help understanding the risks of these features and be drawn to them out of curiosity or a sense of adventure. As a homeowner, it’s your responsibility to take reasonable measures to prevent children and visitors from accessing any attractive nuisances on your property. You may be held liable for injuries to children or visitors resulting from these features, especially if it can be demonstrated you failed to take adequate precautions to prevent access to the attractive nuisance.
What should you do if you have an attractive nuisance on your property?
There are many ways you can secure areas that might be considered an attractive nuisance. For added assurance, consider working with your insurance company to make sure they approve of all the changes you make. Whether installing fences and gates or simply locking up equipment, here are some steps you can take to secure an attractive nuisance on your property:
Install Barriers like Fences or Gates: Installing a secure fence around the attractive nuisance, such as a swimming pool or trampoline, and ensuring it has a self-locking gate can help prevent unauthorized access by children.
Cover and Secure the Feature: Keeping attractive nuisances like pools covered and securing them with locks or latches can prevent children from entering them unsupervised.
Post Warning Signs: Posting clear and visible warning signs that indicate the potential dangers of the attractive nuisance can help deter older children from accessing the area.
Remove or Restructure the Feature: If possible, consider the removal or restructuring of the attractive nuisance to make it less accessible or dangerous to children. Move tools and cars into a secure garage out of eye-shot of children.
Expand Your Home Insurance Coverage: Home insurance policies typically come with about $100,000 in liability coverage, but if you have an attractive nuisance on your property, you should reconsider your policy and expand your coverage. Additionally, the standard liability coverage through your insurance carrier may come with stipulations about safety features, endorsements/amendments to the policy, or additional required coverage if you have an attractive nuisance.
Ensure You Have Enough Homeowners Insurance Coverage with SelectQuote
Whether you have an attractive nuisance on your property or you just need to review your coverage, SelectQuote can help. We’ll gather all the information about your property, pool, trampoline, or other attractive nuisance and make sure you have a policy that provides the right amount of coverage. SelectQuote can also help you shop for homeowners insurance for the first time. We have nearly 40 years of industry experience, and our licensed insurance agents will help you find the right policy for your unique needs. We take the hassle out of finding home insurance by comparing quotes from several of the country’s highest-rated carriers in one place.
