Fires from disposable vapes could impact landlord insurance claims

Warnings over the dangers of incorrectly throwing away disposable vapes could invalidate home insurance. But what does this mean for landlord insurance?

Disposable vapes contain lithium batteries, which pose a serious fire risk. Previously, a property expert told Property118 about an incident where one landlord’s house was destroyed after a tenant had a serious issue when a disposable vape battery exploded.

Property118’s landlord insurance partner, The Home Insurer, warns landlords need to check the small print on their insurance to check for any exclusions regarding tenant negligence.

Lithium batteries pose a serious fire risk

According to data from Electric Tobacconist, vape-related fires in the UK have skyrocketed by more than 348% since 2020.

There have been 1,056 vape fires across the UK since 2020, equivalent to roughly 1 vape fire every 1.7 days, almost every other day, since 2020.

Unlike reusable vapes, which allow you to remove the lithium battery to recycle, disposable vapes contain lithium batteries, which are very difficult to remove.

Lithium batteries pose a serious fire risk if they are placed in normal household bins or recycling and can explode and catch fire if they are damaged, causing huge damage to a property.

Electric Tobacconist recommends tenants look online, such as Recycle Your Electricals, to find their nearest donation or recycling point. Some local authorities also offer vape disposal at their local household recycling centre.

Some insurers may reject claims

There are now warnings that disposing of vapes in household bins could invalidate home insurance.

Heath Alexander-Bew, director at insurance broker Alan Boswell Group, warns that if a fire is caused by negligence, claims could be rejected.

He said: “House fires are, unfortunately, very common in the UK and can cause extensive damage to your home, often costing hundreds of thousands of pounds to repair.

“Home insurance can help cover the cost of repairs caused by accidental fires. However, if a fire is found to have been caused by negligence, some insurers may reject your claim or delay the claims process.”

He adds: “When it comes to vapes, homeowners should be especially vigilant. Following essential safety practices is key, this includes properly disposing of lithium batteries at designated recycling points or hazardous waste collection sites, as these batteries can pose a serious fire risk if thrown in general waste bins.

“You should also avoid leaving vapes on charge overnight, especially in flammable areas.”

No way of compelling the tenant to act responsibly

Jason McClean, director of The Home Insurer, explains to Property118 that while they have not had any notices of fires caused by the incorrect use of vapes, the question of whether the landlord or tenant would be responsible for the fire is an important one.

If a tenant didn’t dispose of a vape correctly and it caused a fire that damaged the property, would the landlord or the tenant be liable?

He tells Property118: “It is an interesting question to consider, and I expect any claims will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

“Landlord insurance normally covers the fire damage, however the fire starts, but there may be restrictions in the small print for malicious damage and negligence.

“If a tenant is negligent, the insurer may look to recover costs from them but that doesn’t normally concern the landlord. The issue you have is there is no way of compelling the tenant to act responsibly; that is out of the landlord’s control. Check the small print on your policy in case any terms that exclude tenant negligence; it’s the best way to protect yourself.”

For any help with landlord insurance, then contact The Home Insurer.

The most efficient way to get a personal quote with the best price and cover possible is to call The Home Insurer team on 01832 770965 so they can focus on your enquiry when you are ready and sitting down with your portfolio details to hand.

Alternatively, you can use the form below to request one of the team to give you a call back.

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