Bharat Griha Raksha – Standard Home Insurance Policy

Bharat Griha Raksha (BGR) is a standard home insurance plan introduced by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India. It provides financial protection for your home building and its contents against insured perils such as fire, explosion, lightning, natural calamities and other specified risks.

In simple terms, if your insured home or household belongings are damaged or destroyed due to a risk covered in the policy, it compensates you for the loss as per the policy terms and conditions.

For instance, let’s say a fire breaks out in a home and it damages the building, home appliances, furniture, and other household contents worth around ₹7 lakh. Repairing or replacing these items can add a financial burden on homeowners. The Bharat Griha Raksha policy can help cover the repair or replacement costs up to the applicable sum insured.

The Bharat Griha Raksha policy suits anyone who wants financial protection against unforeseen damage to their home and household belongings.

Here are individuals who should consider buying a plan:

• Homeowners: If you own an independent house or villa, you can buy the plan to cover the building structure and its contents against risks covered in the policy.
• Apartment owners: Flat or apartment owners can also invest in Bharat Griha Raksha to get financial support for losses involving their home and belongings.
• Landlords: Landlords who have rented out their residential property can also invest in this housing society insurance to cover the building structure for losses caused by events covered under the plan.
• Tenants: Those who do not own the property can also purchase the plan to cover their furniture, electronics, valuables and other belongings.

Bharat Griha Raksha insurance offers numerous benefits to homeowners. Some of the benefits of the plan are listed below:

Financial Protection

The key benefit of purchasing a Bharat Griha Raksha policy is the financial protection it offers to homeowners. With the plan in place, the homeowner will receive compensation to repair and replace the damaged property and its contents.

Comprehensive Protection

The Bharat Griha Raksha insurance plan offers comprehensive coverage for the home structure and its contents against various covered perils such as fire, explosion, lightning, etc., under a single policy.

Loss of Rent and Alternative Accommodation

If you rent out your home, the policy will cover the rental income you lose if it becomes unfit to live in due to any covered risk.

If your rented home becomes uninhabitable, you may need to stay in another place temporarily. If the alternative accommodation costs more than your existing rent, the policy covers the difference.

Under the standard Bharat Griha Raksha plan, homeowners get coverage for their home building and household contents against various insured risks such as the following:

The policy provides protection against these risks for your home building and household contents as described below:

Home Building Coverage

Covers the physical structure of your residential building such as a flat, apartment, villa, or bungalow along with permanent fixtures and fittings. It also covers additional structures such as garages, outhouses, compound walls, etc., on site.

The coverage also includes certain reasonable expenses related to assessing damage and clearing the damaged site.

• Professional Fees Coverage: The Bharat Griha Raksha policy also covers up to 5% of the claim amount for the reasonable fees of architects, surveyors, and consulting engineers.

• Debris Removal Expenses: It also covers up to 2% of the claim amount for the reasonable cost of removing debris from the damaged site.

Home Content Coverage

The house insurance policy covers household articles and general contents used for personal purposes, including furniture, electrical and electronic appliances, kitchen equipment, clothing, and other belongings.

Please note: The inclusions are subject to certain conditions. Kindly refer to the policy document for complete details.

The policy covers various risks, but certain losses and situations are excluded from the coverage.

• Unauthorised Structure: The plan does not cover loss or damage arising from unauthorised construction or from demolition by government authorities.
• Electrical Damage: Any damage to electrical or electronic machines, appliances, or fixtures caused by short-circuiting, arcing, or similar issues is not covered.
• Repair or Renovation: Any kind of loss or damage to insured property caused by the repair or renovation activity is not covered.
• Intentional Act: Damage and loss to the property or its contents due to deliberate, wilful and intentional acts are not covered under the plan.
• War and Nuclear Risks: Any damage or loss to property due to war, invasion, foreign enemy hostilities, civil war, nuclear risks, etc are not covered.

Please note: These exclusions listed above are not exhaustive. Please refer to the policy document for the complete list of exclusions.

With the Bharat Griha Raksha policy, homeowners can include various add-ons in the plan for enhanced protection based on their needs.

• Valuable Content Cover: Under this optional add-on, you will get coverage for valuable items like jewellery, silverware, etc.
• Personal Accident Cover: In the unfortunate event of the death of the insured or spouse, the plan provides financial compensation of up to ₹5 lakh per person.
• Personal Liability Cover: If an insured peril caused injury, death or property damage to a third party, the add-on will cover compensation and legal expenses.
• Temporary Resettlement Expenses Cover: This add-on will cover the cost of relocating to a safe location, including the cost of packing, transportation and emergency purchases.
• Accidental Damage - General Content Cover: This add-on will cover accidental damage to general items in homes, except portable electrical and electronic devices.

Before buying a Bharat Griha Raksha policy, consider factors like coverage limits, add-ons, and more to make an informed decision.

• Understand Coverage Limit: Check the sum insured for both your residential building and household contents. Consider the cost of rebuilding your home and the value of your belongings while choosing a plan.
• Know Policy Inclusions and Exclusions: Carefully read the policy to understand what is covered and what is not. Being aware of the inclusions, exclusions and claim conditions can help avoid surprises when you file a claim.
• Check Add-on Availability: Review the add-ons available for homeowners who want enhanced coverage. Always review the available add-ons and choose ones that fit your needs.
• Choose the Right Policy Tenure: Selecting an appropriate tenure ensures continuous protection for your home and helps you avoid accidental lapses in coverage.

Buying a Bharat Griha Raksha policy online is easy. Here are the steps you need to follow:

• Step 1: Go to the TATA AIG Home Insurance page.
• Step 2: Fill out the personal details, such as whether you are a homeowner or tenant.
• Step 3: Enter the PIN code and mobile number, and click on the “Get Protection” option.
• Step 4: Add the amount you want to insure and the value of your household contents. You can also select the policy tenure.
• Step 5: Next, provide property details such as the carpet area, age of the property and property type.
• Step 6: Depending on your needs, you can choose “Only Structure” to cover your home or “Structure + Content” to cover both your home and household belongings.
• Step 7: Review the coverage details, compare the available options, and complete the purchase by paying the applicable premium.

For offline claim assistance, contact TATA AIG or visit the nearest branch.

When filing a claim under the Bharat Griha Raksha policy, you may be required to provide the following details:

• Your policy number.
• Your name and contact details.
• Information about the police complaint, if one was filed.
• Details of any report submitted to a relevant authority, if applicable.
• A description of the insured event that caused the loss or damage.
• A summary of the loss or damage suffered.
• Details of any other insurance policy covering your home building or household contents.
• Information about any loss or damage claimed under optional covers or add-ons, if applicable.
• Photographs of the damaged property or belongings, wherever possible, to support your claim.

Bharat Griha Raksha can help manage the financial impact of unexpected damage to your home or belongings. It can cover eligible repair or replacement expenses, subject to the policy terms and conditions.

Along with the Bharat Griha Raksha Policy, TATA AIG also offers other home insurance plans to suit different home protection needs. You can explore them and choose a plan based on the coverage you need.