One day it can be a friendly greeting over the fence, the next – a situation where you have to decide who will compensate for the damage to a car, terrace, or greenery.
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Karolina Emanuelė Karpova, Director of the Claims Department at BTA Insurance, points out that such situations do not necessarily arise from irresponsible behavior. Often it is simply the everyday reality of summer, where a single gust of wind, an unsecured object, or an ill-considered choice of barbecue location is enough. Therefore, the most important thing is not to fear relaxing in the yard, but to take care of a few simple things in advance and know when liability insurance included in home insurance can help.
“In summer, people spend more time outdoors, so the stories are very colorful. We have had a case where a strong wind lifted an inflatable pool and it hit a neighbor’s car. In another case, a firework launched during a celebration flew off course – it set the neighbor’s terrace on fire, and the damages amounted to tens of thousands of euros. Another story started with a very romantic evening. Candles on the terrace looked cozy, but an unexpected gust of wind ignited outdoor furniture, and the fire spread to the house facade,” says the BTA insurance representative.
According to her, trampolines perhaps most vividly reveal the specifics of summer damages – a common children’s entertainment that sometimes ends up far from where it was placed after a stronger wind.
“It seems like just children’s fun, but after every bigger storm, we receive reports about trampolines that ‘went visiting’ – landing on neighbors’ cars, roofs, or greenhouses. Such cases repeat almost every summer,” says K.E. Karpova.
Neighborly situations do not always start with the barbecue
Although more attention is paid to barbecues, bonfires, or yard parties during the warm season, BTA insurance claims management practice encounters much more diverse situations. Neighbors’ property can be damaged by children’s games, pets, unsecured garden items, or damage to greenery.
“We have had more than one situation where a conflict between neighbors started not because of a grill, but because of a pet. For example, a dog jumped over the fence and bit the neighbor’s dog, damaged outdoor furniture cushions, or trampled decorative plants. Often in summer, we also receive reports about greenery. For example, neighbor’s children break decorative bushes while playing, a cat or dog constantly urinates on a hedge or flower bed, causing plants to wither. At first glance, this may seem trivial, but mature decorative plants or rare bushes can cost several hundred or even several thousand euros,” says K.E. Karpova.
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When damage has already been done, it is important to keep a calm tone
If a neighbor’s property is damaged due to a person’s actions or property – a car, terrace, outdoor furniture, greenery, or other property – it is first important to document what happened. Photos, clear circumstances, and a conversation with the neighbor often help to understand the situation faster and avoid unnecessary tension.
“In such situations, the most important thing is not to look for who is to blame, but to document the circumstances as soon as possible and inform the insurer. If property is damaged – a car, terrace, outdoor furniture, greenery, or other property – it is first worth photographing the damage, gathering information about the circumstances of the incident, and contacting the neighbor who caused the damage,” she explains.
It is worth preparing even before a storm or celebration
As the Director of the Claims Department at BTA Insurance reminds, in summer it is worth relying on a simple rule: before a celebration or storm, take a moment to look at your yard from the neighbor’s perspective – is there anything that could fall over, fly away, catch fire, or run beyond the fence.
“Our practice shows that most of such damages in summer could be avoided by spending just a few minutes on prevention, securing yard items before a storm, using the grill responsibly, and supervising children and pets,” she says.
Summer is meant for rest and time in the yard, so safety should be cared for not out of fear, but for peace of mind. A few thoughtful actions before a celebration or changing weather help to handle unexpected situations more easily and maintain good relations with neighbors.
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