An attractive nuisance is anything on your property that someone, usually a minor, might see as fun, but that can also cause serious injuries. Depending on the laws in your area, you can be held responsible for those injuries – sometimes even if the person injured was trespassing on your property.
The increased risk that attractive nuisances bring makes understanding what they are an important part of protecting your home and the individuals who come on your property.
Examples of attractive nuisances
Attractive nuisances take many forms. Because each represents different risks to you and your neighbors, they can also have different impacts on your home insurance. Below are just a few of the most common types of attractive nuisances.
Swimming pool
More lighting and a sturdy fence could make this pool safer.
Swimming pools and hot tubs are some of the biggest concerns for homeowners and insurance companies. According to the Center of Disease Control (CDC), the US sees nearly 4,000 fatal drowning every year. Fatal drownings aren’t the only worry, either. A person can hit their head on a diving board or fall off a slide. This is why many insurance companies require fences and gates around pools.
Trampoline
A fence can help keep people away from your trampoline when you can't supervise.
Jumping on a trampoline is a ton of fun, but it can also be risky. The Consumer Protection Safety Commission reports that roughly 100,000 trampoline-related injuries occur each year. With so many risks, it's little wonder that owning a trampoline can affect your home insurance.
Tree house
Tree houses can be just as much fun lower to the ground.
Tree houses are often ten to fifteen feet in the air, which increases the chance that a fall will cause a serious injury. The risk for injury increases if the ground below has a hard surface. Moreover, tree houses are rarely built to any sort of building code standards, so there’s seldom any weight limit. If a group of kids flock to a tree house, there’s no telling at what point the structure may collapse.
Playground equipment
Grass makes for a soft landing, but a rubber surface may be even better.
Data from the CDC, shared by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, shows that more than 200,000 children under the age of 14 visit emergency rooms for playground-related injuries, so you always need to make sure children at your home are playing on playground equipment safely. Even under the best of circumstances, kids can fall or get hurt on playground equipment. You can also reduce the likelihood of injury if you have a soft surface under your equipment.
Fish ponds
The water in a koi pond can be just as attractive as a swimming pool.
People can drown in just a few inches of water, so something that seems relatively safe, like a fish pond, can actually present a real risk. A child might lean over to see the fish, fall in, and hit their head. Like swimming pools, it’s best to keep fish ponds behind fencing and enclosed areas to limit access to it.
Construction equipment and power tools
Children can find power tools fascinating.
You might not think of a construction area as attractive at all, children love exploring them and playing with any tools left lying around. If you’re in the middle of a project, make sure you put away your tools and unplug power tools even if you’re only stepping away for a moment. You don’t want a child to get their hands on a plugged in nail gun.
Weapons
Weapons should always be locked away from children.
Children are curious about weapons, especially guns. Most will pick up a gun or other weapon if they have the chance, and it takes just one unfortunate day for disaster to strike. Any weapons in your house should be under lock and key. If you have a gun, keep it unloaded and store the ammunition in a separate location. Display guns need to be unloaded and secured to the wall.
Attractive nuisances and homeowners insurance
Homeowners insurance doesn’t change the risk of any attractive nuisance, but it can reduce your financial exposure. The protection is found in your personal liability coverage that helps to pay costs if you’re found responsible for someone else’s property damage or physical injury.
Most policies have at least $100,000 in personal liability coverage. However, you may want more if you have an attractive nuisance on your property. Increasing your liability coverage usually doesn’t cause a substantial increase in your premiums, and the additional protection is often well worth the extra cost.
You may also want to check with your insurer before you add a feature that might be considered an attractive nuisance. You’re better off finding out if your policy covers your new pool before you install it.
Does home insurance cover damage to an attractive nuisance?
Not every insurance company insures every attractive nuisance. Those that do, may impose safety restrictions before they’ll insure it. This might include putting a gate around your pool and removing the diving board or buying a certain type of gun safe. An underwriter may actually come out to check that you’re following these safety restrictions.
How to reduce the risk of attractive nuisances
There are many ways to reduce the risk represented by attractive nuisances. Some of the most common include:
-
Building fences or gates that restrict access to the nuisance.
-
Locking up or securing movable nuisances like equipment or tools.
-
Covering nuisances when they aren’t in use, so they’re more difficult for others to use without your permission.
-
Storing dangerous items like weapons in locked cases or safes so they can’t be accessed.
-
Draining pools and fish ponds during off-seasons or if they aren’t going to be used for extended periods.
-
Ensuring your insurance carrier is aware of all attractive nuisances and any changes in their condition or location so your adequately covered.
Adding an attractive nuisance may mean you need to update your insurance policy, so be sure to get in touch with your insurer ASAP. You don't want to wait until you have a claim to find out if your coverage has been impacted.