Why you need it
If any of your personal items are stolen or damaged, home contents insurance cover could
help pay for repair or replacement costs.
Many people underestimate the collective value of all the items in their home. Potentially,
this could be thousands of pounds. For example, if tragedy struck and your home was badly
damaged by fire, it would be extremely costly to replace all your personal possessions without
adequate insurance in place.
Obviously, some items will have sentimental value and will therefore be irreplaceable.
However, house contents insurance can help protect the financial value of the items in your home
and help make sure you’re not left out of pocket if the unexpected happens.
We'll help you to compare contents insurance quotes from a selection of providers to find the right
policy for all your possessions.
What does it cover?
Policies will vary between providers but typically, a standard home and contents insurance policy
will cover the following household items both inside and outside the home:
- Furniture (including antique items)
- Clothes
- Audio/Visual items
- Electrical items
- Kitchen items
A standard house and contents insurance policy may also give you some cover for valuable items
such as:
- Jewellery
- Gold and silver
- Coin and stamp collections
Be aware though, this probably won’t be unlimited cover and there may be a maximum level of cover
and a limit on the value of single items.
A house contents insurance policy can also give you cover for your bike, laptop, sports equipmemt,
mobile phone and I-pod – but you’ll probably need to add extra cover to the standard policy to include
these items. You might also need additional contents only insurance cover for particularly high value
items (e.g possessions over £2,000).
Handy hints
If you're thinking of buying contents insurance, it's important to make sure you get the right level of cover.
This will involve accurately assessing all the items in your home and establishing their collective value.
Over-insuring your possessions could result in you spending money on cover you don't need.
On the the flip side, under-insuring could leave your items vulnerable and unprotected.
Here are a few tips:
- Go through your house and make a detailed list of all the items you want covered by your home content insurance policy.
- Check what's automatically included in the cover and what's not. A standard household contents insurance policy will probably have a list of exclusions. You may have to specify and add some items to ensure they are fully covered.
- If you have contents that leave the house regularly - such as jewellery or portable music devices, make sure the policy covers them both inside and outside of the home.
- High-value items are not always automatically covered. Be aware that you may need to tell your provider about a particularly expensive item.
- Additional cover may be required for your bike and your laptop. Although sometimes it can be bundled in with your policy so it's worth checking.
- If you have a garden shed or outbuilding, check that you have insurance to cover the items kept in these outdoor areas. Garden equipment and BBQs can often be expensive items to replace.
- Don't forget about your insurance. Keep an eye on your policy and reassess the level of cover you need from time to time. You may need to adjust the level of cover with the addition of new possessions.
- If you're a student don't forget you will probably need student contents insurance to make sure your posessions are covered in your rented property.
Optional extras
Contents insurance is designed to cover the possessions inside your home.
Some of these options might be included in your policy, or may be available as an added extra:
New For Old Replacement Cover
For example, your TV is 10 years old. Yes it's dated and
not very stylish - but someone decides to steal it anyway.
You claim on your contents insurance and receive enough
to cover the cost of your old TV. If, however, you have
new-for-old cover, you'd be able to replace your TV with
an equivalent, new model at today's prices.
Personal Possessions Cover
This covers possessions taken outside of your home.
It can be useful for things that leave your property regularly
- like an engagement ring, mobile phone or laptop. Some insurers automatically include accidental damage cover
for these items, for example, a dropped camera whilst on holiday. Others will charge extra for this so it's worth checking.
Sports Equipment Cover
Some sporting equipment can be pricey - especially things like golf clubs or skiing attire. This equipment will often
need additional cover, check with your chosen provider.
It's unlikely that your home insurance policy will cover it
while it's in use, only when it is at your property.
Garden Cover
If you keep items in a garden shed or garage, they may
not automatically be covered by your contents insurance
policy. If you have expensive garden items like a BBQ and lawnmower, it's worth considering this add-on cover.
Accidental Damage Cover
This sometimes comes as standard, but may be offered a
s an add-on. This can help cover the cost of mishaps like
spillages or DIY disasters and is normally available for
both buildings and contents insurance. Make sure you
know exactly which eventualities would be covered by
your policy.
Freezer Cover
If you totted up the cost of all the food in your freezer,
the overall amount would probably surprise you. If your
freezer broke down and all this food became inedible,
this cover would help ensure a fully restocked freezer.