Contents Insurance for Tenants

If you’re currently renting a property, you may be unsure what type of home insurance you actually need. Well, the good news is, there’s specially designed insurance cover just for you.

Here’s a quick look at contents insurance for tenants and what it covers.

As a tenant, you won’t have to worry about buildings insurance. Cover for the actual structure of your rental property is normally the responsibility of your landlord.

Your landlord should have a comprehensive landlord insurance policy in place to cover any damage that occurs to the building. Their landlord insurance may also cover any furniture and permanent fittings that are provided in a furnished rental.

Your own personal possessions, however, are your responsibility. To make sure they’re fully protected, you’ll need to have contents insurance for tenants in place.

This type of insurance is designed to cover the personal belongings you have in your rental property.

This can include any furniture that you own, televisions and more valuable items such as jewellery.

If any of your personal items are stolen from your rented property, or they’re damaged by flood or fire, your contents insurance could help you meet repair or replacement costs.

Always read through all the terms and conditions that apply and note any excess amounts that you’d have to pay in the event of a claim.

Tenants’ contents insurance may vary between different providers, so it’s important to check all the details of your chosen policy. Some items, like laptops and bikes, may not be automatically included in the cover – so may need some additional insurance. Equally, very expensive items may need to be specified on the policy and require additional cover. If in doubt, chat with your insurer directly.

Accidental damage cover is normally offered as an optional extra. If you add this to your contents insurance for tenants, you could help cover the cost of a mishap – like an accidental breakage or bad DIY project.