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What is contents insurance?
Contents insurance is one of the two main types of home insurance and covers the cost of replacing your household contents if they are damaged, destroyed or stolen. Home contents insurance can be bought separately or as part of a combined home insurance policy that also includes building insurance.
How do I get cheap contents insurance?
Compare and get cashback
A quick and easy way to find the best contents insurance policy is to shop around and compare quotes – you could also earn up to £28 cashback.
Pay annually
If you’re able to, paying for your contents insurance upfront each year will be cheaper than paying in monthly instalments. If you can’t afford to pay for your insurance in one go, it could be worth considering a zero-interest purchase credit card and spreading the cost interest-free over several months.
Improve your home’s security
Some home insurance providers factor in the security of your home when deciding prices. Simple steps such as installing deadlocks on your external doors and locks on accessible windows, as well as fitting a burglar alarm can help reduce the cost of your premiums.
Increase your voluntary excess
The excess is the amount you must pay towards the cost of any claim you make. By choosing to pay a higher voluntary excess, the cost of your premiums will be lower, but it’s important to make sure your excess would still be affordable.
Combine your contents insurance and buildings insurance
If you need to take out buildings insurance as well as contents cover, you may get a discount by combining them both on the same policy.
What does contents insurance cover?
Contents insurance covers everything you would take with you if you moved home, such as furniture, electrical goods, jewellery, and cash. It also usually includes carpets and can cover belongings in your garage or other outbuildings - though it pays to check your policy to be sure.
Most home insurance policies have limits on how much you can claim for each item, so you may need to list high-value items such as expensive gadgets, artwork or jewellery separately on your policy. Some insurers will also offer specialist high-value contents insurance for your valuables.
What does contents insurance not cover?
Contents insurance won’t typically cover you for the following:
- Wear and tear related damage
- Damage caused by pets
- Theft through unforced entry – eg if you left a window unlocked
- Lost possessions
- Faulty workmanship
Do I need contents insurance?
Home contents insurance isn’t a legal requirement but it’s a good idea to have cover in place. Contents insurance can be valuable whether you’re a homeowner or you’re renting and will ensure you won’t be left out of pocket in the event your belongings were damaged, destroyed or stolen.
If you’re a landlord, your tenants will be responsible for insuring their possessions, but you may want to take out a separate landlord contents insurance policy to protect kitchen appliances, any furniture in the home, carpets, curtains, and so on.
How do I work out how much contents cover I need?
To calculate how much your belongings are worth, go around each room in your home and add up the value of all your possessions. Make sure you factor in everything from high-value jewellery and gadgets, to clothes and carpets, to furniture and electrical goods. Keep in mind that your household insurance quote will partially be based on the value of your possessions so it’s important to be as accurate as possible and make sure you’re not underinsured.
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Contents insurance FAQs
Do I need additional contents insurance?
To make your contents insurance more comprehensive, you may want to consider paying a little extra to add the following to your policy:
- Accidental damage cover: if your policy does not include this as standard, accidental damage cover protects you if you accidentally spill paint on the carpet or break the TV, for example
- Home emergency cover: protecting you in the event of an emergency such as a burst pipe or boiler breakdown
- Legal cover: covering costs and expenses in the event of legal disputes
- Out of home cover: providing cover for items you take outside the home, such as your phone or laptop, if they are damaged or stolen
Does contents insurance cover bikes?
In most cases, bikes are not automatically covered under contents insurance and you’ll need to add them separately to your policy or look at bike insurance to ensure they are adequately protected. Depending on the value of your bike, you may need to list it as a high-value item and you’ll also need to specify whether you want to include cover away from the home.
What’s new-for-old home contents cover?
Most contents insurance policies offer new-for-old cover which means any items that are stolen or damaged will be replaced with brand-new items of equivalent value. Indemnity cover – or wear and tear cover – can be cheaper but will only cover you for the current value of your possessions and could be a false economy.
What is personal possessions cover?
Personal possessions cover protects portable items you would normally take with you when you leave the home. This could include your mobile phone, wallet or jewellery, for example. Some contents insurance policies will include personal possessions cover as standard, while others will require you to pay extra to bolt it on to your policy.In some cases, personal possessions cover will protect items you take abroad too, but this may be limited to certain countries only, so be sure to check.
What is a single item limit?
The single item limit is the maximum amount an insurer will pay out for any one item. It’s typically around £1,500 but can be higher or lower depending on the insurer. Any items worth more than this need to be named separately on your policy to ensure they are covered.
Can I get a no-claims bonus on contents insurance?
Yes, if you don’t claim on your insurance during the 12-month term of your policy, you will be able to build up a no-claims bonus just as you can with car insurance.