Which home contents insurance

Others add extra exclusions, especially if bedrooms don't have their own locks. Always be upfront about your living arrangements with insurers. Some insurers ask for them when you buy a policy, others might ask for them if you make a claim. Home contents insurance policies last one year. If you own the flat you may be responsible for arranging buildings insurance too.

Specially designed to cover the sort of items students own like gadgets, books, clothes and bicycles. Theft, damage and mechanical breakdown cover for expensive gadgets like laptops, cameras, tablets and more.

Specialist valuables cover will insure them for their full value. Extensive cover for mobile phones and accessories. Will cover loss, theft, accidental damage and mechanical breakdown. Financial Conduct Authority. Start a quote. Home Home insurance Contents insurance. What does contents insurance cover? Cover may vary, but many contents insurance policies include cover for:.

Furniture Items such as sofas, beds, cabinets, tables and chairs. Kitchen appliances Kitchen appliances like washing machines and fridge freezers are covered for damage, theft or loss.

Alternative accommodation Covers the cost of temporary accommodation if your home becomes uninhabitable. Business equipment Covers home office equipment like computers and printers. Freezer contents If your fridge or freezer breaks down, the costs of replacing the contents inside are covered.

Digital information Limited cover for the replacement of digital information following loss or damage to laptops or phones. Get quotes.

How much is contents insurance? How to get cheaper quotes for contents insurance There are always things you can do to keep your premiums down:. Why compare quotes with us? Get multiple quotes We look for quotes from over 65 UK home insurance providers [4]. Quick and easy Find quotes in minutes with a single, simple search. Insurers on our panel 68 UK insurers on our panel, helping you find affordable contents cover [4].

Contents insurance FAQs. What risks does contents insurance cover? Most policies include cover for damage or loss by: Fire Flooding or storms Theft Explosion or lightning Water escaping from burst pipes Vandalism Subsidence or heave Falling trees or branches You should always check your policy's terms and conditions. Looking for something else? However, most contents policies will not cover contents that are damaged or destroyed due to:.

Most insurers also provide the following optional extensions:. Insurers take into account a variety of factors when calculating a contents insurance premium such as:. You do not have JavaScript enabled. You may need to list separately specified items such as jewellery, laptop computers and bikes that may be more likely to be damaged or stolen. Legal expenses cover — Usually gives you access to legal advice, and covers the legal costs of claiming compensation following an accident that was not your fault, as well as the cost of taking or defending other specified legal actions, such as employment or neighbour disputes Home emergency assistance — This covers the cost of calling a tradesman out to deal with an emergency, such as a broken boiler.

It will cover the repairs and labour and may include overnight accommodation if you cannot stay in your home as a result. If you have items that exceed the limits, you need to list them separately with your insurer. If you don't, you won't be able to claim any higher than the standard sub-limit, regardless of how much your valuables are worth. If the worst happens and you have to rebuild from scratch, there can be all sorts of costs on top of simply rebuilding.

To name a few:. Check if these expenses are included in your sum insured amount or if they're covered on top of your sum insured amount. If you have building cover, check to see whether these are paid from the sum insured amount or are covered separately.

During times of disaster, building services and temporary accommodation may be in short supply and prices will go up. If you live in an area that's prone to natural disaster such as flood or bushfire, consider buying a policy with a safety net or total replacement protection. Before you buy or build a home, get a few quotes from insurers. Premiums may be unaffordable for flood-prone areas. Check with your local council to see if flood maps are available. Many insurance policies now include flood cover as default, regardless of where you live.

Some insurers still include it as an optional extra, while a few insurers let you opt out, although this is usually at their discretion. If you live on top of a hill you might gripe about having to pay for cover you don't need, but if your risk is low then flood cover will make up a negligible percentage of your premium.

Flood is the only insured event that has a standard, industry-wide definition: "the covering of normally dry land by water that has escaped or been released from the normal confines of any lake, river, creek or other natural watercourse, whether or not altered or modified, or any reservoir, canal, or dam". It's unlikely. Most insurers exclude 'actions of the sea', which are a range of events that include:.

This is only relevant if you live right next to the ocean. But if you are, it's essential to know precisely in what circumstances your insurer will cover you. There's a lot of variation between products, so it's worth looking at the detail. A storm surge is when there's an increase in the sea level because of a storm.

In some cases, you'll be covered for a storm surge, but there may be restrictions. For example, some insurers will only offer cover for storm surge if your property is also damaged by a flood, or if the surge is caused by a cyclone.

Always check if your insurer has a specific definition for a storm surge. For example, Westpac includes this under flood cover, but defines it as an increase in the sea level "caused by a cyclone" — but not any other sort of intense storm. Don't let yourself get put in the position where the insurer can wriggle out of covering you because of their definitions. If you leave your stuff outside — that is, in the open air — and it gets stolen or damaged in an insured event, most policies will offer you some level of cover.

There are usually restrictions — insurers don't want you to leave your electronics, cash and jewellery out in the front yard, so these are excluded. And most policies will only insure you up to a certain percentage of your total sum insured. But before you sign up, check what your insurer's definition for open air is. While many define it as anywhere on your property that's exposed to the elements, some may also include non-lockable structures, like a garden shed.

Some policies don't include full coverage, but give you the option to buy extra cover for an additional amount. Top tier policies tend to include these features as standard. The most common additional covers include:. Some policies give you the option to include cover for extras, such as vet bills if your pet is accidentally injured. If you don't understand a certain word or term in your policy's product disclosure statement PDS , ask the insurer for clarification, or check our jargon-busting glossary below.

Accidental breakage: This typically applies to glass and ceramics only. For full accident cover, you'll need an accidental damage policy. Accidental damage: Put your foot through the roof? Kids repainted the lounge room in permanent marker? You'll need accidental damage cover. Don't confuse accidental damage with accidental breakage.

Most insurers clearly separate the two terms, but some indicate they have accidental damage cover and then go on to say it only covers restricted items like some types of glass.

Contents in transit: This cover typically applies when moving house you'll need to inform your insurer of this too. Cover varies and conditions and sub-limits typically apply. For example, many insurers will only cover contents if the vehicle moving them is damaged in a collision or fire and not accidental breakage, chips or scratches. Contents in open air: This cover is to protect contents typically left outside, like outdoor furniture, but depending on your policy can also include 'inside' items.