Contents insurance is there to protect your belongings against any damage caused by theft, fire or flooding in the home.
When it comes to knowing what's covered, it's good to imagine you're moving house. Any items that aren't permanently fixed to your property and can be taken with you are likely to be covered by contents insurance. That includes things like TVs, dishwashers, garden ornaments, items in your shed and garage, furniture, clothes, jewellery and even money inside the home.
Why do you need contents insurance?
If your belongings are lost or damaged because of fire, theft, storm, floods, or vandalism (among other things), you’ll be glad to have contents insurance.
Once you make a claim for the damages, your insurer will assess and settle your claim. This could include a cash payout so you can replace the items, or they may be replaced directly by the insurer.
You might be surprised by some of the things contents insurance will often cover, such as the food in your freezer, replacement locks if you lose your front door keys, and even items temporarily removed from the home.
Optional extras
Many contents insurance policies offer optional extras, such as:
- Accidental Damage cover
This offers cover against accidents like spilling paint on a new carpet or breaking a glass table.
- Personal Possessions
This covers items you might regularly take outside the home such as cameras, mobiles, watches and jewellery.
- Family Legal Protection
This covers any legal costs you might need when it comes to dealing with consumer, employment or property disputes, as well as claiming compensation for damages following an accident.
- Home Emergency Cover
Home Emergency cover provides help when you need it most, such as central heating failure, power failures and broken front-door locks.
Some insurance policies may come with these items included as standard. Others will let you add-on, and pay an additional sum for, the ones you need. So, you can tailor your policy to suit you.
What’s in your home?
Knowing exactly what you’ve got in your home will help make sure you get the right amount of contents insurance, as well as help if you ever need to make a claim.
It's useful to walk around your home and make a written list of everything you own. Remember to include all rooms, as well as cupboards, under the stairs, and the loft or garage.
It's also a good idea to take photos of each room. Not only will this help jog your memory, but in the event that you may need to make a claim, photographs can provide evidence of all the items in your home (as long as they're visible in the picture).
Make sure you take photos that show all aspects of the rooms, meaning you might need more than one picture per room. And remember to take good care of the photos, perhaps storing them online or keeping copies with a friend or relative. That means you'll still have a copy should the originals be destroyed by a fire or flood.
Single item limits
Remember to pay close attention to the cover limits on your contents insurance, particularly any single item limits. These are the maximum amounts your insurer will pay for each individual item, regardless of what it’s worth.
Some items, such as jewellery, may have a higher value than that listed on your cover. To make sure you have the cover you need, contact your insurer to get any specific, high-value items added to your policy. Our article how to protect your jewellery has more info.
Common exclusions
Many insurers also have a list of common exceptions, or things that you won’t be covered for, even if you have a policy with them.
These can include things like general wear and tear, damage caused by poor maintenance, or claims that occurred when your house was left unoccupied for a long period of time.
Exactly what is and isn’t covered will depend on your specific insurance policy, so always check the details before you buy and be sure you know what you’re paying for.
