Contents insurance covers belongings in your home, such as furniture, clothes, appliances, and electronics, if they are stolen or damaged.
Contents insurance is cover for the things you keep inside your home. This can include furniture, clothes, bedding, kitchen items, appliances, and electronics. It is different from buildings insurance, which covers the structure of the home.
A simple way to think about it is this: if you could take it with you when you move, it is likely to be classed as contents. If it forms part of the building, it is more likely to be buildings cover.
Contents insurance can help pay to repair or replace your belongings if they are stolen or damaged by events such as fire, flood, storm, or theft. The exact cover depends on the insurer and the policy wording.
You can buy contents insurance on its own. You can also buy it as part of a wider home insurance policy.
A contents policy may cover everyday household items, such as:
Some policies also include extras such as freezer contents, replacement keys, or cover for items in the garden. These are not always included, so it is important to check the policy wording before you buy.
Many contents policies are offered on a “new for old” basis. This means the insurer may replace a lost or damaged item with a new one of a similar type. Some policies may only pay the item’s current value, so you should check how the insurer would settle a claim. Citizens Advice explains that most policies offer new-for-old cover, but not all do.
Contents insurance does not cover everything. Common limits and exclusions can include:
Accidental damage is often optional, so you should not assume it is included. MoneyHelper notes that accidental damage cover is usually an extra, not standard cover.
If you take valuable items outside your home, you may need personal possessions cover. This can help cover items such as phones, jewellery, cameras, or laptops while you are away from home, depending on the policy.
Most contents policies have a single-item limit. This is the most the insurer will usually pay for one item unless it has been listed separately.
If you own jewellery, watches, art, antiques, musical instruments, or expensive electronics, check whether any item is above the policy limit. A high-value item may need to be named on the policy.
You may also need proof of value, such as receipts, valuations, or photos. Citizens Advice explains that insurers may set an upper limit for a single item and may ask you to pay extra for valuable possessions.
When you take out contents insurance, you may be asked to estimate the total value of your belongings. This is known as the contents sum insured.
Try to include everything you would need to replace after a major loss. It is easy to miss items such as clothes, children’s toys, bedding, kitchenware, tools, and small electronics.
If the total value is too low, you could be underinsured. This may reduce the amount paid if you claim. Some insurers may apply an average clause, which means the payout could be reduced in line with the level of underinsurance.
Before buying cover, check:
Take reasonable care to answer the insurer’s questions accurately. These may cover high-value items, business equipment kept at home, previous claims or long periods when the home will be empty. Tell the insurer about later changes if your policy requires you to. This reflects the duty in the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012.
At Got You Covered, we arrange home insurance for a range of needs. This can include homes with flood risk, unoccupied homes, listed buildings, let homes, and other non-standard cases.
We can help you look at contents insurance as part of your wider home cover. We can also help explain limits, exclusions, excesses, and optional extras, so you can decide what may suit your needs.
Cover, price, acceptance, and claims decisions depend on the insurer, the property, your details, and the policy terms. We arrange insurance through insurers and do not underwrite every policy ourselves.
Contents insurance covers belongings in your home, such as furniture, clothes, appliances, and electronics. It may help if they are stolen or damaged by events such as fire, flood, storm, or theft.
You should check the policy limits, exclusions, excess, and optional extras. This is especially important if you own high-value items or want cover for belongings outside your home.
