Contents insurance

What is contents insurance?

Contents insurance covers the belongings inside your home. It covers your things against theft, loss and damage from fire, flood and storms.

There are 2 types of contents insurance:

• New-for-old: Some insurers replace the damaged item with a new one, while others offer a cash settlement.
• Indemnity/as-new: Indemnity policies only pay out what the items are worth at the time you claim, taking into account any wear and tear that reduces their value. These policies are usually less expensive.

You can buy contents insurance separately or with buildings insurance to form a combined home insurance policy.

What’s not covered by contents insurance?

Contents insurance doesn't cover the building itself. The structure of your home and any permanent fixtures are covered with a buildings insurance policy.

Other things that aren’t covered by most contents insurance policies include: 

• Wear and tear, such as faded curtains or worn fabric on a chair or sofa
• Theft where there's no signs of forced entry – for example, if you left a door unlocked or a window open
• Claims where poor maintenance was responsible for an incident
• High-value items over £1,000 in value if they aren’t listed individually on the policy
• White goods like washing machines breaking down, although they’re usually covered against theft

You should also tell your insurer if a lodger starts living with you, so you don’t risk invalidating your policy.

This list isn’t exhaustive, so check your policy details for all home insurance exclusions.

What optional extras are available?

You can add certain optional extras to your policy for an additional fee to increase your cover:

• Home emergency cover covers unexpected incidents, such as burst pipes or your boiler breaking down. To fully protect your boiler, you may need a standalone boiler insurance policy.
• Legal expenses cover or family protection cover covers costs and expenses in the event of certain legal disputes. Some policies include this as standard but it's best to check. Think about whether you need the additional cover before you buy it.
• Personal possessions cover protects your possessions against loss and theft while you're away from home. This can include things you carry with you every day, such as jewellery, watches, handbags, laptops and mobile phones.
• Accidental damage insurance covers damage caused by accidents, such as spilling something on your sofa, smashing a television or dropping an antique vase.

When you get a quote we'll show you details of the policies available to you, including whether these extras are included or if they cost extra.