Tenant's Contents insurance UK

Contents policies for people living in rented accomodation

If you are living in rented accomodation and wish to insure your contents, there are a few insurers that are still happy to provide cover.

What is Tenants contents insurance?

When you rent a furnished or unfurnished property, even if it is not for a long time, it will be in your best interests to take out tenant contents insurance.

Whether you have rented a fully furnished or unfurnished property, you will most probably be asked to pay a deposit, usually of one month’s rent, which is partly to secure the flat, and also to protect the landlord against damage to their property.

Should your property be fully furnished, you will not own the contents, but you will be responsible for certain types of damage to them. Should the furniture become the victim of wear and tear, the tenant may not be responsible. But damage that can be attributed to your irresponsibility, or that of any visitors, can be charged to you, and taken off your deposit.

An advantage of this is that since you can be held responsible for accidental damage to your landlords’ property, you can cover yourself for this as well.

The landlord actually will need to insure his/her contents as well, but you may want to cover the value of your deposit. Also, you may have some personal possessions in the furnished flat which you will want to cover.

In an unfurnished flat, then you are responsible for insuring your own contents. In addition, you can cover your personal possessions outside your rented flat by extending your policy to “all risks”.

You can cover yourself for household goods, personal effects, furniture, coins, stamps and other collections, along with other valuables. You could even have the option of covering the value of the frozen food in your deep freezer. Sometimes, you can be covered for money and anything else that belongs to or is the legal responsibility of you as a tenant. You can cover yourself against all of the usual standard perils. But ultimately, this kind of insurance is covering you for the value of your personal possessions along with the deposit you have paid.

Most policies will cover you for the cost or replacement locks due to keys that have been lost. You should also get alternative accommodation and any rent that is legally due. You should also find out if the contents will be replaced on a new for old basis.

Landlords need to be aware of their responsibilities here. They are completely responsible for getting buildings insurance, because they own the buildings, and they should also get contents insurance to cover their property in the flat. The deposit may not be enough to cover all of the possible damage that can occur when your property is rented out. This insurance, together of course with careful referencing of your tenants, could reduce the risks you take on significantly.

Often you will have to fill out the form as if you are looking for buildings insurance also, then exclude this option at the end. With some, you may have to get the quote for buldings and contents, then change your options and requote.Here we have listed insurers who will provide a quote for contents. Some set a minimumm value on the contents insured (usually around £10,000).
Endsleigh have a policy specifically for "renters" - their renter policy which has become very successful in the past few years .
Many of the brokers listed on this site also provide cover for rentees.

  If you are looking for the home insurance, it is worth looking around for the cheapest home insurance before you commit yourself. To get the best home insurance , shop around the different sites, and compare, as the cheapest home insurance quote can be had if you look around. For a cheap home insurance in the UK visit the list of best home insurance sites .