Contents insurance

Unlimited contents insurance policies, also known as unlimited sum-insured policies, don’t typically impose a maximum limit on the amount you can claim for.

But while there might not be an overall limit, there may be a limit on the amount you can claim for a single item – even though this will be higher than a standard contents policy.

See more on unlimited home insurance.

Yes, contents insurance does protect you against theft. But you won’t be covered if something is stolen from your home because of unforced entry – for example, through an unlocked door or window.

To protect items that you tend to take with you when you’re out and about, like your phone or wallet, you’ll need personal possessions insurance.

Many contents policies will cover you for the cost of replacing locks if your keys are stolen or lost.

Contents insurance will cover your mobile phone, but normally only when it’s in your home. To cover it while you’re out and about, consider getting personal belongings cover.

Your home contents policy will usually cover bikes against theft while they’re stored at your property. You may need extra cover to insure them away from your home. If your bike is worth more than £350, let us know when you compare quotes. Depending on the provider, it may need to be listed separately under your policy as a high-risk item.

Find out more about bicycle insurance.

Some contents policies will cover garden furniture, for example, but you may need to add extra cover if you have expensive items like a patio heater or a hot tub. Find out more about insuring your garden.

If your garage is attached to you home, it may well be covered by a standard contents policy. If it’s separate structure, it might be classed as an outbuilding on your policy. If you have expensive tools and other items stored in your garage, you may need to extend your cover. Read our guide to garage insurance.

Read any policy carefully and watch out for any exclusions.

If you have a new for old contents insurance policy, any items that are lost or damaged will be replaced by your insurance provider based on their current market value. Even if the exact item is no longer available, you’ll be paid out enough to buy a brand-new item of the same value.

You’ll need contents insurance to cover the total worth of your belongings.

If you undervalue your contents, you’ll be underinsured. For example, if you value your contents at £20,000 but they’re actually worth £40,000, you'll be underinsured by 50%. If you were to make a claim, then your insurance provider is likely to pay only 50% of it.

If you overestimate how much your contes are worth, you’ll end up paying for more insurance than you need.

To estimate the value of your home contents accurately, go through your home, one room at a time, and add up the value of the contents inside. Don’t forget to include small, high-value items, such as jewellery, and remember to value older items at today’s replacement costs.

To help you work out how much your belongings are worth, we have a handy contents calculator you can use when you get a quote from us. 

Standard contents insurance generally covers your possessions inside your home. To protect personal items while you’re out and about, you’ll need to add personal possessions cover to your contents policy for an additional fee. 

Personal possessions insurance covers you for loss or damage to items you’d normally take with you when you’re out and about. This could include your handbag, mobile phone, jewellery and wallet or purse.

Some policies will also cover these items while you’re abroad, but cover is often limited to certain countries and for a set period of time. If you’re going overseas, it’s a good idea to check whether your possessions are covered by your travel insurance.   

Some home insurance policies include personal possessions cover as standard, while others offer it as an add-on for an extra charge.  
 
See more on possessions insurance cover outside of the home.

Most home and contents insurance policies will have a maximum limit that any single item can be worth before you need to specify it separately on the policy – this is known as the single-article limit. It’s often set at £1,500 but could be lower or higher depending on the provider.

High-risk items are valuable possessions that could be easily stolen from your home, for example, jewellery, electrical goods, antiques and collectables.

When you get a quote with us, you'll need to list any high-risk items valued at more than £1,500.

See more on the cover usually offered for high-risk items.

Most home contents insurance providers will let you update your policy to include new high-value items, such as an expensive TV or gadget. The best way to do this is by getting in touch with your provider.

In addition, some providers will increase your cover before and after special events, such as a wedding or Christmas. 

It’s a possibility, especially for high-value items. Some providers will stipulate in their policy documents that you need to provide a receipt or photo of any items that have been stolen or damaged before you can claim for them. Read our guide to providing proof of purchase on a contents insurance claim.

Your provider could cancel your policy as soon as a payment is missed. Generally, you’ll only be covered if you pay your premiums. Talk to your provider if you know you can’t make a payment as they may be able to offer some short-term help. 

You can earn no claim discounts on buildings insurance, contents insurance or combined policies.
 
If you don’t make any claims during the 12 months of the policy, then you can usually get a reduction on next year’s premium. If you don’t claim the following year, then you can build up your no-claims discount. Typically you can build up your discount over nine consecutive years.

See more on home insurance no-claims discount – how does it work?

Yes, you can get short-term home insurance. It’s usually used to cover unoccupied properties. Whether you’re intending to return to your home after a long trip away or you’re renovating a house before you move in, temporary contents insurance can protect your belongings while there’s no one living there.

See more on short term home insurance.