Our complete guide to contents insurance explains what is and isn’t covered by a policy, how it’s different for homeowners and renters, and the main differences between contents and buildings insurance.
Home contents insurance is a type of home insurance that protects you against loss, theft or accidental damage to your personal possessions. Depending on your policy, it can also cover these items when you’re away from home or on holiday.
You can get contents cover as part of your home or buildings insurance or set up a separate contents insurance policy. Your best option will usually depend on whether:
• You own your home.
• You’re looking for the best deal.
It’s a good idea to get contents insurance as soon as you have any personal belongings you want to protect.
Unlike buildings insurance, your mortgage provider won’t insist that you have contents insurance before giving you an offer. But many people decide to take out a contents policy at the same time as it’s often quicker and more convenient than dealing with it separately. Having both policies means you’re not just protecting the structure of your building, but also the precious items inside that make it your home.
While a ‘buildings only’ home insurance policy will cost less on its own, contents insurance is worth the additional cost. It helps cover the cost of replacing or repairing some of your most cherished items, if they get lost, stolen or damaged.
