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Tenants Insurance

Renters Insurance

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Contents Insurance for Tenants

What is tenants insurance?

Tenants, or renters insurance, is a form of home insurance designed for people who rent their homes. It doesn’t take care of the building you live in, as this is the landlord’s responsibility. But it does cover the belongings you keep inside the property. 

Having home contents insurance for tenants means personal possessions like your laptop, TV, and wardrobe can be replaced or repaired if they’re damaged, lost, or stolen. 

You can also personalise this insurance with additional coverage options. Examples of these include protections for personal items when they are outside your home, or tenants liability insurance, which protects you if you damage the home’s rented fixtures like the kitchen.

What insurance do tenants need?

Tenant insurance is not mandatory by law in the UK, but it’s highly recommended if you want to protect your belongings and avoid the cost of replacing your possessions alone. It’s always worth checking what insurance coverage you already have before taking out your own tenants contents insurance. For instance, if you are a student, your things could already be protected under your parent’s home insurance policy. Similarly, lodgers renting a room in someone else’s home could be protected depending on the homeowner’s insurance policy.  For more guidance, have a look at our detailed home insurance guides for students and lodgers.

Tenants contents insurance

Tenants contents insurance covers the cost of repairing or replacing your possessions when they are damaged or lost from risks like fire, theft, or water damage. 

Tenants liability insurance

This covers you if you cause accidental damage to your landlord’s property. For example, if you spill wine on the carpet, or damage kitchen fixtures.

What does tenants insurance cover?

Coverage and exclusions can vary depending on which insurer you choose. This is why it is always a good idea to compare quotes. However, most renters contents insurance will cover damage or loss to your possessions from the following:

What is covered

  • Fire damage
  • Water damage from burst pipes and leaks
  • Storm and weather damage or floods
  • Theft or burglary 
  • Vandalism
  • Alternative accommodation 
  • Tenants liability cover

What isn’t covered

  • Lack of maintenance or poor workmanship
  • General wear and tear or mechanical breakdown
  • Damage caused by pets
  • Homes that are left unoccupied for longer than specified by the policy 
  • Items that exceed the coverage limit for a single item
  • The fittings of the home, like the kitchen or bathroom
  • Possessions while they are outside the home

How much is tenants insurance in the UK?

The cost of home insurance for tenants will vary widely based on a few key factors. Here is what insurers will consider when setting your insurance costs. 

  • The type of home you are renting – Flats that are in a secured building with controlled access will be harder for thieves to rob than a terraced house. 
  • The value of your belongings -The higher the value of your contents, the more you could pay for tenants insurance. 
  • Where you are located – Certain areas come with higher risks like burglary and flooding.
  • Security features on your home – Extra security like CCTV or burglar alarms could get you cheaper premiums.
  • Your claims history – If you have claimed on a previous tenants insurance policy, this could indicate you as being a higher risk to insure.
  • The cover you choose – Extras like bike insurance or increasing your single item limits will often come at additional costs. 

How much contents cover do I need as a tenant?

The amount of contents cover you will need will depend on the total value of the personal possessions you want to insure. The average value of house contents in the UK is £43,040, but this could be vastly different if you live in a flat or a houseshare and only want to insure your own possessions.

Most contents insurance policies have a “single item limit,” usually around £1,500. This means if a particularly valuable item like a laptop or bike exceeds this, you might not be able to claim the full amount needed to replace them with the same item. However, you can avoid this by increasing this limit.

Compare cheap tenants insurance quotes

Comparing quotes online can be an effective way to save money on your insurance. It’s quick and easy with Quotezone. We let you compare quotes from up to 40 trusted UK home insurance companies with these few steps:

1. Complete our short quote form – Give a few details like where you live, the value of your belongings, and what cover you want.

2. Compare quotes – Review the cost and coverage details of your quote results, choosing the best option for your needs and budget.

3. Complete your purchase – Buy your chosen policy from insurers online or over the phone.

Tenants insurance FAQs

Why do tenants need contents insurance?

Contents insurance is essential for protecting your belongings from risks like theft, fire, and accidental damage while you are renting. While it’s not mandatory, it gives you peace of mind knowing your possessions are covered.

Whats the difference between renters insurance and contents insurance?

Renters insurance and tenants insurance are all types of contents insurance. They offer the same coverage as home contents insurance policies, with a few extras that are specific to the needs of renters. The main difference is that renters insurance usually comes with tenants liability cover which protects you from accidental damage caused to your landlord’s fixtures.

Does tenants insurance cover pet damage?

You may be able to get pet damage insurance for tenants as an add on. However, damage caused by pets is usually excluded from standard tenants insurance policies. To be sure this is included, always check the policy details before you buy.

Does contents insurance cover my bike?

Many contents insurance policies will cover bikes, However, this usually comes with limitations. Firstly, contents insurance will have a limit on how much you can claim for a single item. It can also exclude cover for when your bike is outside your home. So, if the value of your bike exceeds limits, or you want more comprehensive cover, you may want to consider taking out a stand alone bicycle insurance policy.

What is tenants liability insurance?

Tenant liability insurance covers you if you accidentally damage your landlord’s property or fixtures. An example of this would be if you break a window, or damage the carpets. In these cases, tenants liability insurance would cover the cost of repairs.

Can I get tenants insurance in shared accommodation?

Yes, you can get tenants insurance if you live in a shared house or student accommodation. However, the cover might be more limited, and will likely only cover your own belongings within a locked room. 

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