Use this guide if you have never had contents insurance, your renewal is due or you have just moved. Have a notepad or spreadsheet, a list of any expensive items and your current policy documents if you have one.
Step by step
Work out what you need to cover
Go room by room and estimate what it would cost to replace everything new, including clothes, furniture, electricals and kitchen items. Add up the total; most people underestimate it. Note single items worth a lot, such as jewellery, bikes or laptops.
Decide which extras you need
Consider accidental damage, cover for items taken outside the home and cover for bikes if you have one. If you rent, remember your landlord's buildings insurance does not cover your belongings. Only add extras you are likely to use.
Compare like for like
Use comparison sites and check insurers that are not listed on them. Compare the total cover, the limit for any single item, the excess and whether the policy is new for old. The cheapest price often comes with lower limits or a higher excess.
Read the key details
Read the policy summary for exclusions, such as damage caused by wear and tear or items left unattended. Check any conditions, such as locks that must be used. Ask the insurer if anything is unclear before you buy.
Answer questions honestly
Give accurate answers about your home, security, previous claims and who lives there. Wrong answers can lead to a claim being reduced or refused. Keep a copy of what you told the insurer.
Store proof and set a reminder
Save receipts, photos and serial numbers for valuable items somewhere safe, such as cloud storage. Put your renewal date in your calendar a few weeks early. Compare prices again at renewal rather than letting it roll over automatically.
Ready-to-use checklist
- Room-by-room replacement value estimated
- High-value items listed separately
- Extras chosen only if needed
- Single item limit checked
- Excess amount checked
- Exclusions and conditions read
- Receipts and photos stored safely
- Renewal date in your calendar
Practical tips
- Check whether your bank account, card or tenancy already includes some cover so you do not pay twice.
- If you live in shared housing, ask whether the policy covers a single room and whether your door needs its own lock.
- Paying annually is often cheaper than paying monthly, as monthly payments can include interest; check the total cost.
Common problems
Your claim has been reduced because you were underinsured.
Ask the insurer to explain in writing how it calculated the payout. If you disagree, complain to the insurer first, and if you are unhappy with the final response you can go to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Your renewal price has jumped.
Compare quotes from other insurers and ask your current insurer to explain the increase. Insurers are not allowed to charge existing customers more at renewal than they would charge a new customer for the same policy through the same channel.
You are not sure whether your landlord's insurance covers your things.
Assume it does not: buildings insurance normally covers the structure only. Ask your landlord in writing, and arrange your own contents cover in the meantime.
This guide gives general information, not personal legal, financial or medical advice. Rules and prices change, so check the current position with the official service before acting.
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