Contents insurance
Cover for your belongings: furniture, electronics, clothes, jewellery and valuables. Theft, fire, flood and accidental damage. Optional but almost always sensible.
Contents insurance covers everything inside your home that is not part of the building. Furniture, white goods, electronics, clothing, jewellery, art, books, instruments, even food in the freezer. Standard policies cover loss or damage from theft, fire, flood, escape of water, storm and (with the optional extension) accidental damage. We arrange standalone contents cover or, more commonly, contents combined with buildings cover on a single policy.
Who this is for
- You are a leaseholder; the freeholder arranges buildings cover and you need contents only.
- You are setting up your first home and need cover from move-in day.
- You have valuables (jewellery, watches, cycles, instruments, art) that need to be specified.
- Your existing contents policy is older than your current household and may be under-insured.
What contents insurance covers
Standard contents cover protects everything inside the home that is not fixed to the structure. That includes furniture, white goods, electronics, clothes, books, kitchenware, food, and personal possessions. Cover applies to loss or damage from theft, fire, flood, escape of water, storm, malicious damage and impact. The optional accidental damage extension adds cover for everyday accidents (red wine on the carpet, a TV pushed off the stand).
Sum insured
For most homes a single sum insured of £30,000 to £75,000 covers contents adequately. Walking through the home and adding it up usually surprises people: a typical three-bed family home can easily exceed £50,000 once you add electronics, furniture, kitchen appliances, clothes, bicycles, kitchenware and books. Insuring too low risks "average" on partial-loss claims; insuring too high simply wastes premium.
High-value single items
Most policies have a "single article limit" (typically £1,500 to £2,500). Anything above that needs to be specified individually on the schedule, with a recent valuation or proof of purchase. Engagement rings, watches, art, instruments, cycles over £1,500 and high-end electronics all need to be listed if you want them paid out at full value.
Cover away from the home
Standard contents cover applies inside the home only. If you take items out (jewellery worn, cycles ridden, laptops carried), you need the personal possessions extension. Some policies add UK cover only; others add worldwide. We choose the right one for your habits at outset.
Cycles, accidental damage and add-ons
For households with valuable cycles, we usually recommend cycle-specific cover (most policies cap cycle cover under standard contents). Accidental damage is a worthwhile add-on for households with young children. Tenants liability cover, if you rent, can protect against damage to the landlord's fixtures. Each costs a few pounds a month and we recommend only the ones that earn their place.
Excess and claims
The voluntary excess sits on top of any compulsory excess from the insurer. Higher voluntary excesses lower the premium but increase your out-of-pocket on a claim. Most households sit at £100 to £250 voluntary; raising it to £500 or more cuts premium meaningfully if you have the cash buffer.
How Major Money Matters helps
Specific things we do for this product. No generic platitudes.
Right sum insured at outset
We walk through a contents inventory with you so the sum insured matches actual contents value, not a back-of-envelope guess.
Specify high-value items
Jewellery, watches, art, instruments and cycles listed individually with proper cover-away-from-home wording where you need it.
Trim add-ons that do not earn their place
Accidental damage, legal expenses, home emergency. We tell you which are useful for your household and which are insurer fluff.
Combine with buildings where appropriate
For freehold owners, combined buildings and contents on a single policy is usually cheaper than two policies. For leaseholders we set up contents standalone.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need contents insurance if I am a leaseholder?
The freeholder usually arranges (and bills you for) the buildings cover, but contents are your responsibility. Replacing a flat's contents after a fire or major water leak typically costs £20,000 to £60,000.
How much contents cover do I need?
For most three-bed family homes, £40,000 to £75,000 is the right range. Walk through each room and add up: it is usually more than people expect, particularly when you include kitchen appliances, electronics, clothes and bicycles.
What is the single article limit?
The maximum the policy will pay on any one item without it being specified on the schedule. Typical limits are £1,500 to £2,500. Anything above must be listed individually with proof of value.
Will my contents be covered when I take them out of the house?
Only with the personal possessions extension. Most standard policies cover items inside the home only. Jewellery worn out, cycles ridden, laptops carried, all need the extension.
How does contents insurance handle theft?
Theft from inside the home is covered, with no excess on most policies. Theft from outbuildings, sheds, or while items are away from the home is usually subject to lower limits or specific extensions.
Can I have buildings and contents on the same policy?
Yes, and for freehold owners it is usually cheaper than two separate policies. We arrange combined cover by default, except for leaseholders who only need contents.
Related
Other protection products that often pair with this one.
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Lender-required cover for the fabric of your home. We rebuild-cost it properly and check the schedule satisfies your lender.
Read moreHome insurance
Buildings cover (lender required) and contents cover. We check the schedule satisfies your lender, before completion.
Read moreMortgage protection
The umbrella for cover that protects the mortgage: life, critical illness, income protection, or a mix. We size the package to your household.
Read moreWhat our clients say
Real reviews from clients across Romford and Essex, verified on Google.
Rated 5.0 out of 5 from 92 Google reviews Read the reviews on Google
Get contents cover that actually pays out
A quick 15-minute call to walk through the inventory, list the valuables and pick the right add-ons. Quote turned around quickly for most cases.
We aim to return your call as quickly as we can. Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm, weekend appointments on request.