Do I need home insurance if I live in a council house?
Key takeaways
You do not need buildings insurance; the council is responsible for the property's structure
You are responsible for your own belongings, and can take out contents insurance to protect them from theft, loss, or accidental damage
If your personal items are damaged because of council negligence you might be able to claim on their insurance
Do I need home insurance as a council tenant?
Home insurance can be split into buildings insurance and contents insurance. If you live in a council home you won't need buildings insurance. But you should think about contents insurance.
As the council owns your home, they are responsible for putting things right if anything goes wrong with the property's structure, fixtures and fittings, such as escape of water from a leaking pipe or fallen roof tiles. One way they can cover the expense of this is by taking out buildings insurance.
Contents insurance covers your personal belongings inside the house, including furniture. It will pay out if your items are damaged, stolen or lost due to events such as a fire.
The council is not responsible for the contents insurance for your council house because they are not responsible for taking care of your belongings - you are. If you want to protect your possessions, you'll need to arrange and pay for your own contents insurance.
Buildings home insurance
Contents home insurance
What does council building insurance cover?
Building insurance only covers the council houses' structure, fixtures and fittings. This includes:
walls
the roof
fitted cabinets
baths, sinks and toilets
For example, if there is a storm that resulted in damage to your roof, it will be the council's responsibility to fix that. But the council will not be responsible for or expect to replace any damaged items inside your house from that storm.
For more details about the council’s responsibilities and yours, check your tenancy agreement.
Do I need contents insurance as a council tenant?
There's no legal requirement to take out contents insurance, but it can save you from financial difficulties if you are the victim of a burglary, fire, flood or other insurable event.
Like any decision about buying any kind of insurance policy, it depends on your individual circumstances. But it also depends on the value of your belongings. Start by working out the cost of your insurance premium compared with the potential financial burden of replacing or fixing your possessions if something unfortunate were to happen.
How much is contents insurance?
Cheapest price (per year) | Average price (per year) |
|---|---|
£45.79* | £80* |
The table shows the current average prices paid by MoneySuperMarket customers for contents insurance. Your own quotes may be higher or lower depending on your personal circumstances.
As well as where you live, the biggest factor affecting cost is what you insure. Most of us underestimate the value of our contents, so one tip is to walk through each room, totting everything up as you go.
Base your value on how much it would cost you to replace the item now, rather than how much you paid for it, and don’t miss out things like the value of your clothes. You may also want to add additional cover for certain expensive items such as a bike or high tech electrical items.
You can trim the cost of your contents insurance by opting for things like a higher voluntary excess, but remember the right policy for your circumstances isn’t always the cheapest possible policy.
Should I get my contents insurance from the council?
The council may offer or recommend a contents insurance product from a specialist provider. However, it may not be the cheapest or best option for you.
To check, compare quotes and policies from other providers. MoneySuperMarket can do the hard work for you, showing you multiple options in minutes.
Who pays if damage to my belongings is the council’s fault?
If any damage to your belongings inside your council home is not your fault – such as a contractor causing a leak that ruins your carpet – it could be the responsibility of the council and you may be able to make a claim on their insurance.
Different councils are likely to have different insurance policies in place to cover their work with other people or organisations, including tenants. For example, they may have public liability insurance, which pays out if the policyholder (the council) is responsible for damaging other people's property (such as their tenants).
Ask your council about their insurance policies and if possible, get a copy of any policies in place so you can see what is within their remit to provide cover for. Beware though, if your possessions have been damaged by circumstances out of the council’s control, such as flash flood, they will probably reject your claim.
What if the council doesn’t have buildings insurance?
Not all councils take out buildings insurance on their properties, but instead have a contingency fund to pay for damage.
Problems can arise if the damage is the tenants’ fault, such as fire damage caused by a candle. Because the repairs are not covered by insurance, the council may try and push some of the cost on to the tenant.
One option is to buy tenants liability insurance, which should cover the risk of the you accidentally damaging the council property. This is often included in standard contents insurance. Read your own policy documents to be sure.
What home insurance do I need if I buy my council house?
When you buy your council house, insurance will depend on whether you become a freeholder or a leaseholder.
If you are a leaseholder, the buildings insurance will usually continue to be arranged and included in your annual service charge from the council. But if you are a freeholder, you become responsible for paying the buildings insurance and any extra cover you may need.
Whether you are a freeholder or a leaseholder, contents insurance will always be your responsibly.
How can I find the best contents insurance for a council property?
Its always worth shopping around and comparing quotes before committing to a home contents insurance policy. The cheapest isn't always the best option though, and MoneySuperMarket can tailor your policy to your individual needs and requirements.
