Do I need home insurance if I live in a council house?

Key takeaways

• You do not need buildings insurance if you live in a council house, as 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?

As a council tenant, you usually don’t need buildings insurance because the council is responsible for the property’s structure, fixtures and fittings. But you should consider contents insurance to protect your own belongings.

What does council buildings insurance cover? 

The council’s buildings insurance or repairs fund usually covers the structure of your home, along with fixtures and fittings such as walls, roofs, fitted cabinets, baths, sinks and toilets. For example, if a storm damages your roof, it will be the council's responsibility to fix that - but it 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, you should 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 a financial headache if you're the victim of a burglary, fire, flood or another insurable event.

As with any 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 cost of replacing or fixing your possessions if something unfortunate were to happen.

How much is contents insurance?

The cost of contents insurance for a council home can depend on whether your property is furnished or unfurnished, how much cover you need, and any optional extras you add to your policy.

As well as where you live, the biggest factor affecting cost is what you insure - it's easy to underestimate the value of your belongings, so it might be worth walking through each room and 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 extra 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?

Your council may offer or recommend a contents insurance scheme, but you don’t have to choose it. It’s worth comparing other contents insurance policies to see which option gives you the right level of cover at a price that works for you. 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 a 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 you accidentally damaging the council property. This is often included in standard contents insurance, but you should check 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 responsibility.

How can I find the best contents insurance for a council property? 

It's 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.