Personal possessions cover
Protects your personal belongings when you’re outside your home.
e.g. your phone, laptop, and bag is stolen while commuting, at work, or travelling
Contents insurance for tenants and renters
Protect your belongings with contents insurance.
Complete a purchase and earn a £15 reward with super save club logo
Do tenants need contents insurance?
Contents insurance is optional for tenants, but it is highly recommended, especially if you have valuable possessions or live in shared accommodation.
While your landlord’s insurance may cover the building itself, it does not protect your personal belongings in the event of fire, flood, theft, or accidental damage. Without contents insurance, you would be responsible for replacing your own items, which could be costly.
In short, having contents insurance as a tenant gives you peace of mind and financial protection for your belongings.
What will contents insurance cover in a rented property?
🚩 Different contents insurance policies will have different inclusions and exclusions. Always read your own policy documents carefully.
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Usually covered
Personal property (usually up to a per-item limit)
Listed high-value items
Burglary
Fire and storms
Flooding and water leaks
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Usually not covered
Wear and tear or faulty goods
Items stolen from your garden
Misplaced or lost items
Items used for business purposes
Theft with unforced entry
Undeclared items that exceed value limits
Items when you take them outside your home
Does my landlord’s buildings insurance cover my possessions?
No. Landlord buildings insurance only covers the structure of the property and any items owned by the landlord, not your personal belongings.
This means tenants should consider contents insurance to protect their own possessions.
Landlord insurance typically covers:
The building itself (walls, roof, floors)
Fixtures and fittings provided by the landlord, such as boilers or kitchen units
Repairs after damage from fire, flood, or storm
Landlord insurance does not cover:
Your electronics, clothing, or furniture
Personal items stored in shared or rented spaces
How much does contents insurance cost for rented properties?
What is the average annual cost of contents insurance?
£78
.03^
51% of MoneySuperMarket customers pay this amount or less.
What's the cheapest price I could pay for contents insurance?
£45
.90^
10% of MoneySuperMarket customers pay this amount or less.
Costs for flats and apartments:
Flat type | Average annual cost |
|---|---|
Purpose-built (self-contained) | £85.06^ |
Purpose-built (other) | £92.09^ |
Converted (self-contained) | £109.95^ |
Converted (other) | £110.82^ |
Costs for houses
House type | Average annual cost |
|---|---|
Semi-detached | £107.32^ |
Terraced | £111.36^ |
What extras can I add to my contents insurance?
Adding extra types of cover to your contents policy will increase your protection and tailor your cover to your lifestyle, whether you live in shared housing, travel frequently, or own valuable items.
-
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Accidental damage cover
Protects items in your home if they’re damaged by accident.
e.g. spilling coffee on a laptop or knocking over a TV
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Legal cover
This can help cover certain legal costs related to your tenancy.
e.g. disputes over your rental contract or tax issues
Our expert says…
According to a recent YouGov poll, only 39% of renters have contents insurance
Renters will naturally feel that standard contents insurance policies aren’t right for them, so it’s important to find cover specifically for people who are renting their property. It’s important to remember that your landlord’s buildings insurance usually only covers damage to the buildings itself and not your possessions – that includes any damage or loss of items as a result of fire, burglary or floods.
In the year ending September 2023, the Office for National Statistics revealed there had been 187,849 residential burglaries. And according to our own data, on previous claims that were declared by customers taking out home insurance with us, “Theft” accounted for 13.23%
^ of all claims declared. Finding the right contents insurance policy can help to ensure you’re financially compensated if your possessions are stolen or damaged.
David McDermottroe Insurance & Personal Finance Expert
Why should I compare contents insurance with MoneySuperMarket?
Comparing quotes from different insurers allows you to find the best deal out there.
We can do this work for you.
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^ , plus other rewards.
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How do I make a contents insurance claim?
If you need to make a claim on your contents insurance, follow these steps.
💡Top tip: Maintain copies of all communications and documents related to your claim.
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Contact insurer
Notify your insurance company as soon as possible after the incident.
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Provide evidence
Gather proof of the damage or loss, such as photos, receipts, or police reports (especially for theft).
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Complete claim form
Fill out any forms your insurer requires, giving full details of what happened and the items involved.
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Cooperate with any inspections
An assessor may need to inspect the damage or stolen items.
How can I get cheaper contents insurance?
Even though some factors affecting your home insurance premium are fixed, like your location, you can still lower the cost.
This can be done by making your home more secure, such as installing better locks or alarms. Choosing a higher excess can also reduce your premium.
How much contents cover will I need?
To calculate the amount of cover you'll need with your contents policy try to work out the cost of replacing your belongings if they were destroyed or stolen. Be as accurate as you can – especially with more expensive items – to ensure you're quoted for the level of cover you need.
Will my expensive belongings be covered?
Contents policies usually have single item limits, which is the maximum amount an insurer will pay out for an item. These are usually set at about £1,000.
To get cover for more valuable possessions, you must declare them on your insurance. Doing this will probably increase your premiums.
Alternatively, you can take out a separate policy to cover specific items. For example:
Will contents insurance cover my work equipment if I have a home office?
If you work from home, your contents insurance policy may extend to your work laptop or phone. However any more expensive equipment might require a separate business insurance policy.
Will contents insurance cover me if I'm in student accommodation?
It may do, although premiums might be higher if you live in student accommodation. Some providers also offer specialist policies for students.
Will contents insurance cover me if I live in a shared home?
Yes, it can do. Contents insurance policies that offer cover for people in shared house will generally cover your personal belongings but have certain cover limits to match your circumstances.
For example, they may require that your items be stored in your own bedroom and may not cover items that you share with your housemates.
How does MoneySuperMarket make money?
We get paid by the companies we work with, but the payment we get doesn’t have any bearing on the information we provide. We get paid in different ways, depending on the type of product or service you buy through us. Our goal is to search deals from as wide a range of companies as possible, but we only show results from our partner providers.
Our comparison service is, and will always be, free to use.
Why should I use a price comparison website?
One of the best ways to get the lowest prices and best deals is to compare quotes from different companies. We do the work for you, comparing quotes side-by-side and giving you all the information you need so you can choose the right deal for your needs and your wallet.
We don’t give recommendations or financial advice, but we give you clear information so you can choose financial products that suit your circumstances.
Does MoneySuperMarket work with all the providers on the market?
No, not every company can be included in our service. This is because some companies don’t want their products included on comparison sites, and some decide that they would rather not pay a fee. There are also a few smaller providers who can struggle to cope with the volume of customers that can find their products if they appear on MoneySuperMarket.
Our goal is to search deals from as wide a range of companies as possible so that you can choose the deal that suits you.
Is home insurance eligible for SuperSaveClub and rewards?
Yes, you can earn SuperSaveClub rewards when you buy home insurance through MoneySuperMarket.
This includes:
Up to £15, which you can withdraw as a pre-paid Mastercard or a gift card for brands like Sainsbury's and Amazon.co.uk
Free Days Out pass (worth £180), which gives free entry to a range of UK attractions
Cashback of up to 10% when you spend at brands including eBay, Just Eat and Argos
To earn SuperSaveClub rewards on purchases you must:
Sign up to SuperSaveClub (it's free)
Be signed in to your account when you make the purchase
More information can be found on our SuperSaveClub homepage.
Is home insurance eligible for Price Promise?
Yes, home insurance is included in our Super Save Price Promise.
If you buy through us then find the same deal for less we will:
refund the difference
give you a gift card worth up to £20
Terms and conditions apply. More information can be found on our Price Promise page.
Reviewed on 8 Dec 2025 by
The annual premium that 10% of our customers paid in October 2025 where the cover type purchased was contents insurance.
YouGov Survey 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025. Net Recommend score derived from “Which of the following online service websites would you recommend to a friend or colleague, or tell them to avoid?” Base: Current Customers of (MoneySuperMarket n=18,382, Compare the Market n=16,802, Go.Compare n=10,162, Confused.com n=8,229, Uswitch n=528).
Data based on enquiries made between September 2025 to November 2025 where the enquiry contained one or more claims.
SuperSaveClub restrictions and T&Cs apply. Click here for details.
Based on 1 visit per month – average ticket value £15.30 (Oct 24)
T&Cs and restrictions apply, see here for more information
Data based on the average premium of contents insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in October 2025.
Data based on the average premium of contents insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in October 2025.
Data based on the average premium of contents insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in October 2025.
Data based on the average premium of contents insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in October 2025.
Data based on the average premium of contents insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in October 2025.
Data based on the average premium of contents insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in October 2025.
T&Cs and restrictions apply, see here for more information
T&Cs apply, click here for more information
Accurate as of 08 December 2025.
51% of consumers could save up to £193.69 Consumer Intelligence , Buildings and Contents Oct 2025 Exc NI, CI, IOM
Data based on the median premium of contents insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in October 2025.