Open Q&A: Home and contents cover
A free 60-minute open Q&A on home and contents insurance. Bring questions about buildings vs contents, flood and subsidence, high-value items, claims, and renewal. General information only — not personal financial advice.
How the session works
This is an open Q&A — there is no prepared presentation. Questions submitted in advance and asked live are answered in plain language by an insurance reviewer. The session is recorded and the summary is posted to this page afterwards.
Topics covered in previous home cover sessions include:
- Buildings vs contents — what falls under each
- Flood, subsidence, and escape of water
- High-value items and single-article limits
- What "accidental damage" does and does not mean
- Under-insurance and the average clause
- Challenging a claim settlement
Event details
General information only. Not personal financial or insurance advice. Always read your policy and consult a licensed adviser for your specific circumstances.
Register your place (free)Useful reading before the session
To make the most of the Q&A, familiarise yourself with:
- Exclusions explained — how exclusions are worded and why they matter
- Renters' insurance explained — if you are a tenant
- Rebuild costs and under-insurance — if you own your home
- Flood and storm cover — how the distinction affects claims
- Indemnity (glossary) — the principle behind most claim settlements
Home cover FAQ
Common home insurance questions
- No. Buildings insurance is the landlord's responsibility — it covers the structure of the property. As a tenant, you need contents insurance to protect your own belongings. Your landlord's policy does not cover your furniture, electronics, or clothing. Our renters' insurance guide explains exactly what a tenants' contents policy covers and how to work out how much cover you need.
- New-for-old cover replaces your belongings with equivalent new items at current retail prices, regardless of age. Indemnity cover deducts depreciation for wear and age — so a five-year-old television might pay out a fraction of its replacement cost. New-for-old cover costs more in premium but prevents significant shortfalls. Most standard contents policies in the UK offer new-for-old as a default; check your schedule to confirm.
- Standard contents policies typically impose a single-item limit — often £1,500 to £2,500 — and a total valuables limit. Items above the single-item limit must be listed and valued separately as 'specified items' or 'valuable items'. You should keep receipts, photographs, and professional valuations for jewellery, watches, art, and collectibles. Without evidence of value, a claim can be settled at a fraction of the true cost. Review specified items annually as values change.