Renters' insurance basics: what you need, what to skip
A free 45-minute practical session for renters: what your landlord's policy does not cover, how to value your possessions, what sub-limits to watch for, and how to compare quotes for renters' contents insurance.
What this session covers
Designed specifically for renters — whether you are in your first flat or have rented for years — this 45-minute session explains what cover you actually need, what the common upsells are not worth paying for, and how to compare quotes accurately.
What a buildings policy covers, why it does not cover your belongings, and the financial gap this creates.
A room-by-room method for arriving at an accurate sum insured. See our contents valuation guide for the full method.
Understanding sub-limits for jewellery, bicycles, and electronics — and when you need to list items separately.
What to compare beyond the headline price — excess, new-for-old vs indemnity, away-from-home cover, and tenant's liability limits.
Event details
This session is general educational information only. It does not constitute personal insurance advice. Refer to your own policy documents and, if needed, a licensed insurance adviser.
Register your place (free)How to prepare
Read our renters' insurance explained guide and the renters' insurance news article before attending. If you already have cover, bring your policy schedule so you can check your sum insured and sub-limits against the session's guidance. If you are about to buy for the first time, review our guide to comparing quotes.
Renters' session FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- Yes, though it is more complicated. You can insure your own possessions in a shared house — the cover applies to your bedroom and any items stored communally that belong to you. However, most standard contents policies are written for a single household. Shared house policies exist, or you can take out an individual policy with a clear schedule of what is yours. Some insurers require each occupant to have their own policy. Check the policy wording on 'household' and 'single dwelling' definitions carefully.
- Tenant's liability covers accidental damage you cause to your landlord's fixtures and fittings — carpets, paintwork, appliances, furniture provided by the landlord. The standard minimum is around £5,000, though higher-value rentals may warrant more. Separate from this is personal liability, which covers you if someone is injured in your home. Limits of £1–2 million are standard for personal liability and typically cost very little extra. Both are usually included in a standard renters' policy. See our renters' insurance article for a full breakdown.
- Accidental damage cover pays for unintentional damage you cause to your own possessions — spilling coffee on a laptop, dropping a phone, or sitting on glasses. It is usually an optional add-on rather than a standard inclusion. Whether it is worth the extra premium depends on how much you own that could be accidentally damaged and whether the items exceed the excess. For electronics in particular, accidental damage cover is often a good investment. Check whether it applies inside the home only, or also to portable items taken outside.