Does renters' insurance cover damage I accidentally cause to the flat?

It depends on whether you have added accidental damage cover. Basic contents policies typically cover your belongings against theft, fire, and flood — but not damage you cause to the property or its fittings. Some policies include accidental damage as standard; others offer it as a paid add-on. Check the insuring agreement section of your policy to see what events are covered.

What if I live in a shared house or flatshare?

Each tenant in a shared property typically needs their own policy, or a single joint policy that names all tenants. Some insurers will not cover shared houses at all; others offer specialist sharers' policies. Be accurate about who lives in the property — misrepresenting occupancy is a common reason claims are refused.

Is renters' insurance the same as buildings insurance?

No. Buildings insurance covers the structure of the property — walls, roof, floors, and fixed fittings. That is your landlord's responsibility and cost. Renters' or contents insurance covers your personal belongings: furniture, electronics, clothing, jewellery, and other possessions. The two types of cover are complementary, not overlapping. See our home and property insurance overview for the full picture.

How do I avoid being under-insured?

Under-insurance — having a sum insured lower than the replacement cost of your belongings — means you receive proportionally less if you claim. The fix is to add up the replacement cost (not second-hand value) of everything you own, room by room. Our free home contents inventory tool guides you through this process and gives you a reliable total to use when buying.

Home & property Essentials 7 min read Updated 2026-10-15

Renters' Insurance Explained

Renters' insurance (also called contents insurance for tenants) covers your personal belongings against theft, damage, and fire — not the building itself. This guide explains what it covers, what it doesn't, and how to work out how much you need.

What renters' insurance covers

A standard renters' or contents policy covers your personal belongings against a defined set of events — typically called "insured perils." These usually include:

Theft — including theft by a forced entry; some policies also cover theft without forced entry
Fire and smoke damage
Water damage from burst pipes or an escape of water from an appliance
Storm and flood damage to contents inside the property
Malicious damage by a third party

Many policies also include liability cover — protection if you accidentally injure someone or damage their property while in your rented home. This is worth checking: a visitor slipping in your flat can result in a significant compensation claim against you personally.

Some policies add accidental damage cover, either as standard or as a paid extra. This covers you for unintentional damage you cause yourself — for example, spilling wine on a laptop or dropping a television.

What it does not cover

Reading the exclusions section of a renters' policy matters more than in many other types, because several common assumptions turn out to be wrong. The most frequent gaps include:

Not covered (typically)

Accidental damage by you

Knocking over a monitor, dropping a phone — unless you have specifically added accidental damage cover.

Not covered (typically)

High-value single items

Jewellery, cameras, and bicycles above a sub-limit (often £1,000–£1,500 per item) must usually be listed separately.

Not covered (typically)

Wear and tear

Gradual deterioration of items is not an insured event. Insurance covers sudden, accidental loss only.

Not covered (typically)

The building itself

Damage to the walls, floors, and fixtures is the landlord's concern — covered by their buildings insurance.

For a full breakdown of exclusion types and how to interpret exclusion wording, see our guide to insurance exclusions.

How much cover do you need?

Your sum insured — the maximum the insurer will pay — must equal the total replacement cost of all your belongings. The critical word is replacement: not what you paid originally, not what you would get selling them second-hand, but what it would cost to buy them new today.

Most people significantly underestimate this figure. A typical furnished flat contains £15,000–£30,000 of belongings once electronics, clothing, furniture, kitchen equipment, and valuables are counted properly.

Use the free home contents inventory tool to walk through each room and arrive at an accurate total. Insuring for less than the true replacement cost — known as under-insurance — can lead the insurer to apply a proportional reduction to your claim payout, even for a partial loss.

Optional cover worth considering

Most renters' policies allow you to add the following extensions, usually for a small extra premium:

Personal possessions away from home — covers your belongings when you are out, useful if you regularly carry a laptop, phone, or camera
Bicycle cover — many policies exclude bicycles entirely unless specifically added; check the limit and the lock requirements
Accidental damage — extends cover to unintentional damage you cause, including to the landlord's furniture if your flat is furnished
Freezer food cover — pays out if a power cut spoils food in your freezer

For a general guide on how optional extras (called riders or endorsements) work within a policy, see the glossary.

Setting your deductible

Your deductible (also called an excess) is the amount you contribute to each claim. A higher deductible lowers your premium but means you pay more when you claim. For a renters' policy, a deductible of £100–£250 is common.

A practical rule: set your deductible at the level you could comfortably pay from your emergency fund without hardship. If your emergency fund is small, a lower deductible makes sense even if it costs slightly more in premium.

Renters' insurance FAQ

Frequently asked questions

: It depends on whether you have added accidental damage cover. Basic contents policies typically cover your belongings against theft, fire, and flood — but not damage you cause to the property or its fittings. Some policies include accidental damage as standard; others offer it as a paid add-on. Check the insuring agreement section of your policy to see what events are covered.
: Each tenant in a shared property typically needs their own policy, or a single joint policy that names all tenants. Some insurers will not cover shared houses at all; others offer specialist sharers' policies. Be accurate about who lives in the property — misrepresenting occupancy is a common reason claims are refused.
: No. Buildings insurance covers the structure of the property — walls, roof, floors, and fixed fittings. That is your landlord's responsibility and cost. Renters' or contents insurance covers your personal belongings: furniture, electronics, clothing, jewellery, and other possessions. The two types of cover are complementary, not overlapping. See our home and property insurance overview for the full picture.
: Under-insurance — having a sum insured lower than the replacement cost of your belongings — means you receive proportionally less if you claim. The fix is to add up the replacement cost (not second-hand value) of everything you own, room by room. Our free home contents inventory tool guides you through this process and gives you a reliable total to use when buying.