Housing Insurance
Contents Insurance
Let’s protect what makes your place a home
You have a home full of things that you need and love – clothes, TV, kitchen appliances, keepsakes, furniture, and gadgets. Surely, if stuff’s worth owning, then it’s worth protecting.
As your landlord, we insure the building and anything we provide, but we don’t cover your home’s contents and belongings. Ask yourself, would you need help with the cost of putting things right after a kitchen fire, a washing machine flood, or a break in? It could get pretty pricey. But don’t worry – tenants contents insurance financially protects your home’s contents.
A thumbs-up from us
It’s good to know you’re choosing contents insurance that’s been given our thumbs-up. We’ve worked with our insurance provider, RSA, to make sure the cover, price, and service could be suited to your needs. Over 25,000 tenants just like you have chosen them for their tenants contents insurance*.
*Number of customers with an active tenants contents insurance policy – April 2023.
Ready to find out more?
If tenants contents insurance sounds like a good idea, you can find out more and apply today.
Call 0345 671 8172 if you have any questions or would like to apply by phone, or download an application form here.
This is a monthly policy, so you’re only committing to a contract each month when you pay for it to renew. Your price and cover will stay the same each month, unless you want to change it.
On a set date each year there is a review of your policy terms, conditions and price, which may mean they will change. RSA will send you everything you need to know about this. So you can decide if you want to continue with the policy or not.
What you need to know about RSA’s tenants contents insurance
- Tenants contents insurance financially protects the contents in your home, garage, and shed.
- Cover includes improvements you make to your home, such as new laminate flooring or a fitted kitchen.
- You can pay weekly, fortnightly, monthly, or in one upfront payment until your yearly review date – whatever suits you best.
- No nasty surprises - no excess on claims and no fees for changing your details or cancelling your policy.
- You don’t have to have special door or window locks – as long as your external doors lock, it’s fine.
- You can upgrade your cover to protect all your home’s contents against accidental damage.
- You have the option to protect your belongings whilst away from your home, and if you have them, you can also cover your bicycles, hearing aids, and wheelchair/mobility scooter(s) whilst away from your home.
- More than 25,000 tenants have already chosen RSA’s tenants contents insurance*, so they understand what you need from them.
*Number of customers with an active tenants contents insurance policy – April 2023.
- RSA will be there for you, if you ever need to make a claim and will put things right as quickly as they can.
- In the last three years, RSA has paid more than 3,700 claims with a value of £2.5 million**.
**RSA claims data January 2020 – Dec 2022.
For tenants contents insurance policies purchased/renewed on or after 01/01/2025 - you can download your important policy information; Policy wording, Insurance Product Information document, Essential Insurance Document.
If you purchased or renewed your contents insurance policy before 01/01/2025, the above documents do not apply to you. Please refer to the policy documents sent to you in the post.
If you need new copies or you have any questions please call 0345 671 8172.
Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Ltd (No. 93792). Registered in England and Wales at St. Mark’s Court, Chart Way, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1XL. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (Registration No. 202323).
The buildings insurance states that it covers "landlord's fixtures". What essentially does this cover?
The fixtures and fittings which are integrated into the premises, such as doors and light fittings and sanitary ware which would not ordinarily be removed upon vacating the premises.
What are the principal elements that a tenant or leaseholder is responsible for, and would be advised to take out their own insurance to cover?
Residents may choose to take out home contents insurance that includes floor covering.
How does the cover provided under the landlord's Buildings Insurance policy change if I were to refit my flat to a higher standard than original, or introduce new fitted elements such as built in dishwasher, a new built in cupboard? Will the Buildings Insurance policy cover the full cost of reinstatement after a loss?
Tenant's improvements are included in the cover, where the fixture or fitting is a permanent feature. The cover provided does not change but if the improvement results in a significant increase in value, you should advise the Insurance Team, via your House Officer. The policy covers the full cost of reinstatement after a loss.
A pipe busts in my flat, and the water from this causes damage to the fittings and contents in the flat below. Do I claim against my contents or public liability insurance or is this covered by the landlord’s Buildings Insurance policy?
Both flats are covered by the same Buildings Insurance policy, so repairs to the structure (eg redecoration) and permanent fixtures should be claimed against the buildings insurance. With regards to contents, including household or personal possessions, each resident should claim under their own contents insurance policy, if they have cover. The insurer of the downstairs flat (or resident, if uninsured) may try to counter claim from the party responsible for the leak (but that’s for the insurance companies to worry about).
Who covers the cost of redecorating my flat, in the event of fire or flood?
Buildings Insurance.
Who covers the cost of replacing carpets or flooring in my flat, in the event of fire or flood?
The resident. Flooring is only covered where the City is responsible for it under the terms of the lease. The standard lease says that flooring is the responsibility of the leaseholder. Flooring can be included in a home contents insurance policy.
Who covers the light fittings in my flat in the event of a fire or flood?
Buildings insurance.
Who covers the cost of replacing wiring or pipework, in the event of a fire or flood?
Buildings insurance.
Who covers the cost, if there is damage to property in my flat arising from a break-in?
Damage to a door or window, which are part of the flat’s fixtures, are covered by the Buildings insurance. Damage to contents are the owner's responsibility.
If I attach shelving to the wall or install new built-in cupboards or wardrobes, do they become landlord’s fixtures, or are they my responsibility to insure?
Simple shelving may not be covered as it can easily be removed on vacating the premises. Built in wardrobes can be deemed to be covered under the Buildings Insurance. The items on the shelf or in the cupboard are your responsibility.
We installed a false ceiling throughout our flat. Is it our responsibility to insure this, or is it covered by the landlord's Buildings Insurance policy?
This would be covered by the Buildings Insurance.
We have secondary double glazing in our flat, installed with Landlord's permission. Is it our responsibility to insure this, or is this covered by the landlord's buildings insurance policy?
Secondary glazing would be covered under the Buildings Insurance. However, if you fit new double glazing, that requires not only landlord's permission, but also a deed of variation, which will make ownership and insurance responsibility clear.
We accidentally broke the toilet bowl. Is that covered by the landlord's buildings insurance policy?
This would be covered. It would be for you to prove the cause was accidental damage rather than wear and tear, which would not be covered by insurance.
We accidentally broke the glass in our window. Is that covered by the landlord's buildings insurance policy?
Yes. Accidental Damage is covered under the policy.
Can I obtain a copy of the landlord's buildings insurance policy wording or a summary of the cover provided?
Yes, please contact your Resident Services Officer.
I am having difficulty understanding what elements are covered by the Landlord's policy when I am trying to arrange my own insurance cover. Who should I contact to seek clarification?
In the first instance, please contact your Resident Services Officer. If need be, we can pass you on to the relevant specialists within City of London's Insurance Team.
Please also check the Fire Safety FAQ's for Buildings Insurance.