When you rent a property, you might assume you’re covered if something goes wrong, but that’s not quite how it works. Your landlord’s insurance will take care of the building, if something were to happen, but it does not cover your belongings. If pipes burst and the downstairs floods, that’s on the landlord – but if your sofa gets ruined in the process, assuming it is your own furniture, it will be you, the tenant, out of pocket.
This is where tenants’ insurance (in this example, contents insurance for renters) comes in.
It’s one of those things you hope you’ll never need; but when you do, it really can feel like an absolute lifesaver.
At LEA Property Solutions, we always tell our tenants its mandatory and forms part of their contractual obligations but we can’t physically force tenants to take out insurance! Despite anything we say, we’ve seen both sides of the story: tenants who have been properly covered and sailed through a crisis, and those who have somehow still had a shock when they realised their landlord’s insurance did not protect their belongings.
Here’s what you really need to know and that might make you realise; you really do need insurance.
What Does Tenants’ Insurance Actually Cover?
Think of tenants’ insurance as a safety net for your everyday life.
Most standard policies include a few key things:
- Your belongings – clothes, furniture, tech, certain appliances, cash (normally up to a limit) and jewellery… even the things you forget you own until they’re gone. It covers theft, fire, water damage, and more.
- Liability cover – if you accidentally damage the property or a neighbour’s room or even property, or if someone’s injured in your home, this covers you for legal costs and compensation.
- Temporary accommodation – if your room/flat becomes uninhabitable after something like a fire or flood, your insurer helps cover somewhere to stay.
There are usually limits for high-value items, so if you’ve got expensive jewellery, watches or gadgets, make sure you check the policy details or add extra cover.
It’s worth stressing again: your landlord’s insurance won’t cover any of this. Their policy protects the building, not your belongings – even if the damage happens through no fault of your own.
The Pet Owner’s Problem (and Why Insurance Helps – not applicable to our pet-free HMOs)
For many people, a pet is part of the family, and a well-behaved cat or dog can make a house feel like home. Nevertheless, as a pet owner, one thing to bear in mind is that pets can also bring unexpected costs (not to mention the odd bit of chaos).
A nervous puppy that chews the door frame. A curious cat that knocks a vase full of water onto the electrics – it really does bear thinking about.
On top of that, it often happens that vet bills that come along – and if that happens at the wrong time, it can make life really difficult when there is rent to pay.
This is where pet insurance and tenants’ liability cover come in – but it is important not to confuse the two.
Pet insurance protects you from those sudden vet costs, while tenants’ insurance can include cover for accidental damage caused by pets, under the ‘liability insurance’ mentioned above; it is especially useful to look for policies with specific pet damage liability included – and equally, to carefully consider before taking any insurance that excludes claims for damage caused by pets.
It’s up to you – but for that little bit extra per month, it’s a smart way to make sure a small accident doesn’t become an expensive problem.
Why Tenant Insurance is Worth Every Penny
Obviously, no one likes another monthly payment. But when it comes to contents insurance, it is one of those rare things that offers genuine peace of mind.
Here’s why we recommend it to every tenant we manage:
- It protects what’s yours. Replacing everything after a fire, flood, or break-in could cost thousands. Nobody wants or expects to see these things happen… but they do. When they do, insurance gives you a financial cushion.
- It keeps tenancies running smoothly. If you accidentally damage the property, you’ve got a way to put it right quickly. It helps avoid tension and keeps your landlord happy.
- It’s surprisingly affordable. Many policies start at just a few pounds a month — far less than most people spend on coffee. But it’s worth speaking to a specialist to make sure those few pounds are well spent – there’s no point having cover that doesn’t protect what you need it to.
- It shows that you’re a responsible tenant. When you’ve got cover in place, it tells your landlord you take good care of the home and value your tenancy.
Ultimately, it’s about peace of mind. Knowing that not only your belongings but also your responsibilities and obligations are covered. It is one less thing to worry about!
Our Recommendation
We only ever recommend partners we know and trust, so if you are a tenant in need of some insurance and wondering who you should really look at when there is choice out there, the good news is that we’ve already done the sifting and all the heavy lifting!
We choose to work with an insurance partner that is straightforward, reliable, and easy to deal with, putting things in plain English free of jargon – or as free as possible, at least!
Their policies are designed specifically for renters and include options for contents, liability, and even pet cover.
We’ve worked with plenty of tenants who’ve used them and been genuinely impressed with the support they received whenever they’ve needed to make a claim. And to us, that’s what really counts.
Final Word
We’ll always look after the property. That’s what we do.
But when it comes to your own belongings, those are your responsibility. The good news is, that taking out a bit of cover now could save you a lot of stress later.
Whether it’s a burst pipe, fire damage, or even a break-in, much as we hate to think about it, it’s often insurance that keeps things simple and fair for everyone.
If you’re not sure what kind of cover you need, or you’d like a trusted recommendation, get in touch with the team at LEA Property Solutions.
We’ll happily point you in the right direction and make sure you’re properly protected.