Do you ever wonder what is covered by home contents insurance and what is covered by home insurance? And are you in doubt as to whether you actually need both? Keep reading to find out what exactly is covered under both these types of insurance. Anything you can take with you when you move house is covered by home contents insurance. Examples include furniture, your TV and clothes. Everything that is attached to your house is covered by home insurance. This includes the walls, the roof and the bathroom. You can only take out home insurance if you own your home, you cannot take it out for a rented property.
Imagine coming home after a lovely holiday to find your home flooded due to a burst water pipe. Are you insured for that and what insurance is it covered by? Everything that is attached to your house, garage or shed is covered by home insurance. This includes anything that cannot be removed without damaging the house, such as a kitchen, bathroom or solar panels. You are also insured for damage to your home caused by storm, lightning strike, fallen trees and branches, fire, theft, burglary and vandalism.
If the burst water pipe has ended up buckling your laminate flooring, your insurance will cover it. Damage to things in your home that are not physically attached to the house are covered by home contents insurance. Examples include the sofa, dining table and the TV. In some cases items that belong to someone else, for example your employer, have limited cover.
Damage may be caused by a fire, storm, burglary or water. Basic cover will already insure you for that. If you have all-risks insurance, damage caused by accidents around the house is also covered, even when you accidentally knock something over, bump into something, or drop something.
Home contents insurance will also cover damage to belongings that you keep in your garden, on your balcony, in a storage space or in your shed. Damage to your belongings that occurs in transit or while moving house is also covered. Your garden furniture, unattached antenna or satellite dish, flag and flagpole, drying rack or laundry are only covered in the event of a fire, lightning strike, explosion, theft or when being run into by a motor vehicle. If your garden furniture is blown into a ditch in a storm, for example, the damage will not be covered.
Of course, there is also damage that is never covered, such as damage caused intentionally or by reckless behaviour, or damage caused by overdue maintenance or wear and tear. Burglary without forced entry, such as when a burglar comes in through a window that was left open, is not covered either.
