Introduction to Renters Insurance UK - If you are a tenant in a rented property, then you will be responsible to take out your own tenant’s contents insurance. The landlord will be responsible for his own property left in the premises, he may insure this or he may make a deduction from your deposit for damages etc. Usually as there will be policy excess, you will be responsible for damage to your Landlords Contents.

The Landlord cannot insure your belongings, as he has no insurable interest in your property. One of the advantages of taking our renters Insurance policy is that you will usually find included in the policy wording occupiers liability & Tenants Liability Insurance cover for an amount of £1,000,000. This section of the policy covers very valuable cover in respect of accidental injury to any person or accidental loss or damage to property + damage that you may cause to the property by a range of perils. The cover for accidental loss or damage to property usually excludes property that you have been left in charge of. You will find that a variety of renters Insurance policies are available to buy, the sums insured are usually lower than that offered by a standard home insurance policy.

Before you buy your renters insurance policy, read any Key facts document supplied to you by the insurance company, make sure that the contract is suitable for your needs. In particular, check the security requirements with regard to locks etc.  You may find that as you are living in rented accommodation that the quality of locks is not as high as on owner occupied property.  The following perils are fairly typical;

Fire, explosion, lightning and earthquake, Riot, civil commotion, strikes, labour or political disturbances, Malicious acts or vandalism, Storm or Flood, Water or oil escaping from any fixed domestic appliance or system including any costs in locating the source of any escape, Frost damage to fixed water or heating systems in the home, Theft or attempted theft, The contents being hit by aircraft, other flying devices or anything dropped or falling from them; animals; falling trees, branches, telegraph poles, lampposts or pylons; falling aerials; or vehicles, Subsidence or heave of the site on which the Home stands and / or landslip, Accidental damage to audio, video, computer equipment, mirrors and glass., Accidental Damage, Contents in the Open in the vicinity of your home up to £250.00. Contents temporarily removed from the home for a period (usually Theft Insurance is excluded). Theft of Keys, Loss of Metered Water. Alternative Accommodation cover following an insured peril, Frozen Food, |Loss of Credit Cards.  It may also be possible to extend your cover to included valuable items that you take away from the Home.