Do you need insurance when renting? And if so, what type of insurance cover do you need? In this guide, we’ll cover contents insurance, and help you decide what kind of home insurance policy is the best choice for you.
The proportion of people living in a rented home in Britain has doubled in the last twenty years, and with rising mortgage costs, those figures are only trending one way. As of 2025, more than 11 million people rent privately in England alone, comprising 19% of the overall housing market. If you are currently renting your home (or a room within a house share), this article gives you all the information you need on your home insurance options, plus what they do (and don’t) cover.
Key Takeaways
- Tenants are responsible for insuring their possessions
- Landlords are responsible for insuring their building
- Rental rates have increased by an average of 6.7% nationwide in the 12 months to June 2025
- Trying to save money by not taking out insurance will always cost you far more money in the long term
What Is Home Insurance?
There are two types of home insurance- building insurance cover and contents insurance cover. These can be bought separately or as a package. If you are renting a property, you will only need contents insurance as the responsibility to insure the building is the landlords.
Building Insurance
If you are renting, the landlord is responsible for taking out building insurance on the property. This covers the structural elements of the home (i.e. the roof, the walls, etc), and usually the fixtures and fittings too. It can also cover tenant-related issues, such as theft and damage.
While it is not compulsory, most mortgage lenders will insist on it as a stipulation of their loan agreement.
Contents Insurance for Renters
While the landlord is responsible for insurance the structure, as a renter you are responsible for the insurance of your possessions and the interior décor. Whether you’re renting a home on your own, with a partner, or with family, it’s up to you to insure your possessions against unexpected incidents.
Contents insurance covers you for loss or damage to your personal possessions in the event of theft, fire, flooding, and other incidents of that nature. It also covers your possessions in the event of loss or damage.
It’s important to make sure that your contents insurance covers the value of the items you need to protect. Take some time to consider the estimated value of your personal possessions and the furniture in your home. This includes things such as furniture, carpets, and any other decor you have in the property you rent.
Home Insurance
Cover includes:
- Partial Or Full Rebuild Up To £1m
- Contents Cover Up To £100,000
- Tailored Policy To Your Requirements
- Policies Provided By sagic
Tenants Content Insurance for Shared Homes
If you live in a flat-share or shared accommodation then you will only want to insure your own possessions, not the possessions of everyone in the property- in this instance, you may want renters insurance.
This is designed to protect your possessions (whether they are in your bedroom or in the communal spaces) against damage and theft by someone who doesn’t live at the property. However, it will not protect you against theft or damage from your housemates or any invited guests (even if you did not invite them).
Tenants contents insurance, also known as renters contents insurance, may be applicable to people who:
- Rent a home that comes furnished, so are only looking to cover your own possessions
- Live in a flat-share
- Want to protect your personal possessions from someone you don’t live with
- Accidental damage cover to the property
It’s important to make sure that the home insurance policy you are looking at does provide tenants contents insurance, and that you provide your insurer with accurate information on who lives at the property, the status of the property (i.e. a shared property as opposed to renting the whole home), and the value of the personal possessions cover needed.
What Insurance Do I Need If I Rent?
If you are renting your home and rent the entire property, whether that’s alone, with a partner, or with your family, you’ll need Contents Insurance.
If you are renting a room as a part of a house-share or flat-share, you’ll need Tenants Content Insurance/ Renters Insurance.
If you live in a retirement home, depending on your arrangement you may need Contents and Buildings Insurance or just Contents Insurance.
If you are a landlord, you should know that covering the building itself is the landlord’s responsibility. You will need to ensure that the correct building insurance is in place, whether you are renting out a house or flat. Read more about landlord’s buildings and contents insurance.
What Does Contents Insurance Cover?
Home contents insurance protects your possessions against accidental damage, loss, and theft. This can cover a range of unexpected incidents, such as fire, flooding, natural disasters, vandalism, and theft. Items that may be covered in your policy, for example, include:
- Furnishings- curtains, carpets, sofas etc
- White goods- fridges, freezers, dishwashers, washing machines and dryers.
- Possessions- clothing, jewellry, musical instruments, etc.
- Electrical goods- televisions, computers, stereos, mobile phones, tablets, etc.
Some policies include coverage for possessions outside the home as well.
You can tailor your cover according to the cost of the possessions you own, the level of cover you need, and what may already be covered under the landlord’s insurance.
Unlike building insurance, contents insurance is not compulsory but can be useful for protection and peace of mind- especially if you live in a shared property.
If you have high-value items that cannot be covered under your typical contents insurance policy, you may want to consider taking out additional cover specifically for this single item.
Do I Need Accidental Damage Cover?
Accidental damage cover is for, as the name suggests, accidents such as spilt drinks, smashed mirrors, etc. You may want to add this cover to your insurance policy. Bear in mind that not all damage to your landlord’s property will be covered under this policy. For example, general wear and tear to the property cannot typically be claimed for.
Do I Need Personal Possession Insurance?
If you have personal belongings that are worth £1,000 or less and require cover for when carried by you outside of the home – for example, a bicycle, your phone, a laptop, or a piece of jewellery – you may want additional cover for these items.
This addition will ensure you can protect your belongings when they are out of the house, such as if your bike is stolen when locked up safely in public.
Is Contents Insurance for Renters A Legal Requirement?
While there is no legal requirement to insure your contents while renting a property, choosing not to do so is putting yourself at risk. You may be looking to reduce your monthly outgoings and overheads, but doing so by choosing not to take out insurance coverage is never a good idea.
Clothes, a laptop, a phone, musical instruments, a bike, and other valuables could easily total several thousand pounds to replace. If you think of your insurance policy as a simple way to pay for peace of mind, you will see that the figures always add up in your favour.
Can A Landlord Object To What You Are Insuring?
No, as long as you are insuring items that you are legally allowed to have within the property, and that are allowed under the terms of the contract, they cannot object. Your contents insurance is entirely separate from your housing contract in this regard, and is therefore not something that the landlord needs to be aware of or involved in.
Does Contents Insurance Cover Pets?
The insurance world will offer a range of products that cover pets, including medical coverage for the pet itself, and enhanced accidental damage coverage for anything they break in the home. The latter will generally come at a premium due to the unpredictable nature of pets like cats and dogs, and how likely they are to bite and scratch.
Typically speaking, your contents insurance will not cover anything related to your pet, although you may wish to ask about pet-specific policies. If you do choose to pay more to insure your contents while living with a pet, make sure to check that your housing contract permits you to keep a pet, as this could invalidate any claim you try to make.
When Should My Insurance Cover Begin?
We advise that your insurance policy begins on the day you move in and continues up to and including the day you eventually move out. By creating a list of the insurable items and valuables that you want to cover, you can quickly put coverage in place and make sure that nothing is missed or overlooked.
How Do I Make a Claim?
You will be able to find the full details on how to make a claim if you need to in your policy documents. You can also log in to your portal on our website to access your documents.
Find out more about home insurance from Surewise – you can have peace of mind and protection for your possessions in a matter of minutes.
