Contents insurance for renters and tenants

Find out how to cover the important stuff if you rent your home.

If you rent, you'll want to know your personal items are protected. Contents insurance could cover the cost of repairing your belongings if they are damaged by things like a fire or flood. Or the cost of replacing them if they are stolen.

Some of the main items covered include:

  • Electronics
  • Jewellery
  • Furniture

Limits, terms and exclusion apply to all levels of cover. For more information on what isn’t covered, check out our policy documents.

When your arranging contents insurance, it's a good idea to work out how much the things you own are worth by:

  • Making a list of all the items you want to be covered and how much they cost.
  • Use the total to decide how much cover you need.

How does contents insurance for renters and tenants work?

Buildings insurance should cover the structure of the property you rent and any fixture and fittings.  Things like the fitted bathroom or kitchen and should be covered by the landlord as they own it.

Your landlord will also be responsible for insuring any white goods or furnishing that belong to them.  For example, carpeting or a fridge that was there when you moved in.

Contents insurance protects your belongings in your home should the worst happen. Your items will be protected in case they are damaged or lost due to things like:

  • Theft
  • Damage from fires or floods

If you move, either to rent another property or buy, you may be able to take your contents insurance with you.

Does every renter and tenant need insurance?

The level of cover you need will depend on your situation.

  • If you’re renting a whole house or flat, you can take out a standard contents policy. This includes those living on your own, with a partner or as a family
  • If you live in shared housing and have a joint tenancy agreement, your contents insurance will need to be in joint names. 

 

How contents insurance can help tenants and renters

We offer two types of contents insurance cover for:

To learn more about each type of cover and what is and isn’t included, compare our home insurance.

Limits, terms and exclusions apply. See our policy booklets for more information.

What's not covered?

Contents insurance for renters and tenants won't cover everything:

  • Damage to the building. This should be insured by the property owner or landlord.
  • Loss or damage to any contents owned by the landlord. This should be insured by the property owner or landlord.
  • Items held or used for business or professional purposes.  Other than office furniture and equipment.
  • Mechanical and electrical faults. This includes things like your TV or laptop becoming faulty or breaking down.
  • Wear and tear. Damage that happens naturally as something gets old is known as ‘wear and tear’. Most things in your home will end up suffering from this. Your policy doesn’t cover you for this kind of damage.
  • Deliberate damage. Damage done on purpose by you or your family.

Limits, terms and exclusions apply to all levels of cover. For more information on what’s isn’t covered, check out our policy documents.

Compare Home Insurance Select with Flexible Contents Insurance

See how Home Insurance Select compares to Flexible Contents Insurance so you can choose the cover that best suits your needs.

Key differences

Home Insurance Select - contents insurance

Flexible Contents Insurance

Key differences

Cover term

Home Insurance Select - contents insurance

Yearly cover with no admin charges to cancel or change cover

Flexible Contents Insurance

Monthly cover with no admin charges to cancel or change cover

Key differences

Managing your policy

Home Insurance Select - contents insurance

Manage your policy on the phone with some parts online

Flexible Contents Insurance

Manage your policy online

Key differences

Making a claim

Home Insurance Select - contents insurance

Make claims online or over the phone

Flexible Contents Insurance

Make claims online

Key differences

Cover limit

Home Insurance Select - contents insurance

Minimum of £50,000 cover in the home for a number of events such as fire, flood, theft and water damage

Flexible Contents Insurance

£10,000 simple cover in the home against fire, flood, theft and water damage caused by leaks

Key differences

Optional cover

Home Insurance Select - contents insurance

Cover your items anywhere in the world if you add Away from home cover at an extra cost

Flexible Contents Insurance

Optional cover at an extra cost for selected items worldwide if you add Anywhere Cover

Key differences

Liability cover limit

Home Insurance Select - contents insurance

Up to £2,000,000 cover for the breach of your legal responsibilities

Flexible Contents Insurance

Up to £10,000 cover if you're responsible for fire, flood, and water damage to your landlord's or neighbour's property

Key differences

Get a quote

Home Insurance Select - contents insurance

Flexible Contents Insurance

How to claim

  1. Read your insurance documents. They will tell you what you can claim for.
  2. Give your insurer as much detail as possible. What happened, when and where?
  3. Create a list of everything lost or damaged. Share this with your insurer and landlord.
  4. Take photos to prove the items are yours.
  5. Keep receipts and records of all your items.

FAQs

Do I need buildings insurance as a renter and tenant?

No. Your landlord should have buildings insurance. This should cover any damage to the building and its fixtures and fittings from events like floods, storms or fire. You won’t need to pay for buildings insurance as a renter.

Does Landlord Insurance cover renters and tenants belongings?

No. Landlord's insurance won't cover your belongings. You'll need your own Contents Insurance to protect them.

Why do renters and tenants need contents insurance?

If you’re renting, you may need contents insurance to protect the things you own in case they are damaged or stolen. You might be able to claim for the money to repair or replace anything damaged or lost due to events covered by your policy.

Does my contents insurance include cover for my landlord's contents?

No. Your landlord should have contents insurance for their belongings.  This includes things like a washing machine, furniture or carpets that have been left for your use as a tenant. Your contents insurance will only cover those items that are owned by you and your family.  

Find out more about Lloyds Bank Home Insurance

Home Insurance

Compare our Home Insurance

Contents Insurance

Flexible Contents Insurance

Make a claim

Help and guidance

Useful links

What is Home Insurance?

What is Contents Insurance?

What is underinsurance?

Insurance for Gadgets

Jewellery Insurance

Important legal information

Lloyds Bank plc. Registered office: 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN. Registered in England and Wales No. 2065. Lloyds Bank plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority under registration number 119278.

Eligible deposits with us are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). We are covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).