What Is Included in Home Contents? A Complete Guide

This handbook describes what generally constitutes home contents, what is not included, how to put a value on your things, and how to ensure your cover is adequate.

What Are "Home Contents"?

Home contents are personal belongings and moveable items found in your house — essentially everything you would take with you if you moved into a new place. If you turned your home upside down, whatever would come out is likely to be counted as contents.

Contents insurance protects these items against loss or damage due to theft, fire, flooding, storm damage, and other insured perils. It pays to repair or replace items if they are damaged or destroyed.

What Is Typically Insured by Home Contents?

The majority of standard home contents insurance policies cover a wide range of items, such as:

1. Furniture

Sofas, beds, wardrobes, dining tables, coffee tables, chairs, and storage areas.

2. Appliances and Electrical Equipment

Freestanding washing machines, microwaves, vacuum cleaners, and toasters.

3. Electronics

Televisions, computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, gaming consoles, and audio equipment.

4. Soft Furnishings

Curtains, rugs, cushions, bedding, and non-fitted lighting.

5. Clothing and Personal Belongings

Day-to-day clothing, shoes, accessories, and outerwear.

6. Kitchenware

Cookware, crockery, cutlery, utensils, and small kitchen gadgets.

7. Valuables

Jewellery, watches, art, antiques, rare collectibles, and designer items. High-value items can be listed separately for complete cover.

If your policy includes "new for old" cover, your insurer will replace stolen or wrecked belongings at their full replacement value with brand new identical duplicates, rather than their current used value.

What's Not Covered?

The majority of movable property in the home is covered, but contents insurance typically excludes:

The actual building structure of the building (walls, roof, windows, and floors) — they're insured with buildings insurance.

Fixtures and fittings such as fitted kitchens, built-in appliances, or built-in cupboards.

Cars, motorcycles, boats, and caravans.

Animals and farm animals.

Commercial or business goods unless agreed.

Normal wear and tear or wear and tear over time.

Breakdown caused by mechanical or electrical failure which is not an insured event.

Unoccupied houses in which goods have been left for longer than an amount of time (normally in excess of 30 days) without arrangement. Policies will vary, so do make sure to read the terms carefully and contact your insurer about exclusions.

High-Value Items and Single Item Limits

Most home contents policies have a "single item limit" — a ceiling that the insurer will pay out for any single item. This ranges from £1,000 to £2,500, depending on the policy.

If you do have separate items of a value greater than the standard single item limit — such as engagement rings, luxury watches, or high-end electronics — you will be required to declare them separately. They are usually referred to as "specified items" and may require an additional premium for complete coverage.

Failure to disclose high-value items can result in a reduced payment or even claim rejection.

How to Value Your Home Contents Accurately

Under-insuring your contents may result in financial loss should you need to claim. To be properly protected, work out the total replacement cost of everything you own with brand new similar-quality items.

Valuation tips for your contents:

Room-by-room, itemize everything you have.

Employ current retail prices to estimate costs of replacement.

Don't forget the little things like kitchenware, clothes, and books — they can mount up.

Check your valuation annually and after purchasing high-value items, special occasions or holidays.

Most insurance companies have online home contents calculators to provide you with an estimate of your total sum insured.

Optional Add-ons for Contents Policies

While standard contents cover insures you against most common perils, you may want to include optional extras for added protection:

Accidental Damage Cover

Covers incidents like spilling paint on your carpet or knocking over your TV.

Personal Possessions Cover (All Risks)

Places items taken out of the home under cover, such as mobile phones, cameras, laptops, and jewellery. Typically required for frequent travellers or families with expensive portable gear.

Legal Expenses Cover

Provides access to legal advice and pays for legal costs in disputes about injury, employment, or neighbour issues.

Home Emergency Cover

Pays for call-out fees, repairs, and occasionally overnight stay for emergencies such as a burst pipe or boiler failure.

What Impacts the Cost of Contents Insurance?

Insurers take into account several factors when determining your premium, such as:

The value of your insured contents.

Your location and the level of risk it carries (e.g., high crime or flood areas).

Your home's security measures (e.g., locks, alarms, CCTV).

Your claims record.

Your selected excess amount — the greater the excess, the cheaper the premium.

To find the best bargain, it's a good idea to shop around and compare contents insurance policies from several providers.

Conclusion

So, what does home contents cover? The answer is: all your personal, movable possessions — furniture, electronics, appliances, clothing, jewellery, and so on. These are the essentials of your contents insurance cover.

To cover yourself adequately:

Estimate the replacement cost of all your possessions.

Declare high-value items over the one item limit.

Review your policy from time to time, especially after major purchases or incidents.

Consider optional extras for added peace of mind.

Taking the time to familiarize yourself and evaluate what is covered in your home contents can be the difference between a successful and failed claim.

Tip: Review home contents insurance policies annually to ensure you are suitably insured and not paying too much.