Your insurer would usually first offer you a quote based on its standard policy wording and sometimes go on to offer optional extras or policy extensions depending on your circumstance.
You would therefore expect that the 'Standard' policy wording of all insurers operating in the same market would be similar; unfortunately this is not the case. Though some similarity can be found, differences which often take an experienced practitioner to detect do exist.
It is therefore essential to ensure that the standard Tenant Contents policy your pay for caters for the following risks. A few insurers may offer more than the limits stated below otherwise insist on the values as Standard.
New for Old cover on your contents
With the exception of Clothing, your Contents policy should set out that losses would pay with no deduction for wear and tear;
Damage to landlord contents, fixtures & fittings (which you are legally responsible for) up to a limit of at least 瞿2500;
Cost of alternative accommodation up to 20% of sum insured;
Accidental damage to TV, audio, video equipment & personal computers;
Theft or attempted theft or malicious damage;
Replacement of locks following theft of keys up to a limit of at least 瞿250;
In addition to paying cost of replacing locks to external doors & windows, replacing locks to a safe within or an alarm protecting the home are also covered
Contents in your garden, garage & outbuildings up to a limit of at least 瞿250;
Visitors' personal effects up to a limit of at least 瞿250 per visitor;
Credit card Liability up to a limit of at least 瞿250 for anyone's claim as a direct result of its theft from the home & following its unauthorised use by persons not related or residing with you
Fire & Associated Perils
Loss or damage caused by:
Fire, smoke damage, lightning, explosion, earthquake, storms or flood, riot, violent disorder, civil commotion;
Subsidence, heave, landslip;
Escape of water, burst pipes, escape of oil.
Subject to policy exclusions, cover for Escape of water includes damage caused by escape from water, drainage or heating installation.
Cover also includes damage caused by escape from washing machine, dishwasher, water-bed, refrigerator or deep freeze cabinet.
Impact, collision, aircraft;
Falling of trees, posts, mast;
Accidental breakage of
Mirrors, Fixed glass in or glass tops of furniture, ceramic hobs and ceramic tops of cookers and glass oven door
Legal Liability
Tenant's Liability up to a limit of at least 10% of sum insured for damage to the building rented, accidental breakage of fixed glass or accidental damage to cables, drain, pipes or tanks providing service to or from the home;
Liability to the public up to a limit of 瞿2,000,000;
Any amount that you or your family become legally liable to pay as compensation (including claimant's cost and expenses) occurring in respect of accidental Death, Bodily injury or illness of any person not an employee of either you or your family.
Liability for damage to property not belonging to or in the custody of you or your family is also covered.
Liability to domestic staff up to a limit of 瞿10,000,000
Other Risks Covered
Automatic increase of at least 10% in Sum Insured for gift /provisions in the months of November & December and immediately before / after a wedding.
Accidental Loss of metered water and oil up to a limit of at least 瞿250;
Frozen food
Loss or damage to food in the cold chamber of any refrigerator or deep freeze chamber due to a change in temperature or contamination by refrigerant fumes;
Money up to a limit of at least 瞿250;
Pedal cycles up to a limit of at least 瞿250;
Contents temporarily removed from the home or whilst you or your family temporarily reside away from the home.
Contents in the home covered during normal periods of un-occupancy, for example when you are on holiday (insurance company to be informed if you are going away for 30 consecutive days or more)
Domestic staff personal effects up to a limit of at least 瞿250 for each domestic staff.
