What does household contents insurance cover?

Asked by: Julien Simonis  |  Last update: May 20, 2023
Score: 4.6/5 (70 votes)

Contents insurance helps pay to replace or repair your personal belongings if they're stolen or damaged by a covered peril, such as a fire. So, if someone breaks into your home and steals your laptop, or your clothing and furniture are ruined in a fire, you may find that contents insurance helps cover the loss.

What does your contents insurance cover?

Home contents insurance covers you against loss, theft or damage to your personal and home possessions. It can also cover you if you take items out of the home, on holiday, for example. The insurance covers your own possessions and those of close family members living with you.

What is not usually covered by contents insurance?

Many things that aren't covered under your standard policy typically result from neglect and a failure to properly maintain the property. Termites and insect damage, bird or rodent damage, rust, rot, mold, and general wear and tear are not covered.

What is covered by household insurance?

Home contents insurance covers everything in your house against theft, fire, malicious or weather damages (storms, flooding, lightning). If you would like these items to be covered for accidental damage as well – e.g. if you spill coffee on your expensive sound system – then additional optional cover can be taken out.

What are 2 things not covered in homeowners insurance?

Standard homeowners insurance policies typically do not include coverage for valuable jewelry, artwork, other collectibles, identity theft protection, or damage caused by an earthquake or a flood.

What does household contents insurance cover? – In a nutshell

24 related questions found

What are the six categories typically covered by homeowners insurance?

Generally, a homeowners insurance policy includes at least six different coverage parts. The names of the parts may vary by insurance company, but they typically are referred to as Dwelling, Other Structures, Personal Property, Loss of Use, Personal Liability and Medical Payments coverages.

Does homeowners insurance cover mold?

Although most policies will not offer universal cover against mould, most insurers will offer a mould-insurance clause as an optional extra (for a fee, of course). All-in-all, prevention is the safest way to save the cost of mould removal.

Is washing machine covered in contents insurance?

A standard home contents insurance policy will cover your appliances if they are damaged or destroyed in a fire, storm, flood, other natural disaster or if they're stolen. But it won't cover these kitchen essentials if they break down due to age, wear and tear or are accidentally damaged.

Is an oven covered under contents insurance?

Contents insurance covers items found in your kitchen; like fridges, microwaves, cookware, or cooking utensils, if they are stolen, damaged or destroyed by a listed event on your policy. These policies usually do not cover the fit-out of your kitchen.

Can I claim broken TV on house insurance?

Homeowners insurance covers personal property loss — including broken or stolen TVs — when it's caused by a covered peril, including fire, lightning, and vandalism. But if your TV falls off your wall or it simply stops working, you likely won't be covered.

What are some items typically excluded from property insurance?

Here are some of the most common home insurance exclusions — and what you can do to get coverage.
  • Floods. ...
  • Earthquakes and earth movement. ...
  • Maintenance. ...
  • Pests. ...
  • Home-based businesses. ...
  • Mold. ...
  • The full cost of high-value items. ...
  • Why are some damages excluded from home insurance?

Which of the following items is a common exclusion on a house and contents policy?

Although they tend to vary between insurance companies, some of the common exclusions are: Leaving your property uninhabited for an extended period. When it comes to home and contents insurance, there's no written rule for how long you can leave your house unoccupied.

Does insurance cover water damage?

Water damage to your property is usually covered as a standard feature in your buildings insurance policy. Often referred to as 'escape of water' by insurers, it can be caused by several issues, from burst pipes due to freezing temperatures, to a leaking dishwasher or an overflowing blocked toilet.

Is kitchen included in contents insurance?

You might assume that kitchen appliances would be covered by your buildings policy because the kitchen itself comes under this. But in fact, your kitchen appliances will actually come under contents insurance.

What is the average value of household contents?

On average, households have approximately $6,000 worth of furnishings in their homes. When you're looking at freeing up some cash at a pawn shop, you might look around for an unused, but valuable piece of furniture, lighting fixture, rug or drapery.

Is carpet included in contents insurance?

Coverage for items such as blinds, carpets, light fittings and other items not permanently fixed to the property are also included within the contents insurance for a home owner.

Is a dishwasher contents or building?

Answer: If it is a permanently built-in dishwasher that is plumbed in then it should fit the definition of building for insurance purposes (like with ovens). mobile dishwashers, clothes dryers or other electrical or gas appliances not wired or plumbed in.

What is considered contents in a house?

Contents includes anything that can be carried away from the building. They are typically personal belongings purchased separately from the building. For instance, furniture, appliances, artwork, electronics and clothing are all contents.

Is it worth claiming for freezer contents?

Consider how much the food in your freezer is worth - it could be more than you think. Some policies will also provide a temporary hire freezer until yours can be repaired or replaced. You will have to pay an excess if you make a claim though, so the pay-out you receive will be reduced by the amount of the excess.

Are fridges covered under contents insurance?

Your homeowners insurance policy covers much of your personal property, including large appliances, from specific perils like theft, fire or damage from a storm. This typically includes protection for your refrigerator, which can be a costly appliance to replace or repair if it is damaged.

Is a broken washing machine covered under home insurance?

Under the standard homeowners insurance policy, a home and its contents are protected from fire, smoke, wind, hail, falling objects and 12 other perils or disasters. Appliances are usually considered personal property. Most policies specify that the accidental overflow of water or steam from an appliance is covered.

Can I claim for my washing machine on home insurance?

Washing machines are appliances, which are not instrumental to the structure of your home. Therefore, they are considered personal property. So, if you were to make a claim for a broken washing machine, it would fall under your personal property coverage.

Is condensation damage covered by insurance?

"Mold caused by water from excessive humidity, leaks, condensation or flooding is a maintenance issue for the property owner," Worters says. It's like termite or mildew prevention, and is not covered by a typical home insurance policy.

Does homeowners insurance cover mold in bathroom?

Mold is generally covered by homeowners insurance only when it's caused by a "covered peril" (an event or circumstance covered in your homeowners insurance policy, such as accidental water damage).

Can you smell mold in walls?

If you don't see signs of mold but you can smell it, it may be hidden in your walls. A musty smell is a good indicator that mold is growing in your home. The smell of mold feels earthy, like rotting leaves or decaying wood in a dense, damp forest.