What does contents insurance cover?
Contents insurance protects the belongings in your home from theft, loss or damage. Here’s what it can cover, what’s usually excluded, and how to choose the right level of protection.
What is contents insurance?
Contents insurance protects the belongings inside your home, such as your furniture, clothes, electronics and valuables.
It’s different from buildings insurance, which covers the structure of your home, including the walls, roof, floors and permanent fixtures.
You can buy contents insurance if you own your home, rent a property, live in an apartment or share accommodation. If you rent, your landlord’s insurance usually covers the building, but not your personal belongings.
Do you need contents insurance?
You don’t legally have to have contents insurance, but it can be worth considering if replacing your belongings would be expensive.
Contents insurance may be useful if:
- You rent and want to protect your own belongings
- You own your home and want cover for furniture, clothes, electronics and valuables
- You live in an apartment and don’t need buildings insurance
- You have expensive items like laptops, jewellery, bikes or home office equipment
- You want protection against theft, fire, water damage or accidental damage
If you already have home insurance, check whether contents cover is included or whether you only have buildings insurance.
What does contents insurance cover?
Contents insurance can cover most of the belongings you keep inside your home. Many insurers describe contents as the things you would take with you if you moved house.
| Item | Usually covered? | What to check | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Furniture | Yes | Sofas, beds, tables, chairs and freestanding furniture are usually included | |
| Electrical items | Yes | TVs, laptops, tablets, speakers and games consoles may be covered, but limits can apply | |
| Clothes and shoes | Yes | Usually covered for insured events like theft, fire or water damage | |
| Jewellery and valuables | Yes, up to limits | Expensive items may need to be listed separately | |
| Cash | Sometimes | Usually only covered up to a small limit | |
| Bikes | Sometimes | May need to be added separately, especially if stored outside or used away from home | |
| Home office equipment | Sometimes | Check whether work equipment or business use is covered |
Some insurers set a single item limit. If you own something worth more than this, such as an engagement ring, expensive laptop, bike or artwork, you may need to declare it separately when getting a quote.
For example, if your policy has a single item limit of €2,000 and your engagement ring is worth €3,500, it may not be fully covered unless you list it separately on your policy.
What isn’t covered?
Contents insurance doesn’t usually cover the building itself or permanent fixtures, such as fitted kitchens, radiators, fireplaces, walls, floors or the roof. For this, you’ll usually need buildings insurance.
Your policy may also exclude:
For example, if your phone is stolen while you’re out shopping, standard contents insurance may not cover it unless you have personal possessions cover.
Always check the policy wording before you buy, especially if you have expensive items or need cover away from home.
Contents insurance vs buildings insurance
Buildings insurance and contents insurance protect different parts of your home.
| Type of cover | What it protects | Who may need it | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings insurance | The structure of your home, including walls, roof, floors and permanent fixtures | Homeowners and landlords | |
| Contents insurance | The belongings inside your home, such as furniture, clothes and electronics | Homeowners, renters and apartment owners | |
| Combined home insurance | Both the building and your belongings | Homeowners who need both types of cover |
If you rent, your landlord is usually responsible for insuring the building, but you may still want contents insurance for your own belongings.
Types of contents cover
There are two main types of contents insurance:
- New for old cover: This replaces damaged or stolen items with a new equivalent, or pays out enough to buy a new replacement.
- Indemnity cover: This takes the age and condition of your belongings into account, so the payout may be lower than the cost of buying a new item.
New for old cover is usually more expensive, but it can offer better protection because it helps you replace your belongings with new items if you need to claim.
Indemnity cover may be cheaper, but you could receive less than it would cost to replace everything from new.
How much contents insurance do you need?
Choose enough cover to replace your belongings from new, not what they’re worth second-hand.
A room-by-room check can help you include:
- Living room: sofas, TV, rugs, lamps and electronics
- Kitchen: appliances, cookware and small electrical items
- Bedrooms: beds, clothes, wardrobes and jewellery
- Home office: laptop, monitor, desk and printer
- Children’s items: toys, tablets, buggies and furniture
- Outdoor items: bikes, tools, garden furniture and sports equipment
If you underestimate your contents, you could be underinsured and your payout may be reduced if you need to claim.
What is underinsurance?
Underinsurance is when your contents are insured for less than it would cost to replace them.
For example, if your belongings would cost €50,000 to replace but you only insure them for €30,000, your insurer may reduce your payout if you make a claim.
This could mean you don’t receive the full amount needed to replace damaged or stolen items.
This can happen if you:
- Guess the value of your belongings too quickly
- Forget about clothes, kitchen items or children’s belongings
- Don’t include expensive items like jewellery, bikes or laptops
- Fail to update your policy after buying new items
- Choose a lower cover amount to reduce your premium
It’s usually better to choose a realistic cover amount than to risk being left short after a claim.
Choosing your extras
Some contents insurance policies include extra benefits as standard, while others charge more to add them.
Common extras include:
- Accidental damage: Covers mishaps like spilling wine on a carpet, dropping a TV or damaging furniture by mistake.
- Personal possessions cover: Covers belongings you take outside the home, such as your phone, laptop, jewellery or handbag.
- High-value item cover: Lets you list expensive items that exceed the policy’s single item limit.
- Bike cover: Covers your bicycle, although conditions may apply around locks, storage and where it’s kept.
- Key cover: Pays towards replacement locks and keys if your keys are lost or stolen.
For example, accidental damage could help if you spill coffee on a laptop at home, while personal possessions cover may be needed if you want your laptop covered when you take it to work or college.
Before adding extras, check whether they’re already included and whether any limits, exclusions or excesses apply.
Common mistakes to avoid
When choosing contents insurance, try to avoid these common mistakes:
For example, choosing a policy because it’s €30 cheaper could be a false saving if it has a high excess, excludes accidental damage, or doesn’t cover the items you regularly take outside the home.
What type of contents cover might suit you?
| If you… | You may want to consider | |
|---|---|---|
| Rent your home | Contents-only insurance | |
| Own your home | Combined buildings and contents insurance | |
| Live in an apartment | Contents cover, plus buildings cover if you’re responsible for any part of the structure | |
| Have expensive jewellery, bikes or electronics | A policy with suitable single item limits or specified item cover | |
| Often take items outside the home | Personal possessions cover | |
| Want protection from spills or breakages | Accidental damage cover | |
| Work from home | Cover that includes home office equipment or business use |
Getting the right content cover for you
To get the right cover for the cheapest possible price, follow these three steps:
- Work out what cover you need by considering the value of your home and belongings and the extras that matter to you.
- Decide what excess you can afford and weigh this up against the cost of the policy. Paying a bit more for your policy could save you money in the event of a claim.
- Compare home insurance quotes from several brokers to find the cheapest deal for your needs.
If you want to save even more money on insuring your home, read our 7 ways to save money on your home insurance, which is packed with tips and ideas to protect your home for less.
Choosing a cheaper policy with a lower contents limit could cost you more if you need to claim. Before you compare, check your total cover amount, single item limit, excess and whether items outside the home are included.
Contents insurance FAQs
Is contents insurance required by law?
No, contents insurance is not legally required. However, it can help protect you financially if your belongings are stolen, damaged or destroyed.
Can I buy contents insurance without buildings insurance?
Yes. You can usually buy contents insurance on its own. This can be useful if you rent, live in an apartment, or don’t need to insure the building itself.
Does contents insurance cover other people’s belongings?
It depends on the policy. Some policies may only cover belongings owned by you or your household, while others may have limited cover for guests’ items. Check the policy details if this matters to you.
Are items in a shed, garage or garden covered?
Some policies cover items kept in sheds, garages or outbuildings, but limits and security conditions often apply. Bikes, tools and garden equipment may need extra cover.
Does contents insurance cover moving house?
Some policies include limited cover while you move home, but only if your belongings are packed and transported in a certain way. Check with your insurer before moving.
Can I change my contents cover after buying a policy?
Yes, you can usually update your policy if you buy expensive new items, move home or need a higher level of cover. Your premium may change.
Will contents insurance cover me if I work from home?
Standard contents insurance may cover some home office equipment, but business use can be treated differently. If you work from home regularly, check whether your equipment and work-related items are covered.
Protect your belongings from theft, loss or damage with contents cover that suits your needs and budget.
