When you rent a home from a housing association like SHA, your rent and service charges cover a lot of things, including repairs to the building, looking after communal areas, and making sure the structure of your home is insured.
But here’s something many tenants don’t realise: the insurance your housing association arranges does not cover your personal belongings. That’s where Contents Insurance comes in.
What is Contents Insurance?
Contents Insurance is a policy that protects your personal items inside your home, including things like:
- Furniture and appliances
- Clothing and shoes
- TVs, phones, and laptops
- Personal possessions and valuables
If something unexpected happens, like a fire, burst pipe, flood, or burglary, Contents Insurance helps you replace your belongings without huge costs.
Why do you need it?
- SHA’s insurance only covers the building: your furniture, clothes, and electrical items are your responsibility.
- Accidents happen: even in well-maintained homes, things like leaks or theft can’t always be prevented.
- Peace of mind: you don’t have to worry about how you’d afford to replace things if the worst happens.
What about leaseholders?
If you’re a leaseholder (you own your home on a lease rather than renting it), the building is usually insured by SHA. But just like tenants, this cover doesn’t include your personal items. So leaseholders also need their own Contents Insurance to protect their possessions, and sometimes extra cover for things like fitted kitchens or flooring they’ve added themselves.
Do housing associations like SHA provide insurance?
Many housing associations work with insurers to offer affordable Contents Insurance schemes designed for tenants. At SHA we advise using the Housing Federation’s preferred supplier, My Home Contents Insurance: https://www.thistlemyhome.co.uk/
These policies are often low-cost and easy to arrange, making them a good option if you’re worried about price.
Key considerations:
- Tenants: get Contents Insurance to protect your belongings.
- Leaseholders: building is insured by SHA, but you still need Contents Cover.
- Everyone: Contents Insurance = peace of mind and financial protection.
”Remember, even a small monthly payment for contents insurance can save you from a big financial shock later on.
