What is Contents Insurance?

From theft to personal liability, get to grips with your policy.

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Contents insurance offers you financial help if your belongings are stolen, damaged, or lost. It provides financial protection for your possessions, giving you peace of mind if an unexpected event happens.

We’ll walk you through how contents insurance works, what it does (and doesn’t) cover, and how to determine if it’s right for you.

At a glance
  • Contents insurance protects your belongings from damage or loss from events like fire, water damage, or vandalism. It can also cover temporary accommodation and personal liability
  • High-value items over £2,000 require additional coverage, and optional add-ons like Theft & Loss or Accidental Damage can extend protection for specific scenarios
  • Exclusions include wear and tear, negligence, structural damage, and undeclared high-value items
  • Contents insurance isn’t mandatory but is highly recommended for homeowners, renters, and those in shared housing to protect possessions and offer peace of mind

How does contents insurance work?

If your belongings get nicked, damaged, or ruined by something like a fire or burst pipes, you can make a claim on your contents insurance. Your insurer will check if what’s happened is covered by your policy and sort out how much they’ll pay to fix or replace your things.

You’ll usually have to chip in a bit towards the claim, known as your insurance excess. This is an amount you decide when you take out the insurance-usually somewhere between £100 and £500-that will be subtracted from any future claim payouts. 

BTW: Home insurance is the term for both contents insurance and buildings insurance together-but they’re always sold as separate cover. So, contents insurance can protect you as a renter and as a homeowner.

What does contents insurance cover?

A typical contents insurance policy (also sometimes known as home contents insurance) has three main categories of cover:

Let’s take a close look at each.

1. Contents cover

The main sub-category of your contents insurance policy, is also called contents. This first part of your cover helps you recover the cost of damaged or stolen property if various unpleasant or unexpected things happen. That includes nearly all of your personal belongings including: 

  • Furniture
  • Jewellery
  • Electronics
  • Games consoles
  • Crockery
  • Clothes and shoes

2. Temp Accommodation cover

If covered perils (like fire, water damage, burglary, etc.) cause your place to become unliveable, your contents insurance policy will cover the cost of alternative accommodations, like a hotel stay, and other expenses, possibly including any extra cash you need to spend on your own food and laundry.

3. Personal Liability cover

Contents insurance cover extends to instances in which you are liable for causing damage or injury to someone else-called personal liability cover, whether that means repairing or replacing a damaged item, or covering hospital bills or legal expenses from a lawsuit.

It also extends to certain damages that you may cause when you’re abroad for trips or away from home (of up to three months)-such as if you accidentally injure your mate while on holiday. We also cover damage you may cause to your rental home and your landlord’s stuff, but this doesn’t extend to normal wear and tear like scratches or stains. Remember, if you want to really extend your personal liability you can supercharge your policy with Legal Protection cover. (More on this later)

Real-world contents insurance scenarios

Sometimes the best way to understand what contents insurance actually does is to see it in action. Here are six realistic scenarios that show exactly how cover works, what gets paid, and what doesn’t.

Scenario 1: Laptop and bike stolen from a student flat-share

The situation

Jamie is a second-year student renting a room in a shared house in Sheffield. He comes home one evening to find a window has been forced open and his Apple MacBook Air (£900), Specialized road bike (£800), and Sony headphones (£250) are gone. Total loss: around £1,950.

What’s covered

Jamie has a standard Lemonade contents policy with £15,000 of cover, a £150 excess, and the Theft and Loss add-on. The break-in counts as burglary, which is covered under his base policy. The bike theft is covered under his Theft and Loss add-on.

What he receives

  • MacBook Air: £900
  • Specialized bike: £800
  • Sony headphones: £250
  • Total claim value: £1,950
  • Minus £150 excess: £1,800 paid out

The process

Jamie files a claim through the Lemonade app, uploads his police report reference number and proof of purchase for the MacBook. The claim is reviewed and approved. Replacement funds are transferred directly to his account.

The lesson

Without the Theft and Loss add-on, the bike would not have been covered if it had been stolen from outside the property. The add-on made the difference.

Scenario 2: Water damage from an upstairs neighbour

The situation

Amara rents a first-floor flat in Leeds. Her upstairs neighbour’s washing machine develops a fault overnight and leaks through the ceiling, soaking her living room. Her IKEA sofa (£900), Samsung TV (£600), and hardwood flooring (belonging to the landlord) are damaged. The flat is temporarily uninhabitable.

What’s covered

Amara has a Lemonade contents policy with £20,000 of cover and £250 excess. Water damage from a sudden leak is a listed peril. Her sofa and TV are covered. The flooring belongs to the landlord and falls under buildings insurance, so it is not covered by Amara’s policy.

What she receives

  • Samsung TV: £600
  • IKEA sofa: £900
  • Total claim value: £1,500
  • Minus £250 excess: £1,250 paid out
  • Temporary accommodation: covered separately under her temp accommodation allowance while repairs are completed

The lesson

Contents insurance covers your belongings, not the building. Amara’s landlord is responsible for the flooring through their own buildings insurance. But Amara’s temp accommodation cover meant she wasn’t out of pocket for her hotel stay while the flat dried out.

Scenario 3: Accidental damage to a high-value camera

The situation

Marcus is a freelance photographer living in a one-bedroom flat in Bristol. He knocks his Sony A7R V camera body (£3,200) off a table while packing for a shoot. The camera is damaged beyond repair.

What’s covered

Marcus has a Lemonade policy with the Accidental Damage add-on and the Sony A7R V listed as a named high-value item. Without the named item, the standard £2,000 single-item limit would have applied, leaving him £1,200 short. With the named item scheduled at full value, the entire replacement cost is covered.

What he receives

  • Sony A7R V replacement: £3,200
  • Minus £250 excess: £2,950 paid out

The process

Marcus files through the Lemonade app, uploads his original purchase receipt and the repair assessment confirming the damage is beyond economical repair. Claim approved and funds transferred.

The lesson

Accidental Damage cover plus naming expensive items individually is what makes a policy genuinely useful for anyone with kit worth more than £2,000. A standard policy alone would have left a significant gap.

Scenario 4: Fire damage to a home office

The situation

Priya works from home in her rented flat in Manchester. A faulty extension lead causes a small fire that destroys her Apple MacBook Pro (£2,000), Dell monitor (£400), mechanical keyboard (£150), and several pieces of furniture. She cannot stay in the flat while smoke damage is assessed and cleared.

What’s covered

Priya has a Lemonade contents policy with £25,000 of cover, £250 excess, and temp accommodation cover set at £5,000. Fire is a listed peril. All damaged items are covered.

What she receives

  • Apple MacBook Pro: £2,000
  • Dell monitor: £400
  • Keyboard and accessories: £150
  • Damaged furniture: £800
  • Total: £3,350
  • Minus £250 excess: £3,100 paid out
  • Hotel costs for five nights while smoke damage is cleared: covered under temp accommodation

The lesson

Temp accommodation cover is often an afterthought when setting up a policy, but it matters more than people expect. A five-night hotel stay in Manchester can easily run £500 or more.

Scenario 5: Personal liability incident at home

The situation

Dan hosts a small dinner party in his Edinburgh flat. A guest slips on a wet kitchen floor, breaks their wrist, and later brings a personal injury claim against Dan for medical costs and lost earnings. The total claim comes to £12,000.

What’s covered

Dan has a Lemonade contents policy with personal liability cover set at £1,000,000. The injury occurred in his home, and he is found to be liable. His policy covers both the medical costs and the legal fees involved in defending and settling the claim.

What he pays out of pocket

Nothing. The full £12,000 is covered within his personal liability limit.

The lesson

Personal liability cover is the part of a contents policy most people forget about until they need it. A dinner party, a slippery floor, and one bad landing can turn into a five-figure legal situation. It is covered by default on a standard Lemonade policy.

Scenario 6: Temporary accommodation after a burst pipe

The situation

In February, a pipe in the walls of Leila’s rented flat in Glasgow bursts overnight, causing significant flooding across two rooms. The letting agent confirms the flat is uninhabitable for three weeks while repairs are completed. Leila needs to find somewhere to stay, store some of her belongings, and cover higher food costs while living out of a hotel.

What’s covered

Leila has a Lemonade contents policy with £30,000 of cover and temp accommodation cover set at £10,000. A burst pipe is a listed peril. Her damaged belongings and her additional living costs during the repair period are covered.

What she receives

  • Damaged furniture and belongings: £2,200 (minus £150 excess)
  • Hotel accommodation for three weeks: £1,800
  • Additional food and laundry costs: £400
  • Total paid out: £4,250

The lesson

Temp accommodation cover is worth setting at a realistic level, not just the minimum. Three weeks in a hotel is not unusual after serious water damage. Leila had set her limit at £10,000, which gave her enough headroom to stay somewhere comfortable without stress.

High value items

If you own valuable items worth over £2,000 each, they’re also covered by your contents insurance-but you’ll need to add some additional cover for your high-value items to make sure they’re covered for their full value. In insurance terms, that’s known as adding scheduled personal possessions cover.

Real-world contents insurance scenarios

Sometimes the best way to understand what contents insurance actually does is to see it in action. Here are six realistic scenarios that show exactly how cover works, what gets paid, and what doesn’t.

Scenario 1: Laptop and bike stolen from a student flat-share

The situation

Jamie is a second-year student renting a room in a shared house in Sheffield. He comes home one evening to find a window has been forced open and his Apple MacBook Air (£900), Specialized road bike (£800), and Sony headphones (£250) are gone. Total loss: around £1,950.

What’s covered

Jamie has a standard Lemonade contents policy with £15,000 of cover, a £150 excess, and the Theft and Loss add-on. The break-in counts as burglary, which is covered under his base policy. The bike theft is covered under his Theft and Loss add-on.

What he receives

  • MacBook Air: £900
  • Specialized bike: £800
  • Sony headphones: £250
  • Total claim value: £1,950
  • Minus £150 excess: £1,800 paid out

The process

Jamie files a claim through the Lemonade app, uploads his police report reference number and proof of purchase for the MacBook. The claim is reviewed and approved. Replacement funds are transferred directly to his account.

The lesson

Without the Theft and Loss add-on, the bike would not have been covered if it had been stolen from outside the property. The add-on made the difference.

Scenario 2: Water damage from an upstairs neighbour

The situation

Amara rents a first-floor flat in Leeds. Her upstairs neighbour’s washing machine develops a fault overnight and leaks through the ceiling, soaking her living room. Her IKEA sofa (£900), Samsung TV (£600), and hardwood flooring (belonging to the landlord) are damaged. The flat is temporarily uninhabitable.

What’s covered

Amara has a Lemonade contents policy with £20,000 of cover and £250 excess. Water damage from a sudden leak is a listed peril. Her sofa and TV are covered. The flooring belongs to the landlord and falls under buildings insurance, so it is not covered by Amara’s policy.

What she receives

  • Samsung TV: £600
  • IKEA sofa: £900
  • Total claim value: £1,500
  • Minus £250 excess: £1,250 paid out
  • Temporary accommodation: covered separately under her temp accommodation allowance while repairs are completed

The lesson

Contents insurance covers your belongings, not the building. Amara’s landlord is responsible for the flooring through their own buildings insurance. But Amara’s temp accommodation cover meant she wasn’t out of pocket for her hotel stay while the flat dried out.

Scenario 3: Accidental damage to a high-value camera

The situation

Marcus is a freelance photographer living in a one-bedroom flat in Bristol. He knocks his Sony A7R V camera body (£3,200) off a table while packing for a shoot. The camera is damaged beyond repair.

What’s covered

Marcus has a Lemonade policy with the Accidental Damage add-on and the Sony A7R V listed as a named high-value item. Without the named item, the standard £2,000 single-item limit would have applied, leaving him £1,200 short. With the named item scheduled at full value, the entire replacement cost is covered.

What he receives

  • Sony A7R V replacement: £3,200
  • Minus £250 excess: £2,950 paid out

The process

Marcus files through the Lemonade app, uploads his original purchase receipt and the repair assessment confirming the damage is beyond economical repair. Claim approved and funds transferred.

The lesson

Accidental Damage cover plus naming expensive items individually is what makes a policy genuinely useful for anyone with kit worth more than £2,000. A standard policy alone would have left a significant gap.

Scenario 4: Fire damage to a home office

The situation

Priya works from home in her rented flat in Manchester. A faulty extension lead causes a small fire that destroys her Apple MacBook Pro (£2,000), Dell monitor (£400), mechanical keyboard (£150), and several pieces of furniture. She cannot stay in the flat while smoke damage is assessed and cleared.

What’s covered

Priya has a Lemonade contents policy with £25,000 of cover, £250 excess, and temp accommodation cover set at £5,000. Fire is a listed peril. All damaged items are covered.

What she receives

  • Apple MacBook Pro: £2,000
  • Dell monitor: £400
  • Keyboard and accessories: £150
  • Damaged furniture: £800
  • Total: £3,350
  • Minus £250 excess: £3,100 paid out
  • Hotel costs for five nights while smoke damage is cleared: covered under temp accommodation

The lesson

Temp accommodation cover is often an afterthought when setting up a policy, but it matters more than people expect. A five-night hotel stay in Manchester can easily run £500 or more.

Scenario 5: Personal liability incident at home

The situation

Dan hosts a small dinner party in his Edinburgh flat. A guest slips on a wet kitchen floor, breaks their wrist, and later brings a personal injury claim against Dan for medical costs and lost earnings. The total claim comes to £12,000.

What’s covered

Dan has a Lemonade contents policy with personal liability cover set at £1,000,000. The injury occurred in his home, and he is found to be liable. His policy covers both the medical costs and the legal fees involved in defending and settling the claim.

What he pays out of pocket

Nothing. The full £12,000 is covered within his personal liability limit.

The lesson

Personal liability cover is the part of a contents policy most people forget about until they need it. A dinner party, a slippery floor, and one bad landing can turn into a five-figure legal situation. It is covered by default on a standard Lemonade policy.

Scenario 6: Temporary accommodation after a burst pipe

The situation

In February, a pipe in the walls of Leila’s rented flat in Glasgow bursts overnight, causing significant flooding across two rooms. The letting agent confirms the flat is uninhabitable for three weeks while repairs are completed. Leila needs to find somewhere to stay, store some of her belongings, and cover higher food costs while living out of a hotel.

What’s covered

Leila has a Lemonade contents policy with £30,000 of cover and temp accommodation cover set at £10,000. A burst pipe is a listed peril. Her damaged belongings and her additional living costs during the repair period are covered.

What she receives

  • Damaged furniture and belongings: £2,200 (minus £150 excess)
  • Hotel accommodation for three weeks: £1,800
  • Additional food and laundry costs: £400
  • Total paid out: £4,250

The lesson

Temp accommodation cover is worth setting at a realistic level, not just the minimum. Three weeks in a hotel is not unusual after serious water damage. Leila had set her limit at £10,000, which gave her enough headroom to stay somewhere comfortable without stress.

For a slightly extra cost, you can add additional cover for your high-value items, including: 

  • Paintings
  • Sculptures
  • Watches
  • Musical instruments
  • Jewellery

A lot of these items might already have a cover of £2K on your base policy-but scheduling your high-value items increases the amount of cover above £2K, up to the full worth of the item. 

Adding this additional cover is simple, and can be done via the Lemonade app. High-value items can be added to your policy for an additional cost, though they may require appraisals or proof of purchase.

But don’t forget, if you want to protect them for most eventualities you’ll need to bolster your coverage with optional extras.

Add-on covers 

Add-ons are optional extras that can be applied to your base policy, giving you extra cover in the event of specific circumstances. At Lemonade, we offer four available add-ons for tenants:

4 superpowers

Theft & Loss cover

On your base policy you’re covered for straightforward cases of robbery or burglary inside your home. But with Theft & Loss cover your stuff is also covered against theft and accidental loss inside and outside your home, as long as you’ve taken reasonable care to protect it.

So, if your mobile phone or your bicycle gets stolen or lost outside your home, you’re covered. (Just remember not to leave your phone unattended, and to lock up your bicycle with a high quality chain or U-lock, otherwise your claim might not be covered). 

Another great perk of this cover is you’re also covered if your house keys are lost or stolen. If this happens, we’ll cover the necessary costs to replace the locks or keys.

Legal Protection cover

Adding Legal Protection cover gives your policy an extra layer of security, going beyond the personal liability coverage in your base policy. For instance, we’ll provide legal protection in case of disputes related to personal injury, your home, your employment, consumer agreements and clinical negligence causing you injury.

Adding Legal Protection cover gives your policy an extra layer of security, going beyond the personal liability coverage in your base plan.

Accidental Damage cover

The accidental damage add-on covers your stuff against damage that is sudden and unexpected, even if it’s your fault. So let’s say you accidentally spill coffee on your brand new rug or knock over your TV-you’d be covered. The only catch is this cover doesn’t apply to your mobile devices or gadgets, like your smartphone, laptop or tablet.

Accidental Damage to Mobile Devices cover

We partner with BeValued, who will actually come pick up your damaged mobile device and repair it using only original parts. What if your device needs to be replaced? Smartphones will be replaced with a refurbished, Grade A (mint condition) mobile. All other devices will be replaced as-new.

Home Emergency cover

Homeowners with a contents-only insurance policy from Lemonade can enhance their coverage by adding our home emergency cover. This cover provides a 24/7 emergency helpline to assist with urgent issues like a broken boiler, electrical failures, or even if you’ve lost your house key. Keep in mind, that this cover is not available for tenants.

How much does contents insurance cost? 

The price of contents insurance is more affordable than you might expect, with policies starting at just £4 a month. Your premium depends on factors like the value of your belongings, the coverage amount you choose, the excess you choose, and any optional extras you add, such as Accidental Damage or Legal Protection.

How much cover do I need?

Determining how much contents insurance you need depends on the value of your belongings. Follow these steps to calculate:

  1. Make an inventory: Walk through every room and write down everything you own, including furniture, clothing, gadgets, and personal items
  2. Assign values: Estimate the replacement cost of each item. For bulk items like kitchenware, assign an approximate lump sum
  3. Consider high-value items: List items worth more than the single item limit (£2,000). These will need to be added to your policy individually
  4. Add it all up: Add the total replacement cost of all your belongings to get your sum insured

What’s not covered by contents insurance?

Every insurance policy has its exclusions, so it’s essential to read the fine print. Here’s what’s typically not covered:

  • Wear and tear: Routine deterioration of items over time
  • Damage caused by negligence: Deliberate damage or failure to maintain your property (e.g., ignoring leaking pipes)
  • House structure damage: Damage to your home’s walls, roof, or fixtures is covered by buildings insurance
  • Undeclared high-value items: If a single item exceeds the standard limit for your policy (often around £1,500), it must be individually listed
  • Some policies also may not cover damage caused by pests, mould, or faulty workmanship

Always confirm policy exclusions listed in your policy documents.

Is contents insurance mandatory?

No, contents insurance is not legally-mandated, but it’s highly recommended for most households. Here’s some scenarios:

Homeowners 

If you own your home, you may already have home insurance, which typically combines buildings and contents insurance. While buildings insurance covers the structure of your home, contents insurance protects your belongings inside.

Renters 

Since renters don’t need buildings insurance (that’s the responsibility of your landlord), contents insurance for renters ensures your possessions, like furniture and gadgets, are protected.

Shared Housing 

For those living in shared accommodation, a typical policy may not cover belongings owned by other housemates. You’ll need individual policies or a special clause that covers everyone’s belongings.

Contents insurance terminology and comparisons

New to insurance, or just not sure what certain terms actually mean? Here is a plain-English guide to the key concepts, plus a clear breakdown of how contents insurance compares to other types of cover.

Key insurance terms explained

  • Sum insured: The total maximum amount your insurer will pay out across all claims during your policy period. When you choose £20,000 of contents cover, that is your sum insured. Set it too low and you risk being underinsured if you need to make a major claim.
  • Single item limit: The maximum your insurer will pay for any one individual item under a standard policy. At Lemonade, this is £2,000. If you own a watch, camera, or piece of jewellery worth more than that, it needs to be listed separately as a named high-value item to be covered for its full value.
  • Excess: The amount you agree to contribute towards any claim you make. If your excess is £250 and you claim for £1,000 of stolen electronics, your insurer pays £750. A higher excess usually means a lower monthly premium, but it also means a bigger out-of-pocket cost when you do claim.
  • Named/scheduled items: Specific high-value belongings that are individually listed on your policy above the standard single-item limit. Naming an item means it is covered for its full declared value rather than being capped at the default limit.
  • Listed perils: The specific events your policy covers, such as fire, theft, burst pipes, flooding, and vandalism. If a loss is caused by something that is not on the list, it is not covered. Always check your policy documents to know exactly what is and is not included.
  • New-for-old replacement: A claims settlement method where your insurer replaces a damaged or stolen item with a brand new equivalent, rather than paying out its depreciated second-hand value. Most modern contents policies, including Lemonade, use new-for-old replacement.
  • Indemnity basis: The opposite of new-for-old. An indemnity policy pays out the current market value of a lost or damaged item, accounting for age and wear. A five-year-old television claimed on an indemnity basis would pay out significantly less than its original purchase price.
  • Underinsurance: When your sum insured is lower than the actual replacement value of your belongings. If you insure £15,000 of contents but own £30,000 worth of stuff, you may only receive a proportional payout on any claim. It is one of the most common and costly mistakes in home insurance.
  • Personal liability cover: The section of your contents policy that protects you if someone is injured or their property is damaged as a result of something you did or failed to do. It covers legal costs and compensation payments up to your chosen liability limit.
  • Temporary accommodation cover: Also called loss of use cover. This section pays for alternative living costs, such as a hotel stay, if your home becomes uninhabitable due to a covered event like fire or flooding.
  • Add-on/optional extra: Additional cover you can bolt onto a standard policy for specific risks not included by default. Common examples include Theft and Loss outside the home, Accidental Damage, and Legal Protection.
  • Accidental damage: Sudden and unexpected physical damage caused unintentionally. Spilling coffee on a laptop or knocking a television off a stand are typical examples. Not included in most base policies; usually available as a paid add-on.
  • Buildings insurance: A separate type of home insurance that covers the physical structure of a property: walls, roof, floors, fitted kitchens, and permanent fixtures. If you rent, this is your landlord’s responsibility, not yours.
  • Premium: The amount you pay for your insurance, either monthly or annually. Your premium is calculated based on factors including your cover amount, excess, location, and any add-ons you choose.
  • Policy excess: See excess above. Some policies have both a compulsory excess (set by the insurer) and a voluntary excess (chosen by you). The two are usually added together when calculating your contribution to a claim.

What is the difference between contents and building insurance?

This is one of the most common sources of confusion in home insurance. The simplest way to think about it:

  • Contents insurance covers everything you could take with you if you moved out: furniture, clothes, electronics, jewellery, and personal belongings.
  • Buildings insurance covers everything you could not take with you: walls, roof, floors, windows, fitted kitchens, and permanent fixtures.
Contents insuranceBuilding insurance
Furniture (sofas, beds, tables)CoveredNot covered
Clothing and shoesCoveredNot covered
Electronics (TV, laptop, phone)CoveredNot covered
Jewellery and watchesCovered (with named items if over £2,000)Not covered
Walls, roof, and structureNot coveredCovered
Fitted kitchen and bathroomNot coveredCovered
Windows and doorsNot coveredCovered
Landlord’s fixtures and fittingsNot coveredCovered by landlord’s policy

If you rent, buildings insurance is your landlord’s responsibility. You only need contents insurance. If you own your home, you need both, though they can be purchased together as a combined home insurance policy.

Indemnity vs new-for-old: which policy type is better?

Indemnity policyNew-for-old policy
How it worksPays current second-hand value of lost/damaged itemsReplaces items with brand new equivalents
Example payout for a 4-year-old laptop£200–£300 (depreciated value)£900–£1,200 (cost of new replacement)
Typical premiumLowerSlightly higher
Best forThose with older belongings they would not replace like-for-likeMost households, especially those with electronics and newer items

Most modern policies, including Lemonade, operate on a new-for-old basis. An indemnity policy might look cheaper upfront, but the payout difference on a significant claim can be substantial.

Contents insurance vs home warranty: what is the difference?

These two products are often confused, but they cover very different things.

Contents insuranceHome warranty
What it coversBelongings damaged or stolen due to unexpected eventsMechanical breakdown of home appliances and systems
Example claimLaptop stolen in a burglaryBoiler breaks down due to age
Covers theft?YesNo
Covers accidental damage?With add-onNo
Covers appliance wear and tear?NoYes
Who needs itRenters and homeowners wanting to protect possessionsHomeowners wanting to cover appliance and system repairs

The two products can complement each other, but neither replaces the other. A home warranty will not help you if your television is stolen. Contents insurance will not cover your boiler breaking down from normal use.

Contents insurance vs travel insurance: where does the overlap end?

If you have contents insurance with a Theft and Loss add-on, some of your belongings may be covered when you travel. But travel insurance and contents insurance are not the same thing.

Contents insurance (with Theft and Loss)Travel insurance
Covers belongings stolen abroadOften yes, check your policyYes
Covers trip cancellationNoYes
Covers medical emergencies abroadNoYes
Covers flight delaysNoYes
Covers belongings at homeYesNo
DurationYear-roundPer trip or annual

At Lemonade, personal liability cover extends to trips abroad of up to three months. For anything beyond that, or for trip-specific protections like cancellation and medical cover, a separate travel insurance policy is the right tool.

Protect your belongings

Insurance may not stop fires or theft, but it provides a financial cushion if the worst happens. By getting contents insurance tailored to your needs, you can rest easy knowing your belongings are protected.

Take the first step, and get a quote with Lemonade today.

Get your quote

Contents insurance FAQs

What happens if I don’t declare high-value items?

If you fail to declare items worth more than your policy’s single-item limit, they may not be fully covered in the event of a claim. It’s a good idea to always schedule your high-value items to ensure adequate protection.

Who’s covered by my contents insurance? 

Contents insurance usually covers you, your partner, and anyone living with you, such as children or close relatives, as long as they’re named on your policy. Housemates can be included too, but many policies limit this to four people in total.

If your kids go off to uni but lived at home beforehand, their belongings might still be covered under your policy if they’re still registered at home, and living in student halls of residence. For others, like cousins or friends, getting separate insurance is often a better choice to ensure everyone’s things are properly protected.

Does contents insurance cover damage caused by pets?

No, most contents policies do not cover damage caused by pets, such as scratches on furniture or chewed items.

Can I insure items I’ve borrowed or rented?

No, contents insurance typically does not cover items you’ve borrowed from friends or rented. These items remain the responsibility of their owner or may require separate insurance.

What happens if I underinsure my belongings?

If you underestimate the value of your possessions, your insurer won’t pay the full replacement cost in the event of a claim. For instance, if your items are worth £20,000 but your policy covers £10,000, the maximum payout you could receive in the event of a claim is £10,000.

It’s important to accurately calculate the value of your items to avoid being underinsured.

Can I add high-value items after getting a policy?

Yes, most providers allow you to declare and add high-value items to your policy as your belongings change. At Lemonade, you can manage your cover at any time on the Lemonade app.

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Please note: Lemonade articles and other editorial content are meant for educational purposes only, and should not be relied upon instead of professional legal, insurance or financial advice. The content of these educational articles does not alter the terms, conditions, exclusions, or limitations of policies issued by Lemonade, which differ according to your state of residence. While we regularly review previously published content to ensure it is accurate and up-to-date, there may be instances in which legal conditions or policy details have changed since publication. Any hypothetical examples used in Lemonade editorial content are purely expositional. Hypothetical examples do not alter or bind Lemonade to any application of your insurance policy to the particular facts and circumstances of any actual claim.