Does Contents Insurance Cover Handmade Items?

Contents insurance can cover handmade items, but their uniqueness and value means the details matter more than usual. Whether it’s a piece of handmade jewellery, a custom painting, or a bespoke piece of furniture, here’s what you need to know to make sure it’s properly protected.

When does contents insurance cover handmade items?

Your handmade items live in your home and belong to you, so they’re generally included under contents insurance. But here’s the catch: cover only kicks in when the damage or loss results from a specific, unexpected event.

Contents insurance is designed to protect the belongings in your home, from furniture to personal possessions, and that includes handmade and bespoke items. The rule of thumb? If you could pack it up and take it with you when you move, it’s classed as contents.

So if someone breaks in and takes a handmade piece of jewellery, or a fire damages a custom painting, your insurer will likely step in. The challenge with handmade items isn’t usually whether they’re covered. It’s making sure they’re covered for the right amount.

What types of damage or loss are covered?

A standard Lemonade contents insurance policy covers your handmade items against a range of unexpected events. Here’s a closer look:

• Theft and burglary: Your base policy covers straightforward cases of robbery or burglary inside your home. If someone breaks in and your handmade items are taken or damaged, you’re covered, as long as they’re appropriately valued and listed where required.
• Fire damage: If your handmade items are damaged or destroyed in a house fire, your contents insurance will cover the cost of repair or replacement. Report the incident quickly and gather as much evidence as you can.
• Water damage: Sudden water damage, say, from a burst pipe or an unexpected flood, is typically covered. If the damage has crept in gradually due to a known issue you didn’t address, your insurer is unlikely to pay out.
• Accidental damage: Knocked a handmade sculpture off a shelf? Spilt something on a custom piece of artwork? That kind of mishap isn’t covered under a standard policy, but with Lemonade’s Accidental Damage add-on, you would be. It covers sudden and unexpected damage, even if it’s your fault.

Just note: this add-on doesn’t apply to mobile devices or gadgets.

What about high-value handmade items?

This is where it gets particularly important. With Lemonade, items valued over £2,000 each may need to be added as scheduled personal possessions to make sure they’re covered for their full value. Without this, your payout could be capped at a lower limit, which for a truly unique piece could leave you significantly out of pocket.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Get a professional valuation. For handmade jewellery, custom furniture, one-of-a-kind artwork, or bespoke pieces, your insurer may ask for a professional appraisal or proof of the item’s worth before agreeing to schedule it.
• List it via the app. Adding scheduled cover is straightforward and can be done directly through the Lemonade app.
• Keep your documentation safe. Hold on to valuations, receipts, and any relevant paperwork, or store digital copies somewhere accessible in case you ever need to make a claim.

Once it’s listed, you can feel confident it’s covered for what it’s actually worth.

What about sentimental value?

It’s worth being clear on this one: insurance covers the monetary replacement cost of an item, not its sentimental value. A hand-knitted blanket might mean the world to you, but your insurer will only pay out what it costs to replace the materials. A unique piece of handmade jewellery, on the other hand, could be valued and insured at a much higher amount, provided you’ve got the valuation to back it up.

For truly irreplaceable items, things that simply can’t be remade, it’s worth speaking to your insurer about how they’d approach a claim, so you know exactly where you stand before something goes wrong.

When is damage or loss not covered?

Here’s the bit you don’t want to miss. While handmade items are generally included under contents insurance, there are limits:

• Wear and tear: Gradual deterioration, fading, or damage from everyday use isn’t what insurance is for.
• Underinsurance: If your item isn’t listed separately and its value exceeds the standard single-item limit, your payout may be capped. Get a valuation and list it properly.
• No proof of value: Without a valuation, receipt, or appraisal, it can be difficult to support a claim for a high-value handmade item.
• Negligence: Damage caused by careless handling or failure to take reasonable care may not be covered.
• Gradual damage: Any deterioration that’s built up slowly over time, rather than from a sudden event, is unlikely to be covered.

How to make a claim

If something happens to a handmade item, here’s how to handle it:

1. Check your policy. Confirm the damage or loss is covered, and that the item has been listed separately if its value exceeds £2,000.
2. Document everything. Photos, professional valuations, receipts, and any proof of provenance – the more evidence, the better.
3. Report it quickly. Contact your insurer as soon as possible. Delays can affect your claim.
4. Hold off on permanent repairs or replacements. Wait for your insurer’s go-ahead before getting anything fixed or remade, unless it’s urgent.

With Lemonade, you can file a claim straight through the app – no lengthy phone calls, no mountains of paperwork. Just a quick, straightforward process so you can focus on what matters.

Bottom line

Handmade items can absolutely be covered under contents insurance – but their uniqueness means you need to be a little more proactive. Get valuations, list high-value pieces separately, and keep your documentation in order. The right cover means that even your most special creations are protected when the unexpected happens.

Lemonade’s contents insurance is built around you, not the small print. With cover that’s easy to understand, flexible add-ons, and a claims process designed to be simple and human, you can feel confident your belongings are protected – handmade or otherwise. Explore Lemonade’s home insurance options to find the right cover for you.

Handmade items insurance FAQs