Does Contents Insurance Cover Renovation Risks?

Contents insurance usually covers your belongings during a renovation, but renovations change the risk picture, and not every policy keeps up. Whether you’re freshening up a room or knocking through walls, here’s what you need to know before the work starts.

When does contents insurance cover your belongings during a renovation?

Your belongings are still your belongings when the dust sheets go down, so yes, they’re generally included under contents insurance during a renovation. But cover only kicks in when the damage or loss results from a specific, unexpected event.

Contents insurance is designed to protect the things in your home, from your furniture to your electronics, and that doesn’t change just because there are builders in. 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 during the works and takes your valuables, or a fire breaks out, your insurer will likely step in. If a contractor drops a tool through your TV or paint gets spilt on your sofa? That’s a different matter entirely, and it’s worth understanding exactly who’s responsible before the work starts.

What types of renovation damage or loss are covered?

A standard Lemonade contents insurance policy covers your belongings against a range of unexpected events, even during a renovation. Here’s a closer look:

Theft and burglary 

Your base policy covers straightforward cases of robbery or burglary inside your home. Renovations can increase the risk of theft, with open access, unfamiliar faces on site, and temporarily unsecured entry points all playing a part. If someone breaks in and your belongings are taken, you’re covered, as long as you’ve taken reasonable steps to secure your home during the works.

Fire damage 

If your belongings are damaged or destroyed in a fire during the renovation, whether from faulty wiring, an unexpected cause unrelated to the works, or another sudden event, 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 from a burst pipe or an unexpected flood is typically covered. If the damage results from the renovation work itself or a known issue that wasn’t addressed, your insurer is unlikely to pay out.

Accidental damage (by you) 

Spilt paint on your sofa while helping out? Knocked something over during a DIY moment? That kind of mishap isn’t covered under a standard policy, but with Lemonade’s Accidental Damage add-on, sudden and unexpected damage caused by you is covered.

Just note: this add-on doesn’t apply to mobile devices or gadgets like smartphones, laptops, or tablets.

What is not covered?

Here’s the bit you don’t want to miss. While your belongings are generally included under contents insurance during a renovation, there are limits:

• Contractor damage: Damage caused by a contractor during renovation works is their responsibility. Your contents insurance won’t cover it, even if you have the Accidental Damage add-on. Make sure your contractor has public liability insurance before work begins.
• Structural work exclusions: Some policies exclude damage arising directly from structural renovation work. Check your policy documents before major work begins.
• Negligence: Damage caused by failing to take reasonable precautions, like leaving your home unsecured during works, may not be covered.
• Unoccupancy: If your home is empty for an extended period during the renovation, standard cover may no longer apply. Check your policy for unoccupancy clauses.
• Gradual damage: Any deterioration that’s built up slowly over time, rather than from a sudden event, is unlikely to be covered.

Contents insurance covers your belongings against unexpected events, not the foreseeable risks that come with having building work done.

What about damage caused by contractors?

This is an important one. Any damage caused by a contractor during renovation works is their responsibility, not your insurer’s. This applies even if you have Lemonade’s Accidental Damage add-on in place. If it’s caused by the works, it falls under the contractor’s liability cover.

A reputable contractor should have their own public liability insurance. Ask for confirmation before work starts. It’s standard practice, and if they can’t provide it, that’s a red flag worth taking seriously. Keep their details and insurance information somewhere safe in case you need them later.

Do I need to tell my insurer about the renovation?

Yes, and this is important. Major renovation work can change the risk profile of your home, and failing to notify your insurer could affect your cover or invalidate a claim. As a rule of thumb:

• Minor cosmetic work: Painting, decorating, or fitting new shelves? Your standard policy should still apply. Still worth a quick check.
• Significant structural work: Knocking through walls, re-roofing, or major plumbing or electrical work? Let your insurer know before work starts. Some insurers may add conditions to your policy or temporarily adjust your cover.
• Unoccupied properties: If the renovation means your home will be empty for an extended period, your cover could be affected. Many policies have an unoccupancy clause, so check your policy documents carefully.

What about high-value items?

Got valuable furniture, art, or electronics in the middle of a renovation zone? Worth flagging to your insurer. 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. If something goes wrong during the works, you want to know your high-value items are properly protected.

Where possible, move your most valuable belongings out of the work area entirely. The less exposure, the lower the risk, and the stronger your position if you do need to make a claim.

What add-ons should you consider?

Lemonade offers a handful of add-ons that can give your belongings a bit more protection during a renovation:

• Accidental Damage cover: Covers sudden, unexpected damage to your belongings caused by you, even if it’s your fault. Paint on the sofa? Dropped something on the hob? You’re sorted. Excludes mobile devices and gadgets. Note: this does not cover damage caused by contractors. That falls under their liability cover.
• Theft and Loss cover: Your base policy already covers in-home theft. With this add-on, you’re also covered for theft and accidental loss outside your home, as long as you’ve taken reasonable care to protect your belongings.
• Home Emergency cover: This add-on gives you access to a 24/7 emergency helpline for urgent home issues – think electrical failures, broken boilers, or lost keys. Particularly handy when renovation work uncovers something unexpected. Note: this add-on is not available on contents-only policies where buildings insurance is also held with Lemonade.

How to make a claim

If something happens to your belongings during a renovation, here’s how to handle it:

1. Check your policy. Confirm the damage or loss is covered, and that your renovation work hasn’t affected your cover.
2. Establish responsibility. If a contractor caused the damage, their public liability insurance is the right route. Get their details and insurance information before contacting your own insurer.
3. Document everything. Photos, receipts, proof of ownership. The more evidence, the better.
4. Report it quickly. Contact your insurer as soon as possible. Delays can affect your claim.
5. Hold off on permanent repairs or replacements. Wait for your insurer’s go-ahead before getting anything fixed or replaced, unless it’s an urgent safety issue.

With Lemonade, you can file a claim straight through the app. No phone queues, no forms to dig out. Just a few taps, and you’re on your way to getting things sorted.

Bottom line

Renovations are exciting, but they introduce risks that a standard contents insurance policy may not fully cover. Tell your insurer before major work starts, check your policy for renovation-related exclusions, and make sure your contractor has their own public liability insurance in place before a single tool comes through the door.

And remember: if a contractor causes damage, that’s on them, not your insurer. Even with the Accidental Damage add-on, damage caused by renovation works falls under the contractor’s liability cover.

Lemonade’s contents insurance is designed to be clear, not confusing. Flexible add-ons, straightforward claims, and cover built for real people. Explore Lemonade’s home insurance options to find the right cover for you.

Contents insurance and renovation FAQs