Tenants Contents Insurance

Cover your belongings on a flexible monthly rolling plan, with no hidden fees

What's covered in Renters Contents Insurance?

Fire and smoke

Damage or loss of contents caused by fire or smoke, up to £30,000.

Glass breakage

Covers accidental breakage to fixed glass in furniture, mirrors or ceramic hobs, up to £1,000.

Escaping water

Damage caused to contents by escaping water or oil such as a leaking washing machine or oil-fired heating system, up to £2,000.

Theft & Vandalism

Damage or loss caused by theft or attempted theft, including from a garage or outbuilding, up to £2,500.

Alternative accommodation

In the event that your home becomes uninhabitable, you’re covered for accommodation for you, your family and pets - up to £2,000.

Replacement lock and keys

Covers the cost of replacing locks on external doors following the theft of keys, up to £250.

Storms and floods

Damage to contents kept indoors as a result of a storm or flood, up to £30,000.

Tenant liability

Covers the costs and expenses you legally have to pay for causing accidental injury or damage to the property, up to £2 million

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Allen Panter

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Three easy steps

Tell us about yourself

Fill in a few details about your property and the people you would like covering on the policy.

Tweak your package

Tell us whether you would like any of the optional add-ons, such as accidental damage or high value items cover.

Relax, knowing you’re covered

You’ll receive your policy documents by email and can access them on your tenant dashboard at any time.

Tenants Contents Insurance

As a renter, making sure your valuables and possessions are safe in your new home is key. It’s so exciting moving into a new home and finding a new place for all your possessions.

This is a chance to make a house and home and put your stamp on it. Even if you are moving into a fully furnished house or flat – your pictures, your vases, your mugs, your TV, your laptop, your kayak, your pram, your slow cooker, your golf clubs… the list of what is actually yours is endless.

So, it’s really important to know the difference between what is covered under your landlords’ insurance and what needs covering under your own tenant’s contents insurance.

Maybe you weren’t even aware that as a tenant you can get this insurance, so here at Mashroom, we are going to tell you why, even if you are renting a furnished property, you may still want to ensure your own belongings are covered.

Monthly rolling plan

Our tenants’ insurance covers your belongings on a rolling month by month basis. So, as well as not being tied into an annual policy (because who knows when your plans might change and you need to move out of the property), it gives you complete peace of mind, from the day your policy begins, to the day you decide to cancel it, or you no longer need it.

Maybe you are renting while you wait for a house sale to complete, maybe you are new to an area, and you want to shop around the local housing market and know that being a renter means you can move more quickly.

Maybe you have a new job and want to get to know the area or maybe you have found your perfect home in which to nest and plan on renting it for the long haul. The important thing is, our flexible but reliable policy will ensure that all your worldly goods are, well, safe as houses!

We’ll never hide any additional fees from you, and because we operate on a flexible monthly rolling plan you can easily cancel at any time.

This page will tell you everything you need to know about Mashroom’s Tenants’ Contents Insurance and what it does and doesn’t cover. You can also have a read about some of the things you may wish to consider to decide if it’s right for you and pointers on things to ask or look out for if you want additional cover.

We strive to be transparent in all we do, so you can always chat to us if there is something you don’t understand or want to know more about.

We are confident that we have created a superior and flexible product that’s easy to use and easy to understand.

What is renters’ contents insurance?

Tenants’ content insurance, or renters’ insurance, is an insurance policy that protects your own personal belongings from theft and unintentional damage within a rented property, so you don’t lose out in an unexpected situation.

Damage can happen for all kinds of reasons – maybe there is a fire, maybe you drop your expensive new phone or maybe a water leak seeps down the wall and all over your TV. The thing is, who knows when something unintentional or accidental will happen?

It’s important to know the difference between tenants’ insurance which is different to landlords’ insurance in that it specifically covers your own belongings as the tenant, rather than those of your landlord. It also covers you outside of your home, so the expensive items you carry about in your backpack, like your laptop, phone, wireless headphones – remain covered when you set out for work or play.

Accidental or unexpected damage caused to your possessions due to a range of mostly not nice situations such as a fire, water leak, theft, or other insured risks can be claimed back against your insurance policy so that you don’t have to foot the bill.

It protects your possessions against theft and damage due to fire, flood, storms, subsidence, burst pipes and water leaks.

In the event of any of these things happening, the last thing you want on your plate is having to cope with the loss of some of your personal possessions. Maybe they are essential to your life and work, like a laptop.

Or maybe they are items of jewellery you have had in the family for a long time. Some things are irreplaceable, we understand that, but having the right cover in place will help you get back on track more quickly

Who should have renters' content insurance?

Anyone renting a property from a landlord who wants to protect their own possessions from damage or loss should get tenants content insurance.

Whilst your landlord may have a contents insurance policy in place, this only covers the items within your home that belong to them.

So, if they have put a microwave in the kitchen for you to use – that is their item, and it will be covered under their policy. If you bring your own microwave, that is yours and for your own peace of mind, it’s worth taking out your own policy in case anything happens to your things.

If you have belongings that are worth a considerable amount of money, you should always take out a policy to protect them. This can include a wide variety of items such as:

TVs
Laptops/desktop computers
Tablets
Furniture
Games consoles
Even hair straighteners – they can be very costly these days!

As a tenant, you can also purchase tenants’ liability cover which differs in the cover of damage vs belongings.

Tenants’ liability insurance is a separate cover which can help to cover the costs of any accidental damage by your or your visitors to your landlord’s property and belongings that you’re liable for as if your tenancy agreement specified you are responsible. This can include the property itself as well as fixtures and fittings.

No one expects you to live like a hermit while you are renting a property and we know that people will come round. All it takes is for someone to accidentally bump into something, spill a cup of coffee, leave a tap running and damage can be caused.

Do I need renters insurance?

You’re not legally required to take out contents insurance when you rent a property, so it’s not mandatory.

Nothing will happen to you or your rental agreement if you don’t. Perhaps your landlord will suggest it, or perhaps you’ve never heard of it and therefore it isn’t even on your radar of things to sort out.

But there are some very good reasons why you should get cover and to get it from a reputable insurer – like via us here Mashroom.

Doing so can make sure you don’t have to pay for repairs or replacements when your belongings are accidentally damaged or stolen from your home.

No matter how careful we might be, unexpected damage such as fires, floods and break-ins can happen to anyone! Even your guests might be responsible for causing accidental damage.

It can cost a lot of money to repair or replace items like a laptop and if they are essential having the right cover could help you replace or repair them more quickly, especially if you don’t have the funds ready and waiting. But if they’re covered, its extra peace of mind should something unforeseeable happen.

Landlords will have insurance that covers the building, however this does not cover any of your personal possessions while renting, and depending on your situation and area, some properties can be at higher risk of experiencing damage.

You don’t need to worry about this though, because when you apply for tenant’s contents insurance, we will take some details from you and our experts will look into things like this to provide exactly the right cover for you, your needs, and your location.

Whether you’re a student or older tenant, you can ensure that your belongings are safe with our specialist renters insurance cover policies.

What does contents insurance for renters cover?

Fire and smoke damage

If your belongings are damaged by a fire or smoke, your policy will cover the cost to replace or repair them up to the value of £30,000. This includes damage caused by scorching, singing, or melting, as well as smoke damage that happens gradually over a period of time. Damage caused by the use of portable heaters and cooking equipment used in rooms that are not designed as kitchen areas is also included.

Riot, civil commotion and labour or political disturbances and strikes

Any damage caused accidentally by these circumstances can be claimed for. However, the damage must be reported to the police within seven days of its occurrence.

Damage by malicious persons

Any damage caused by someone who sets out to cause damage is covered, however this does not apply to people living in your home, damage caused by domestic pets or animals, or by cutting down all or part of a tree.

Storm or flood

This coverage offers protection against any damage to your contents caused by a storm or a flood. This cannot be damage that occurs gradually over time or that does not arise specifically from one identifiable event.

Subsidence, ground heave or landslip

The exclusions for claims for subsidence or ground heave of the site your home stands on, or landslip include:

Glass breakage. Our tenant’s insurance covers accidental damage caused to fixed glass in furniture, mirrors, or ceramic hobs up to £1,000. However, glass in picture frames or clocks and damage caused by scratching or denting are not included in our coverage.

Escaping water. Any damage caused to contents by escaping water or oil can be claimed for up to £2,000. This includes water leaks from any fixed domestic water or drainage installation, heating installation, washing machine, dishwasher, waterbed, fish tanks, refrigerator, or deep-freeze cabinet. For example, if your fish tank leaked and caused water damage to a nearby TV, you’ll be able to claim compensation.

Theft, attempted theft, and vandalism. Any damage or loss caused by theft or attempted theft of your home, a garage or an outbuilding can be claimed for up to £2,500. However, it’s important to note that this only applies for forced entry into your home.

Oil leaking from a fixed domestic oil-fired heating system. This includes smoke or smudge damage caused by evaporation from a faulty oil-fired heating system.

Accidental loss of metered water or oil in domestic heating systems. This is another separate benefit provided in addition to the maximum claim limit for contents. However, it does not apply to loss occurring while the home is unoccupied or unfurnished.

Items covered can differ depending on your add-on choices and cover type, however we aim to make sure your belongings are covered in case of any unexpected issue!

What isn't covered by renters’ insurance?

Our tenants’ content insurance can protect you from additional costs in most situations, however there are a few exclusions that you should be aware of when it comes to your policy.

Here’s a list of what won’t be covered by your tenants’ content insurance policy with a short explanation for each one. Any further exclusions will be set out in detail in your policy documentation.

Wear and tear

General wear and tear of items happens as they are used

Property more specifically insured by another policy

Sometimes you have something truly exceptional or niche or extremely valuable that may wish to have specific cover for.

Undamaged contents

We will not pay for, or make a contribution towards any claim for undamaged items that are part of a set or a suite.

Loss of value

Any reduction in the market value of any property following its replacement or repair.

Portable heaters

Damage caused by the use of portable heaters (excluding oil filled portable heating) at your home won’t be covered.

Cooking damage

Damage caused by cooking in rooms which are not fitted and designed as kitchens or, in the case of bedsits, areas that are specifically designed as a cooking area.

Riot

Damage to contents or data caused by riot or civil commotion outside of England, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Illness

Any loss or damage caused by infectious or contagious disease.

Consequential loss

Any damage caused as a result of other damage won’t be covered.

Still have questions? We have answers.

If there’s anything you’re not quite 100% sure about, have a look through our FAQs. We’ve answered the most common questions tenants ask us about our contents insurance to help clear things up for you.

After that you can always contact us for further explanation or to talk through any questions or concerns you might have.

Do landlords or renters need content insurance?

Landlords and renters’ insurance are different, in that landlords’ insure the building whereas renters insure their possessions within the building.

If your landlord has provided any furniture or items to make your home more comfortable like a sofa, bed frame, fridge-freezer, or microwave, these will need to be covered by their own content insurance.

So that they can claim for any accidental theft or damage to their possessions, landlords who offer furnished or part-furnished rentals usually make the decision to take out contents insurance to protect the items in the home that belong to them and aren’t covered by buildings insurance.

And that’s sensible because while you as the tenant live in the house, their contents are subject to any unforeseen events and accidents too.

This means that as a tenant, you’ll need to take out your own contents insurance so you can make a claim if anything within the property that belongs to you is damaged or stolen.

And likewise, you can’t see an accident coming. You won’t know that a fire will start, or a water leak could spring up which damages everything in your living room. So, it’s a recommended course of action.

Neither party necessarily needs to take out contents insurance as there is no legal requirement to take out policies such as these, however it is in both of their best interests to do so.

Opting to go without contents insurance means that any damage or loss of belongings resulting from unfortunate incidents such as fires, theft, and vandalism will have to be repaired or replaced at the owner’s expense. And not everyone has a pot of cash at the ready for situations like this.

How much is renter’s content insurance?

Mashroom’s renters’ insurance starts from as little as £3.12 a month, but the price you pay will vary depending on your individual circumstances, such as where you live, the cost of your items and any specific items you want covered.

The level of coverage you require, the estimated value of your possessions, your previous no claims discount, and the level of excess you agree to pay are all variables that can affect the overall cost of your monthly payment.

But the good news is, you can tweak the policy to make sure it’s the right one for you.

Geographical factors also apply, for example if you live in an area with high levels of crime or somewhere that’s prone to flooding, your policy is likely to be on the more expensive side and our experts will look at this. We want to make sure the cover is right for each induvial.

We’ll also consider the security of the property as industry approved locks on the windows and doors are a necessity.

You don’t need to worry about any of this though because when we take your details from you our experts will go through the information to come up with exactly the right cover for you and your individual circumstances.

How to buy tenants’ content insurance?

To buy tenants’ content insurance you’ll first need to disclose details about your property and the people you’d like to be covered by the policy.

You can then choose any add-ons or optional extras you might need, like cover for high-risk items or accidental damage.

These will all be made available to you so you can go through and look and what level of cover you personally need or want.

We’ll confirm your quote with you and once you’ve agreed, your policy will commence from your chosen date.

At this point, we will provide you with all the policy documentation and any other important information you will need. And you are always welcome to get in touch with us to talk through any questions or concerns you may have.

What is the difference between tenants’ liability insurance and contents insurance?

Tenant liability or occupier liability insurance covers any costs incurred if you’re found legally responsible for someone else’s injuries in your home or damage to yours or another person’s property.

For example, if you place something very heavy on a bookshelf that belongs to your landlord and it breaks, you’ll be expected to pay for the damage.

By covering the costs of any damages to the property, tenants’ liability insurance can help to prevent deposit disputes or deductions at the end of the tenancy.

However, it’s worth noting that tenants’ liability insurance does not cover any general wear and tear that occurs through use of the property. This is considered normal as a bit of general wear and tear happens just by living in and using a property.

Contents insurance, on the other hand, protects the items that specifically belong to you from accidental damage, loss, and theft.

For example, if some furniture you own was damaged by smoke or fire, you’ll be able to make a claim for this. Or if your own microwave in the kitchen is damaged by a water leak, it will be covered under your own contents’ insurance.

I’m a tenant and I’d like to know more about the Mashroom Platform?

We’d love for you to find out more and so have made this simple by putting everything you need to know about Mashroom Platform as a tenant within our comprehensive FAQs section.

How can I get in touch in case I have questions?

As a tenant, the details of your contents insurance should always be clear, simple, and transparent, whether you’re just about to take out your first policy with us or you’ve been protecting your belongings with us for years.

So, if you’re ever unsure about anything, our team is always on hand to help with any questions or queries you might have.

You can send us an email at info@mashroom.com or get in touch via our contact form and we will be happy to assist you.

Terms and Conditions

We do not provide personal recommendations regarding the arrangement of insurance cover. By asking us to quote for, arrange or handle your insurances, you are providing your informed agreement to our Terms of Business.

Want to know more about life as a tenant? Have a browse through some of our recent blogs which will give you more information, tips, knowledge, and general information

It’s important you understand what is and isn’t covered by the Tenants’ Contents Insurance. The examples and descriptions above are only intended as a guide and you will be able to find the full details in the policy document and Insurance Product Information Document. We do not provide personal recommendations regarding the arrangement of insurance cover. By asking us to quote for, arrange or handle your insurances, you are providing your informed agreement to our Terms of Business.