The Contents Of Your Policy

By Author: Chris Kouton
Total Articles: 10
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Home insurance doesn't actually exist as a policy. Whilst this might seem like an outrageous statement to make, home insurance is actually a conglomerate of two other types of insurance, buildings insurance and contents insurance. Whilst these are often sold together, they protect different things and if you make a claim you will most likely claim from one policy or the other. So what is covered by which policy, and what is not covered at all?

In recent years the British weather has become one of the insurance industry's major concern. Severe flooding in 2007 and harsh unseasonal weather has led to insurers being forced to pay out many more policies than they thought. The ABI has negotiated a deal with the government that sees insurance assured for houses in certain high risk areas, but these policies are still more expensive.

So your home insurance company will cover you for the major weather issues wherever you live. Most insurance policies cover for damage caused to the structure of the property and to fitted elements. On nearly all policies you will get cover for storms and high winds as standard and if you ...
... haven't you should talk to your insurance company. These sorts of claims are almost always attached to your buildings insurance.

All insurance policies should also cover for damage caused by freezing water. If you suffer a cracked pipe or water escapes from a damaged pipe and wreaks havoc you will be covered for the cost of repairing the damage and the pipe. If the damage is widespread and affects your possessions you may have to claim under your contents insurance, but generally speaking the payments will come from the buildings insurance policy.

Your insurance policy will also cover you should something like a tree or a tile fall from your property onto a neighbor's property and cause damage. Most policies will also have a clause that pays for alternative accommodation for the neighbor if the damage is widespread, and also for you should you suffer severe damage to your home.

The hard and fast rule is that anything that you would take with you were you to move house falls under the contents insurance banner and therefore claims on damage to these items will be paid from that policy

Most insurance policies will not cover damage to garden furnishings or for damage by frost. Most relevantly insurance companies have no obligation to pay for keeping a property in a good state of repair, so if you don't keep up with the maintenance and a problem is made worse by wear and tear then more likely than not you'll be the one footing the bill.

Discover how we've made our home insurance simple at The Co-Operative Insurance.