Contents insurance for contents of 1 bedroom flat

Mee

Can any anyone advise as to how much is reasonable regarding insuring about 7-10K of property including individual items such white goods, laptop, folding bike etc. I've never taken out contents insurance or anything but short travel insurance, so have nothing to compare some of the prices that come up on price comparison sites. Having moved into a rented 2nd floor flat, I think I should have contents cover now.
There must be some advice for insurance newbies...

olly300

There is no reasonable price as it varies on factors such as your postcode and how secure your property is. Postcodes in inner city areas tend to have high valuations for contents insurance as you at more a risk of being broken into.

I suggest you read this and follow the advice: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/home-insurance

Then when you find insurers get the policy documentation - you can normally find this as a pdf online - and look at the small print for exclusions. For example some insurers will not insure you if you leave a window open and are not in the room while others will not insure you if you don't have certain window locks and door locks.

So if you don't have window locks due to being on the second floor but you don't have any drain pipes someone can use to gain access to your windows then you need to avoid insurers who insist on them. If you leave say the bathroom window open when you are in another room then you need to avoid insurers who insist that windows must be closed when you are not occupying a room.

dacouch

Are you sure £7k to £10k is enough to replace all of your contents at their NEW replacement cost, the amount you are proposing is very low

grimlyuk

My advice is make sure your laptop is covered.My contents cover by Budget did not cover my laptop as they declare it as a portable device so i should have taken "away from home" cover, even though i never took it out of the house.So when i dropped it(indoors) i was £500 out of pocket.

Treacle1983

Hi I've personally got £5k of contents cover with accidental damage cover from tesco for £60 for the year.

Dosen't cover 'items designed to be portable' so no laptop cover.

£50xs.

dacouch

Treacle1983 wrote: »

Hi I've personally got £5k of contents cover with accidental damage cover from tesco for £60 for the year.

Dosen't cover 'items designed to be portable' so no laptop cover.

£50xs.

The Tesco own brand policy does cover laptops for Accidental Damage Cover in the home without you needing to have possessions cover

5 Home Entertainment Equipment
We will pay for accidental damage to television sets, video cassette recorders, recording
and audio equipment, radios, Home computers,monitors, laptops, television games
consoles while in Your Home.

Mee

Thanks everyone - some really good tips on checking the small print - I wouldn't have thought about the windows open/in same room scenarios. Fortunately, my new build flat has window locks on every window. I tend to take my laptop with me or lock it away at work. I checked the likely amount using home contents calculator from NFU mutual - I only have three white goods to my name, but will double check the values again.

Many thanks