Contents insurance while living rent free in family members owned house

General_query

Hi, so we moved out of a local authority 3 bed flat at the end of October 2025 after 25 years, buildings cover was handled by the local authority, and we paid our own contents insurance cover.

We are now living in my girlfriends sisters house (ex-Council house) bought by my girlfriends mum and sister. Their mum died a couple of years ago and the mortgage on it was paid off by my girlfriends sister a long time ago.

We are (for now) being allowed to live in this 1920's built 3 bed semi RENT FREE. My girlfriends sister does not live here, and doesn't want to.

She is letting us live here without paying any rent, while all the bills are now in my name.

Problem is when we tried to get some contents cover quotes, we stumble early on as all the people providing quotes ask either:

Are you the homeowner? NO

Do you pay rent? NO

Who is the landlord? Well, the girlfriends sister isn't technically a landlord as she isn't renting out this house and taking rent payment off us for it. It is a family owned house yet there are no options to put this online and proceed with getting quotes.

We're not the only people in this situation, so does anyone have any advice please as how we can get contents insurance for our belongings while living in a family owned house? Yes, I appreciate I will have to do some phoning around but just would like advice from anyone please.

No idea who to phone either, but dreading not being able to get any cover.

Thank you (in advance),

Will check back on here later.

Keep_pedalling

despite paying no rent you GFs sister is your landlord.

General_query

That's what we think / believe, even if rent isn't paid.

She still lives in her rented local authority flat nearby as she likes the area and her neighbours, but she OWNS this house we are now living in. It stood empty for a while.

As she rents where she lives, this can't be classed as a second home as she doesn't own where she currently lives. Yes / No?

user1977

As she rents where she lives, this can't be classed as a second home as she doesn't own where she currently lives.

The tenure of wherever your landlord lives is definitely not relevant to your contents insurance.

born_again

As a aside does she have buildings insurance on the property & are they aware that she is letting a 3rd party live there?

General_query

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81941240#Comment_81941240

Yes, she has got Buildings insurance on the property (starting 1st Apr 2026), and explained that her sister, her sisters boyfriend (me) and our son now live in the house and that I pay all the utility bills and I am taking out our contents insurance.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81940216#Comment_81940216

In what context are you considering it a second home? For example for council tax it would be considered a second home were you not in it and paying it yourselves. I've certainly lived as a paying tenant in a flat where the landlord lives in a rented house so its not that uncommon and certainly doesnt stop them being a landlord.

The situation of the property she lives in is no consideration to your insurers. I'm very surprised you are being asked if you pay rent, I dont recall ever seen that question on Home Contents Insurance and checking Confused.com its not a Q they ask. You are just looking at normal Home Contents insurance arent you not "renters" home insurance? There is no difference between the two generally other than the later tends to charge more as they know they are dealing with those that dont seem to know much about insurance.