Personal insurance information from Rubber Ring

Personal

Contents insurance might not be top of your to-do list when you’re moving into a new rental flat or house. But as you carefully wrap up your fragile belongings and rummage around for a spare box to fill, you want to know that your stuff will be safe in your new home. Accidents happen, and keeping your prized possessions bubble-wrapped forever just isn’t the best idea. 

In the UK, 19% of all homes are rented — that’s 4.4 million households. If you’re a renter in the UK, you’ll have signed a tenancy agreement to agree to look after your landlord’s belongings and fixtures and fittings. But guess what your rent doesn’t cover? The safety of your own belongings.



Why do you need contents insurance?

Do I need contents insurance as a tenant?

Getting contents insurance as a tenant is actually a very good idea. And we’re not just saying that — it’s to help you! In the UK, tenants pay rent to landlords which will cover the building’s insurance, which obviously belongs to the landlord. However, you might be surprised to discover that the rent you pay doesn’t cover your personal belongings against damage or theft. So if your rented flat or house was burgled, there’s no safety net to help you claim for or replace your stolen belongings.

As well as covering your belongings against theft, contents insurance also covers your stuff against accidental damage and water damage. And if a devastating fire happens like the one at Springfield Mill, contents insurance for tenants can even help you find alternative accommodation. Here’s what happened.

In April 2020, a huge fire destroyed many homes in Springfield Mill in Derbyshire. The development is a converted grade II-listed building holding more than 100 apartments, and many tenants escaped with just the clothes on their backs. Their personal belongings were lost to fire damage and water damage where fire-fighters tackled the blaze. Some tenants were never able to return to their rented homes and had to live in hotels at the landlords’ and local authorities’ expense.

If the tenants in Springfield Mill had Contents and Liability insurance, they would have been able to claim for their lost possessions as well as alternative accommodation. Plus, if tenants in our case study had a policy with Rubber Ring, they would have had Tenants Liability as part of their Contents Insurance policy, meaning anything belonging to the landlord, like fixtures and fittings in the flats, would have been covered too. 

Rubber Ring’s Tenants Liability covers renters for up to £35,000, which should cover a lot of the landlord’s fixtures and fittings your tenant’s agreement says that you’re responsible for. So even if something major gets damaged or stolen, or if the bath falls through the ceiling, you won’t have to pay a penny for repairs.


The answer might be less than you think. There are many different Contents Insurance policies on the market, and ours is by far one of the most affordable options. From just £3.99 per month — that’s less than 13p per day — you can get covered for up to £5,000 of your stuff. Perfect for rented households with an average TV, smartphones, laptops, push bikes and more. And with a Tenants Liability policy covering you for up to £35,000, you can sleep soundly at night. As long as your neighbours are the quiet types.


Find out more about our insurance policies and get 90 second quote today to see how much peace of mind costs. You might just be pleasantly surprised.

Why do renters in the UK need contents insurance?

Living in shared houses or halls at university is a rite of passage for many students in the UK. Moving in with your friends is all part of the experience and the chance to feel properly independent. And with rent being the biggest outgoing on any student’s monthly budget, it’s independence at a price.

And speaking of high prices, university life comes with quite a lot of valuable stuff. Portable tech like laptops, smartphones, tablets, headphones, even your bike…the list goes on. Whether you’re renting privately or living in university accommodation, your tech isn’t guaranteed to be safe at home or on campus. We found some shocking stats that revealed 7% of students have been burgled at university. But how can you protect your pocket against the cost of replacing your tech if it’s stolen?

Do I need contents insurance as a student?

We’d always recommend students to get contents insurance when living at university. Contents insurance really does what it says on the tin — it insures your personal contents, or belongings. Some students are covered on their parent’s home or contents insurance, but that’s not always the case and definitely not something you should take for granted. With valuable tech taking pride of place in student’s homes, contents insurance is certainly an investment worth thinking about. Because contents insurance can bring peace of mind and confidence that your tech is going to be covered whatever university life throws your way.

Did you know that on average in the UK, a laptop is stolen every 53 seconds? And it happens on university campuses too. The contents of your backpack could be worth as much as £2,750, if you’re carrying a mid-range MacBook, iPad, new iPhone and AirPods. With contents insurance that includes Out of Home cover, you can rest easy knowing your stuff is safe on campus.

Do student halls have contents insurance?

Some student halls will have contents insurance as part of the tenancy agreement, but that isn’t always the case. Landlords are responsible for general wear and tear on the building and its contents, but that doesn’t apply to your stuff. Even the tenancy agreement on shared houses and flats may not cover your belongings — although you’ll still be responsible for stuff that belongs to your landlord, and their fixtures and fittings, by the way. So make sure your less-than-careful friends stay away from the expensive furniture… unless you’re covered by Rubber Ring. That’s when our Tenants Liability comes into its own.

Tenants Liability covers everything that belongs to your landlord, and even covers things like the glass in doors and windows in the property. So if something that belongs to the landlord gets damaged, it won’t be down to you to foot the bill.



at home for your belongings up to £5,000,

at home for your landlord’s belongings for up to £5,000,

on campus with Out of Home cover for up to £3,000,

…and even your pedal bike is covered on campus for up to £500.

PS. We even cover you if you lose your keys to your university halls or shared rental house.

How much is students’ contents insurance?

Students can get contents insurance with Rubber Ring from as little as £3.75 per month. That’s less than the price of an average pint, or the price of a steak bake and a drink from a well-known bakery beginning with “G”. And when you compare the price for how much we can cover, it’s a bargain you can’t afford to miss.

Find out more about our insurance policies and get a free quote today to see how much peace of mind costs. Spoiler: it’s super affordable.