My Home Contents Insurance

My Home Contents Insurance: contents insurance for social housing

My Home Contents Insurance is a contents insurance scheme aimed at tenants and residents of social housing. The National Housing Federation has partnered with Thistle Tenant Risks, which provides the My Home Contents Insurance scheme. The programme allows you to insure your personal belongings and home contents against loss or damage from specific events, such as fire, theft or escape of water.

Standard cover

The policy covers most household goods and contents, including furniture, televisions, clothing, carpets, electrical items and general household goods. It does not cover items used or held for business or professional purposes. Standard cover includes:

• Fire, theft (theft from outbuildings is limited to £3,000), vandalism, water damage and other household risks.
• Up to £500 for the replacement and installation of locks for external doors and windows if your keys are lost or stolen.
• Protection of the contents of your fridge and freezer, although damage caused by the deliberate disconnection of your electricity supply is not covered.
• Standard accidental damage cover for mirrors, fixed glass in furniture, televisions, home computers, home entertainment equipment, homeworking equipment (up to £500 per claim) and CCTV equipment within your home. A £50 excess may apply.
• Portable items such as mobile phones are only covered if Extended Accidental Damage is added to your cover.

For most items, cover is provided on a new for old basis, with no deduction for wear and tear, except in respect of linen and clothing.

Minimum requirements

All social housing tenants and residents are eligible to apply for the policy. You don't need to have a special door or window locks; just a lockable front door.

Optional extras

The scheme offers additional cover for an extra premium:

• Extended accidental damage: covers accidental damage to other contents such as carpets or furniture, and includes portable items such as smartphones, iPads and tablets. A £50 excess may apply. Wear and tear and gradual damage are not covered.
• Personal possessions: cover against loss, theft or damage to your personal possessions, such as clothing and other items designed to be worn or normally carried, whether inside your home or anywhere in the world up to a maximum of 60 days. Individual items are covered up to a maximum of 50% of the selected personal possessions sum insured, which you can choose to be £1,000, £2,000 or £3,000. Sports equipment excluded while in use.
• Wheelchair cover: up to £1,000, £2,000 or £3,000 for loss or damage to wheelchairs owned either by you or a family member living with you. Wheelchairs cannot be licensed for road use or exceed speeds of 8mph. Excludes wear and tear, gradual deterioration, electrical or mechanical breakdown.
• Hearing aid cover: cover for loss or damage to hearing aids owned by you or a family member who lives with you, or who you are responsible for. Choose from 3 cover limits of either £1,000, £2,000 or £3,000. Excludes wear and tear, gradual deterioration, electrical or mechanical breakdown and damage caused by pets.
• Structure cover: up to £500 for loss or damage to the structure of garden huts, greenhouses and garages that form part of your home and are your responsibility. Contents within the structure are covered as standard as long as included within the sum insured.

Getting a quote and payment

You can get a quote online using the quote buttons on this page, with payment by Direct Debit, or by calling our team on 0345 450 7286. You can also request a call back using our contact us page. Premiums are calculated based on your postcode, age, level of cover you require and preferred payment method. Flexible payment options are available; if you do not wish to pay for your policy by Direct Debit, then call our team on 0345 450 7286.

Cover considerations

Your housing provider may not insure your furniture, belongings and other personal items within your home against theft, fire, vandalism, burst pipes and other household risks. The My Home Scheme can offer tenants and residents the chance to insure the contents of their homes. It's a good idea to check the cover in place and consider what a home contents insurance policy would cover you for, in order to help you make an informed decision. This insurance does not cover your property against everything that can happen. Terms, conditions, limits and exclusions apply.