Contents Insurance Exclusions

Simply put, an ‘exclusion’ is any item that is not covered by the contents insurance policy in question. No insurance policy is designed to cover every possible occurrence, and contents insurance is no different. There will generally be contents insurance exclusions on every policy, so bear this in mind while analysing contents insurance quotes to make sure you get the cover that meets your needs.

Contents insurance cover may not be available for:

• Damage caused by a pre-existing problem such as damp or rot
• Theft or damage due to the property being left unoccupied for more than a month
• Deliberate loss or damage by the policyholder, including DIY related damage
• Fences or garden gates are not generally covered by garden contents insurance

On top of these general contents insurance exclusions, there are a number of exclusions that also relate to policyholders actions affecting the chance of a payment:

• Not insuring a home security system was active or working if specified in the contents insurance policy
• Leaving windows or doors open
• Using the property as a place for business and keeping valuable equipment there without informing the insurer

Before taking out contents insurance, it’s sensible to perform a thorough valuation of all the contents you want to cover with the insurance policy, making sure not to over or under value the things you own. This should reduce the likelihood of being hit with an unpleasant surprise when you come to claim on something that’s excluded from your contents insurance policy. Use the tables below to compare contents insurance quotes and find the best option for you: