What does contents insurance cover?
Contents insurance helps cover the cost of repairing or replacing your personal items if they are damaged, destroyed, or stolen due to a fire, storm, burst pipe, or break-in. A standard contents insurance policy can cover:
Covered and not always covered items
| Covered | Not always covered |
|---|---|
| Furniture | High-value items |
| Electronics and appliances | Accidental damage |
| Clothing and accessories | Theft away from home |
Wear and tear: Gradual deterioration is never covered by standard contents insurance policies.
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Additional add-ons for contents insurance
While standard contents insurance is sufficient for most people, those looking to boost their coverage can access broader levels of protection, at an additional cost. If you have a high-value bicycle, watch, piece of art, engagement ring, or musical instrument, you could consider getting additional or separate cover.
Accidental damage: Covers you against random everyday accidents
Personal possessions: Protects the belongings you carry outside the home
Legal cover: Helps with legal fees if there’s a dispute
High-value items: List anything that exceeds your policy’s single-item limit separately
How much does contents insurance cost?
The cost of contents insurance varies depending on the value of your belongings, the level of cover you want, and your claims history.
A standard policy might cost around €10 to €15 per month. This could be lower if you have minimal possessions or rent a fully furnished apartment, or higher if you have a valuable wine collection or expensive electronics.
Providers generally offer two main tiers of contents protection:
New-for-old cover
If you make a claim, your provider will pay the cost of buying a brand-new replacement at full value.
This is the standard policy type.
Indemnity cover
If you make a claim, your insurer will pay what the item is worth at the time of the incident, not its original price.
This tends to be a more affordable option.
How much cover do you need?
When looking for a contents insurance quote, you will be asked to provide an estimate of the value of all of your belongings. This may seem daunting, but you can estimate your contents value by going room by room and listing the contents you want to protect, then using their current market value to determine their replacement cost. The total would be the maximum sum an insurer would pay out.
Our advice: Don’t pull a figure out of thin air. Take time to calculate the value of your belongings. If you underestimate it, you could end up under-insured. If you overestimate, you could end up paying more for your premium, at no extra benefit.
Who should consider contents insurance?
Whatever your circumstances may be, you can find the right contents insurance for your needs. Cover limits and excess levels tend to change depending on the insurer and the risk profile presented.
Your landlord is responsible for insuring the building itself, not your personal belongings. You’ll need contents insurance for renters to protect your clothing and furniture against damage or loss.
Students typically own high-value laptops and tablets and live in shared accommodation, often on short tenancy terms. Contents insurance for students factors in this unique risk profile.
Landlord contents insurance protects any items the landlord provides, such as furniture or appliances, but not the tenant’s personal belongings.
Most insurers limit the number of days you can leave your home unoccupied while still being covered. This could be anywhere from 30 to 60 days. If you exceed that, you may need to take out specialist holiday home contents insurance to protect the belongings in your second home.
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Who offers contents insurance in Ireland?
Contents insurance is offered by all major Irish home insurance providers:
Allianz Ireland
Aviva
AXA
FBD
RedClick
Zurich
123.ie
Frequently asked questions
Some contents insurance policies will provide cover for outdoor contents, like garden furniture, and barbecues, as long as they do not exceed the single-item limit. Check your policy details if you are unsure.
Most standard policies are sold on an annual basis. Most providers offer 12-month contracts or a minimum annual premium. If you are renting a property on a short-term basis, you may be able to cancel your policy when you stop needing it, but you will likely be charged a cancellation fee.
A high-risk item is a valuable possession that could be stolen from your home e.g. jewellery, watches, small electrical goods, or collectables.
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