Home contents insurance
The Council doesn’t cover your contents as part of the tenancy agreement. We offer a Pay As You Go home contents insurance policy. This page will help you make an informed decision on whether you need one.
Why do I need it?
Contents insurance is designed to help protect your possessions. No matter how careful you are, there’s always a risk that your belongings could be broken, damaged or stolen, so home contents insurance can help provide peace of mind should the worst happen.
See The importance of home contents insurance – burst pipes and winter weather (google doc).
See The importance of home contents insurance – protect yourself from burglars and thieves (google doc).
Pay As You Go home contents insurance
We have teamed up with Thistle Tenant Risks, who provide specialist tenant contents insurance policies. Their contents insurance scheme is provided by Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited.
Who is this policy for?
All tenants living in social and affordable housing are eligible to apply for Pay As You Go contents insurance. It can offer you insurance for the contents of your home, including cover for items such as:
- furniture
- carpets
- curtains
- clothes
- bedding
- electrical items
- jewellery
- pictures
- ornaments
Reasons to choose Pay As You Go home contents insurance
- no excess (you don’t pay the first part of the claim)
- covers theft, water damage, fire and many more household risks
- covers tenants’ improvements (up to £2,000 or 20% of the sum insured, whichever is the greatest)
- covers contents in sheds, outbuildings and garages (up to £3,000)
- covers damage to external glazing for which you are responsible
- covers replacement and installation of locks for outside doors or windows and alarms, if keys are lost or stolen (up to £500)
The cover is subject to the terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions contained in the policy. There’s more information in the policy document (PDF 218kb), which you should read carefully.
If you’re unsure whether this insurance policy is right for you please contact us on 020 8356 3100.
Apply for home contents insurance
To apply, complete Pay As You Go home contents insurance application form (PDF 279kb).
You can also apply by calling 020 8356 3100.
Before making an application, please read the following documents for important information on your rights, how we deal with you and your insurance and key information regarding the insurance cover:
Please note that the insurance policy we provide is arranged on a non-advised basis. This means that you will be provided with the key information to be able to make an informed decision on which cover is appropriate for your needs.
Complaints process
We always aim to get things right first time and we’re committed to ensuring that we achieve the highest level of service for our customers. If you feel this hasn’t happened, we would like to hear about it, so that we have an opportunity to put things right for you and to improve our service in the future.
If you have a complaint about the sale or service of your insurance policy:
- call us on 020 8356 3100
- write to: Rent Section, Hackney Service Centre, 1 Hillman Street, London E8 1DY
- email: housing.rents@hackney.gov.uk
Alternatively, a copy of Thistle’s complaint’s procedure is available on request. For additional information, view Thistle’s complaints process.
Thistle Tenant Risks is a trading style of Thistle Insurance Services Limited. Thistle Insurance Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Firm Reference Number 310419. Registered in England under No. 00338645. Registered office: Rossington’s Business Park, West Carr Road, Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 7SW. Thistle Insurance Services Ltd is part of the PIB Group. See Thistle’s data protection privacy policy.