Contents Insurance

We use our expertise and research into the needs of older people and have selected LV= as the contents insurance provider because we recognise their products and customer service as suitable for our customers.

LV= can insure you if you have:

• Not made more than two household claims within the last five years
• No unspent criminal convictions (excluding motoring convictions)
  
  

LV= can't insure you if the property:

• Is occupied by tenants
• Has previously been flooded or is currently under a flood warning
• Has suffered from, or is showing any signs of, subsidence, landslip or heave
• Isn't built of brick, stone or concrete and roofed with slate, tiles, metal, asphalt
• Isn't in a good state of structural repair
• Is a mobile home
• Isn't self-contained
• Is unoccupied
• Is a listed building or protected by a preservation order

The cost of contents insurance will depend on the cost of replacing your possessions. That’s why it’s essential to get your estimates correct when you get your quote, and to regularly keep track of how much your possessions are worth. Being overinsured means you’ll be paying too much for your cover, and being underinsured means that should you need to claim, you won’t be able to claim back the full cost of replacing your things. Read our guide on estimating the value of your home contents here.

This is a question that only you can answer. While there is no legal requirement to insure your contents, doing so means that should the worst happen such as a fire, a break-in or a flood, you’ll at least be able to replace your carefully accrued belongings. Consider how likely these events are to happen to you, and how valuable your items are.

Landlords typically need landlord specific contents insurance if they are letting a property furnished or part furnished. We do not currently provide landlord insurance.

As a tenant you may benefit from taking out a contents insurance policy. This will depend on the value of your possessions. If the home you’re renting is furnished or part furnished, the cost of replacing your possessions is likely to be lower since you wouldn’t be responsible for replacing the furniture in your home should you need to claim.

You will be covered for damage to your contents caused by a leak from a fixed tank, domestic appliance or pipe.

Yes. LV= contents insurance will pay 50% of the cost to replace any undamaged item, if it forms part of a matching set. For example, if your sofa is water damaged and unrepairable, they’ll replace that, as well as give you 50% of the cost towards a matching armchair.

Accidental damage cover is an Optional Cover on Silver cover and included on Gold cover.

You can add additional cover to your policy online or over the telephone when you get a quote or later should your needs change. The LV= team will be happy to discuss the options with you so that you can decide what additional cover you need.

Mobile phones are covered under Personal Belongings cover, which is an Optional Cover.

Theft of an item is usually covered by contents insurance provided the theft wasn’t caused by negligence, for example leaving your front door wide open, or your back door unlocked. You may be able to lower your premium if you have security measures and theft deterrents in your home such as cameras and motion sensitive lighting.

You can claim on your contents insurance at any point after the policy start date. The incident that caused the damage or loss of your item must also have happened after the policy start date. Read our full guide on when to make an insurance claim here.

Kitchen appliances usually come under contents insurance. It’s worth noting that wear and tear is not covered.

Your boiler will be covered against insured perils, such as a storm destroying your boiler. You may also be covered for boiler damage if you have accidental damage cover. The Home Emergency Optional Cover will cover a boiler breakdown provided it has been serviced in the last 3 years.

Some people find that their contents insurance costs are lower after retirement. As we get older, we may have perfected our DIY skills or can better notice minor issues before they become more problematic. Because of this, some contents insurance providers may see you as a lower-risk homeowner. Retired people tend to be at home more so are less likely to experience a break-in. This may reduce your insurance costs as a result. Conversely, it may be the case that you have more valuables in your home as you’ve been collecting things for longer. There are many factors that go into determining the cost of your policy. The best way to understand the true cost is to get a home insurance quote.

You may want to consider contents insurance for your personal belongings if you live in a retirement home. What cover is right for you will depend on the kind of retirement home you plan on moving to. If staff members or other residents can access your room or flat, this may require specialist cover. Our provider can only offer protection to those living in retirement accommodation that is self-contained and cannot be accessed by others.

Mobility scooters can be added to your contents insurance, though will need to be added as a Personal Belonging. This will cover your scooter while you’re away from home also.

Contents insurance essentially covers the things inside your home, such as furniture, electronic devices and jewellery, as well as other valuable items. This could include books, records, collectibles and art.

The single item limit is £1,500 across Silver and Gold cover levels. If you’ve taken bicycle cover as an Optional Cover, your bicycle will be insured for up to £500.

Medical equipment is covered under contents insurance. If your medical device or equipment is worth more than £1,500 you will need to take out Extended Specified Item cover as an Optional Cover.

Defaqto are a UK leading independent financial information business, and they have given Home Gold Insurance a 5 Star Rating.

You can pay by debit and credit card or by monthly or annual direct debit at no extra charge. If you need to speak about other ways to pay, please contact the team at LV=.

'Admin fees' can include adjustment fees, cancellation fees and duplicate document fees.

Policies purchased through us will not be charged any admin fees for contents insurance policy amendments, cancellations, or duplicate documents.

Auto-renewal can offer you peace of mind that your insurance will remain in place when it comes to your renewal.

When you give your consent to auto-renew your policy, LV= will issue your renewal documents, which will include details of your cover and any associated costs, and inform you that the policy will auto-renew without any need for you to make contact and confirm.

The consent will remain in force unless you change it, which you can do at any time, or if the policy is cancelled.

You'll automatically have an account if you saved a quote or if you chose to sign up after buying a policy. Visit lv.com/ageco/login  to log in to your account or set up a new one.

Your saved home insurance quotes are valid until the cover start date. You'll still be able to view them in your account after that point, but you won't be able to buy them. Simply start a new quote if your old one’s no longer valid.

When you saved your quote, you should have received an email from LV= with details of your quote and how to access it again. If the email isn't in your inbox, please check your spam or junk folders in case it's in there. If you still can't find it, you can re-set your password in My Account by clicking the ‘I’ve forgotten my password’ link.

Understanding our customers and their needs has always informed the products we sell and who we work with to provide them. By choosing LV=, we are working with a partner that shares our values and dedication to customers enjoying their later life.

LV= is a leading insurance business offering a range of general insurance products. They are proud to be one of the UK’s largest personal lines insurers. Throughout their 180 year history, they have put people and customers at the heart of everything they do.