Extent of cover

Question from Miriam updated on 9th October 2019:

Our expert Rene Swindley responded:

As with many insurance questions, it does depend on your individual policy. With high value items like this, called “specified items” in insurance speak, your own home and contents policy wording will dictate the maximum value that can be covered for any one item. If your item is valued at less than the maximum amount specified in your policy wording, then yes, it is automatically covered.

If the item exceeds that value, you will need to extend the cover to specifically cover the camera (or jewellery, or another high-value item) you’ve gone out and bought. Get in touch with your insurer directly to do this – although some insurers make these changes easier than others!

Importantly, if you are buying something pricey for your rental property such as furniture, then you will likely be covered for both accidental and malicious damage by your tenant or guest. The amount covered will vary though, so double check before splashing out on anything new.

Rene is the founder of digital insurance platform Initio, which is about insuring houses online in real time to provide a faster, smoother and customer-first approach to property insurance.

Search the Ask an Expert archive

Browse all questions in the Ask An Expert Archive »