Insurance Basics for First-Time Renters — Free In-Person Workshop
A free 90-minute in-person session covering what renters' insurance protects, what your landlord's policy does not, and how to value your belongings accurately before you buy.
About this workshop
Renting for the first time means navigating insurance without the benefit of a homeowner's experience — and with several common misconceptions that can leave you significantly exposed. The most dangerous of these: assuming your landlord's insurance protects you.
This free 90-minute in-person session is designed for people renting their first home or flat. We cover the gap between landlord cover and tenant cover, how to calculate how much contents insurance you actually need, and which policy features matter most for renters.
We will also spend time on the home contents inventory tool — a practical exercise you can continue at home to ensure you are insuring the right amount.
What you will learn
- The difference between buildings insurance (your landlord's) and contents insurance (yours)
- What renters' insurance covers: theft, damage, fire, and liability to third parties
- How to calculate your contents sum insured — and why guessing leads to under-insurance
- What exclusions to watch for: accidental damage, items away from home, and high-value single items
- How to set your deductible based on your financial position
- Renters' liability cover: what it is and when you need it
Session agenda
The five most expensive misconceptions about renters' insurance — and the reality behind each one.
What buildings insurance covers and where your responsibility begins. Real claim examples.
Room-by-room inventory exercise using the contents tool. The difference between replacement cost and second-hand value.
Accidental damage, personal possessions, bicycle cover, and contents in a shared house.
The clauses that most commonly catch renters out, with real wording examples.
Open questions from attendees.
Pre-reading resources
Workshop FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- No. Your landlord's buildings insurance covers the structure of the property — the walls, roof, and fixed fittings. It does not cover your personal belongings: furniture, electronics, clothing, or valuables. You need a separate contents or renters' policy for those. Our home and property insurance overview explains what each type covers.
- A common mistake is guessing — which almost always leads to under-insurance. The correct approach is to add up the replacement cost (not the second-hand value) of everything you own. Our free home contents inventory tool helps you do this room by room. We will work through this exercise live at the workshop.
- A deductible (also called an excess) is the amount you pay when making a claim before the insurer pays the rest. Setting it higher reduces your premium but means you pay more out of pocket if you claim. For renters, a deductible of £100–£250 is common for contents policies. We will discuss how to set it based on your emergency fund.
- It depends on your policy. Some contents policies include 'personal possessions' cover for items away from home, which can include bicycles. Others exclude bicycles entirely or require them to be added as a named item. This is one of the exclusion clauses we will examine closely at the workshop. See our guide on insurance exclusions for more.