TL;DR: Your landlord's building insurance does not cover your belongings. Renters insurance (also called contents insurance or tenant insurance) is affordable, often overlooked, and can protect you from thousands in unexpected losses.
Most tenants assume their landlord's insurance will cover them if something goes wrong. It won't. The landlord insures the building — the walls, roof, and fixtures. Your furniture, electronics, clothes, and personal items? Those are your responsibility.
This guide explains renters insurance across the UK, France, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the USA: what it covers, what it costs, and when it's legally required.
MmowW Scrib🐮 is a document preparation service, not a law firm. We do not provide legal advice.
Standard tenant/renters insurance typically covers:
| Country | Legally Required? | Commonly Required by Landlords? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 UK | No | Rarely required | Some landlords encourage or require liability cover |
| 🇫🇷 France | Yes — tenants must hold "assurance multirisque habitation" | Yes — proof required on move-in | Failure to insure is grounds for lease termination |
| 🇸🇪 Sweden | No | No | Home insurance (hemförsäkring) strongly recommended |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | No | No | Contents insurance widely recommended; not mandated |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | No | No | Some landlords request proof of contents insurance |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | No (provincial variation) | Some landlords require it | Ontario and BC landlords sometimes mandate it |
| 🇺🇸 USA | No federal requirement | Increasingly common | Many large landlords require renters insurance |
Sources:
Use our free tool: Cost Calculator
Try it free →Costs vary significantly by location, coverage level, and claims history, but as a rough guide:
| Country | Typical Annual Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 UK | £50–£200/year | London typically higher |
| 🇫🇷 France | €80–€250/year | Mandatory; prices regulated by competition |
| 🇸🇪 Sweden | SEK 1,000–2,500/year | hemförsäkring often bundled with other services |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | A$200–$600/year | Contents value and location affect price significantly |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | NZ$200–$500/year | Varies by insurer and contents value |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | CA$150–$400/year | Province and city significantly affect cost |
| 🇺🇸 USA | US$150–$400/year | One of the most affordable insurance types available |
These are rough benchmarks only. Get at least three quotes before purchasing.
For electronics and appliances, new-for-old is generally worth the premium.
Standard policies often cover fire, theft, and storm damage but exclude accidental damage (e.g., dropping your phone, spilling wine on a sofa). Accidental damage cover is typically available as an add-on.
Tenant liability insurance (called "responsabilité civile" in France, included in most hemförsäkring in Sweden) covers you if:
In France, this cover is legally mandatory for all tenants. In other countries, it is strongly recommended.
Most standard policies cap single-item payouts at £1,000–£2,000. For items above this threshold — jewellery, specialist equipment, musical instruments, art — you need to schedule them separately on your policy. Provide receipts or appraisals.
Go room by room and estimate replacement values:
Be honest — underinsuring means you won't receive full payouts in a claim.
Consider:
Use comparison websites:
Before purchasing, read what is NOT covered. Common exclusions include:
If you get a new expensive item (laptop, bicycle, engagement ring), notify your insurer immediately. Claiming for an item that postdates your policy start without notification can void the claim.
If you share a property with housemates, each tenant should have their own policy for their individual belongings. Shared contents (jointly purchased furniture) can be tricky — clarify ownership and coverage before purchasing.
With remote working common, check whether your employer's insurance covers work equipment at home. If not, ensure your personal policy covers the equipment or ask your landlord whether the building insurance has any tenant liability extension.
Many students are covered by their parents' home insurance while at university — check first before purchasing separately. However, this coverage often has limits (especially for high-value electronics) and geographic restrictions.
In France, tenants must provide their landlord with an attestation d'assurance (insurance certificate) each year — typically when signing the lease and then annually on the anniversary date. Failure to provide this:
Keep your attestation up to date and deliver it proactively.
Use MmowW Scrib🐮's tools to manage your documentation:
MmowW Scrib🐮 is a document preparation service, not a law firm. We do not provide legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a qualified solicitor, tenant advocate, or insurance specialist.
Q: Is renters insurance the same as contents insurance?
A: Yes — these terms are used interchangeably in different markets. "Renters insurance" is the US and Canadian term; "contents insurance" is common in the UK and Australia; "home insurance for tenants" or "assurance habitation locataire" is used in France.
Q: Can my landlord require me to have insurance?
A: In France, yes — it is a legal requirement for all tenants. In other countries, a landlord can include an insurance requirement in the lease agreement, and this clause is generally enforceable. Check your lease carefully.
Q: What happens if I make a claim while subletting my property?
A: Most contents policies are voided or the claim is reduced if you are subletting without permission from both your landlord and your insurer. Always notify your insurer if your living arrangements change.
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