Tenants issued contents insurance reminder

People who rent flats are being reminded of the need to ensure they have adequate home contents insurance.

Direct Line home insurance is emphasising the fact that landlords' policies will typically only cover the most basic furnishings and staple contents of a property.

Any possessions brought in by tenants will require additional insurance - without which people leave themselves exposed to the risk of being left out of pocket financially.

Andrew Lowe, head of home insurance for the company, emphasised the need to keep in close contact with your landlord and enquire about how extensive his cover is.

"If you are renting, you should ensure you have contents insurance which covers the full value of your belongings," he advised. "Contents insurance is often a lot cheaper than you expect."

According to MoneySupermarket.com, 40 per cent of property owners in the UK currently lack home insurance.

News posted on 6th May, 2008