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Home contents insurance

Contents insurance is designed to help protect your possessions. No matter how careful you are, there's always a risk that your belongings could be broken, damaged or stolen, so home contents insurance can help provide peace of mind should the worst happen.

We do not cover your contents as part of the tenancy agreement. This includes against theft, fire, vandalism, burst pipes, or any other household risks. We recommend taking out contents insurance so that your items and belongings are covered in the event of leaks, floods, storms, fires, burglary, or any other event that has the potential to cause damage to your possessions. It's a good idea to consider what a home contents insurance policy would cover you for in order to help you make an informed decision on whether you need one.

Crystal Insurance Scheme

We have teamed up with Thistle Tenant Risks who provide specialist tenants contents insurance policies. The Crystal Insurance Scheme is a specialist insurance scheme provided by Thistle Tenant Risks, and all tenants living in social and affordable housing are eligible to apply.

The Crystal Insurance Scheme can offer you insurance for the contents of your home, including cover for items such as furniture, carpets, curtains, clothes, bedding, electrical items, jewellery, pictures and ornaments.

Reasons to choose the Crystal Insurance Scheme:

  • Apply over the phone or complete an application form
  • No excess (you don't pay the first part of the claim)
  • Covers theft, water damage, fire and many more household risks
  • Covers tenants' improvements (up to £2,000 or 20% of the sum insured, whichever is the greater)
  • Covers theft or attempted theft of contents in sheds, outbuildings and garages (up to £3,000)
  • Covers damage to external glazing for which you are responsible
  • Covers replacement and installation of locks for outside doors or windows and alarms, if keys are lost or stolen (up to £500)
  • You don't need to have special door or window locks (just a lockable front door)
  • Flexible regular pay-as-you-go payment options (fortnightly and monthly premiums include a transaction charge).

If you choose to go ahead with The Crystal Insurance Scheme, it is up to you to make sure the policy fits your needs. Red Kite is not involved in the day-to-day administration of the scheme other than to let you know about this option available to you.

You can decide to pick your own home contents insurance from another provider if you think it’s better or easier for you - you can find advice on which provider will best meet your needs online, including at MoneySavingExpert.com.

Thistle Tenant Risks Contents Insurance has been designed to meet the demands and needs of social housing tenants and leaseholders looking to purchase home contents insurance and Thistle have approached a single insurer, Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited. The cover is subject to the terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions contained in the Policy Wording, which you should read carefully. The premiums and payment methods available are shown on the rate card. Please note, fortnightly and monthly premiums include a transaction change.

If you are unsure whether this insurance policy is right for you please contact Thistle Tenant Risks who will be happy to answer any questions.

If you'd like to apply for home contents insurance, you can do so by completing an application form or by calling Thistle Tenant Risks on 0345 450 7286. Alternatively, visit their website for more information. Prior to completing the application form, you should review the Thistle Insurance Services Terms of Business Agreement and Insurance Product Information Document. These documents give you important information on your rights and how they will deal with you and your insurance, and key information regarding the insurance cover. Please note that all Tenant Risks business is arranged on a non-advised basis. This means that you will be provided with the key information to be able to make an informed decision on which cover is appropriate for your needs.

Got another question?

Use this form to ask us anything we haven't covered in these FAQs - we'll get back to you with an answer, and we'll add it to this list if we think other tenants will find it useful as well.

By submitting this form you are confirming that you have read and understood the following data protection statement: The information you provide will be held by Red Kite Community Housing in accordance with our data protection policy, privacy notices and retention schedules; the Data Protection Act 1998; and the General Data Protection Regulation 2018. It will be used solely for the purposes described on this form. The information you provide will not be passed on to any third parties without your permission and Red Kite Community Housing does not sell any data to third-party organisations.