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Tenants and Residents - do you have Home Contents Insurance?

Why do I need it?

As your landlord, we cover the buildings insurance for your home, but you are responsible, under the terms of your tenancy, for insuring your contents. It is always a good idea to shop around for a policy that will give you the cover you need.

Home contents insurance is not compulsory, but it is a good idea to consider what a policy would cover you for. Home contents insurance can help protect your personal property from incidents such as fire, theft, water damage, and many more household risks, giving you peace of mind.

What does contents insurance cover?

Sutton Housing Partnership has teamed up with Thistle Tenant Risks, to offer a Home Contents Insurance Scheme, designed specifically for tenants in social housing, however, all our tenants are eligible to apply. The scheme is designed to meet the demands and needs of social housing residents looking to purchase home contents insurance.

This policy can cover contents such as furniture, carpets, curtains, clothes, bedding, electrical items, pictures, and ornaments.

Terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions apply. For more information about the policy, please refer to the Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) and Policy Wording.

Reasons to choose the Pay As You Go Home Contents Insurance Scheme

  • No excess (you do not pay the first part of the claim)  
  • Covers loss or damage to your contents caused by specific events such as theft, water damage, fire, and many more household risks. 
  • Tenant's liability – We will pay up to 35% of the contents sum insured for damage to your landlord's fixtures and fittings which you are legally liable for as a tenant. There is no cover available if your home is unoccupied for more than 60 days in a row.
  • Covers theft or attempted theft of contents in sheds, outbuildings, and garages that form part of your home up to £3,000.
  • Covers damage to external glazing for which you are responsible. 
  • We will pay up to £500 for replacement and installation of locks for outside doors or windows and alarms if keys are lost or stolen.
  • You do not need to have special door or window locks, as long as your outside door locks, that is fine.

How can I apply for home contents insurance and how much will it cost?

The quickest way to apply for cover is by completing the online application form.

Please read the following documents before you apply, as they contain important information about the cover, your rights, and the policy terms:

Once you’ve reviewed these documents, you can apply by completing the online application form. 

You can also complete a physical application form, which includes additional information, and premiums. You can email us at insurance@sutton.gov.uk or call us on 020 8770 5353 for an application form to be posted to you. Please also review the Thistle Customer Information Document. These documents provide important information about your rights, how we manage your insurance, and key details about the insurance.

Return your completed form to:

Insurance Team
London Borough of Sutton
Civic Offices
St. Nicholas Way
Sutton
SM1 1EA

Please note that the insurance policy we provide is arranged on a non-advised basis. This means that you will be provided with the information to be able to make an informed decision on which cover is appropriate for your needs. If you are unsure whether this insurance policy is right for you, please contact Sutton Housing Partnership on the details above, who will be happy to help with your queries.

Please note that if you have moved into another property, you will need to reapply to the Home Contents Insurance scheme so that your new home is covered.

If you are a resident who has opted into the scheme and is looking to make a claim, please contact MPL Claims Management Ltd on 0345 060 0030 or view the online portal. 

What to do if you have a complaint

It is always our intention to give you the best possible service and we are committed to ensuring that we achieve the highest standard for our customers. However, if you feel this hasn't happened, we would like to hear about it so that we have an opportunity to make things right for you and to improve our service in the future - please email us at insurance@sutton.gov.uk, call us on 020 8770 5353, or write to:

Insurance Team
London Borough of Sutton
Civic Offices
St. Nicholas Way
Sutton
SM1 1EA

Alternatively, if you have any questions or concerns about this insurance, or the handling of a claim, you should follow Thistle Tenant Risks complaints procedure. For additional information, view their complaints policy.  

The London Borough of Sutton Council, working in partnership with Thistle Insurance Services Limited. Thistle Tenant Risks is a trading style of Thistle Insurance Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Firm Reference Number 310419. Registered in England under No. 00338645. Registered office: Rossington’s Business Park, West Carr Road, Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 7SW. Thistle Insurance Services Ltd is part of the PIB Group.

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