Tenants Contents Insurance Scheme

Coast and Countryside Housing Services strongly advises all tenants to take out household contents insurance. You can do this either through the Council's scheme (details below) or by making your own private arrangements.

Many tenants believe that we automatically insure their furniture, belongings and decorations against theft, fire, vandalism or burst pipes. THIS IS NOT THE CASE. Unfortunately, many people only realise this after the damage has been done. We make it easy for you to insure your belongings under a special household contents insurance scheme available only to Council tenants.

• Weekly payment with your rent - The cost of insurance is payable weekly along with your rent. To work out your weekly payment, refer to the table below.
• Insurance for your furniture, TV, clothing, carpets and electrical goods - Most of your household goods and contents are insured when in your home. Also insured are loss of keys, freezer contents and your own liability to the public.
• Insurance against fire, theft, vandalism and water damage - Your contents are covered for loss or damage caused by specific events and perils. Full details are given in the policy booklet you will receive when you are accepted into the scheme.
• 'New for Old' insurance - The policy insures your contents up to five years old on a 'new for old' basis, meaning they would be replaced as new if destroyed by an event insured by the policy.

Therefore you should add up the value of:

• Items up to 5 years old at their current replacement cost as new;
• Items over 5 years old at the current replacement cost as new, less an allowance for wear and tear.

It is important not to undervalue your contents otherwise the insurer will not pay the full value of your claim.

Special, low, minimum sums insured

• £7,000 for people over 60;
• £9,000 for all other tenants.

How to apply:

• Ring 01303 851700 between 8.30 am and 5.00 pm for an proposal form.
• Once you have completed your form hand it in at one of the District Offices, the Civic Centre or the Shepway Housing Centre.

Keeping up the payments:

• To ensure that you are always covered, you must keep your payments up to date.
• Payments to your rent account will go first to rent, then to other charges and finally to insurance. So, if you fall behind with your rent, your insurance will not operate.

Start Date:

• Insurance starts when the Council informs you that you have been accepted into the scheme.
• The Council will write to you with details of your weekly insurance payments and the date when you should start paying.

Limits and conditions apply.

For a full list of high risk items and terms and conditions of the policy, we will be pleased to provide you with a specimen policy document.

Disclosure

You are reminded of the need to disclose any facts which the Insurer would take into account in the assessment and acceptance of this application and to advise the Insurer in the event of any alteration of the risk after commencement of the policy.

If you have any doubts as to whether certain facts are relevant please ask, as failure to disclose all relevant facts may invalidate your policy or may result in your policy not operating fully.