What does contents insurance cover?
You can use household contents insurance for damage to items in your home due to fire, but the coverage is much broader than that. Theft from the shed and a fire hole in the laminate floor are also covered.
Many people have contents insurance. Yet when damage occurs, people often forget to file a claim with the insurance company. That's a shame. You always pay the premium neatly, and if there is a damage, declare that damage to the insurer, even if it is a small amount of damage. Damage does not increase the premium, as is often the case with car insurance.
What does the insurer actually reimburse?
Probably the most important coverage is coverage against fire. The insurer also pays out for damage from storms, lightning and some water damage. In recent years, all-risk contents insurance has become popular. With this insurance, even damage caused by your own fault is paid out. For example, you are moving a cabinet and it falls forward through the glass table. The insurer will pay for the damage to both the table and the cabinet and its contents. Of course, any deductible is settled first.
What does contents insurance pay out?
According to the Association of Insurers, Dutch people pay an average of €10 per month for contents insurance. Only 8% of the insured submit a claim on the contents insurance every year. Probably many more claims could be submitted. Policyholders often claim only the major damages.
After a kitchen fire, you file for damages, but what about a fire hole in the new couch? You are also entitled to compensation for this type of damage. If the damage is not repairable, you may even be entitled to a new couch.
Theft from the garden or from a shed/garage is also co-insured under certain conditions.
All-risk contents insurance
The policy conditions of the all-risk household contents insurance policy state that all damage to your household contents is insured, unless literally excluded. For example, deliberately causing damage to your household contents is not insured. The same goes for damage caused by flooding and an earthquake.
Dropping your phone in the toilet is usually insured, but we should make a note of this right away. Damages involving phones and tablets were often claimed on all-risk contents insurance. Some insurers have therefore decided to greatly increase the deductible. As a result, a cracked phone screen is insured, but a deductible of, say, €150 means you have no use for this coverage in the contents insurance. Sometimes smartphones are even completely excluded from coverage.
Submit all claims?
In case of damage, it is best to contact the insurer and explain the situation. Insurers will most likely ask you to fill out a (digital) claim report form. Based on this, insurers can better assess the damage.
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