Homeowners across the country could be undervaluing their contents insurance by more than £20,000 on average, despite believing their possessions are at risk, new research shows.
According to Admiral Home Insurance, homeowners estimate the average value of all contents in their home is £22,267– more than £20,000 less than the average contents value of £43,629.
Across the UK, that works out at a total of £104 billion worth of contents that could be undervalued.
The survey of 1,000 people found that while two-thirds of respondents (67%) typically update their contents insurance on an annual basis, while one in nine (13%) have never updated it.
More than a quarter (28%) said they didn’t think it was necessary to increase their insurance level on a regular basis, for example when they buy a high-value item such as jewellery or home technology.
Contents are defined as everything from a wardrobe of clothes, to pots and pans, to any gadgets owned. Contents also includes carpets and curtains, which are easy to underestimate
This large disparity between the perceived contents value and actual value becomes even more alarming as a third (33%) of people revealed their contents were at risk in some way, whether from burglary or flooding.
Furthermore, over three-quarters (77%) of people surveyed who owned antique or vintage items have never had them valued. This could mean precious possessions are under-covered.
When it came to the types of property least likely to have insurance, more than half (54%) of flat renters said their contents weren’t covered at all, and they were the least likely to update their cover on an annual basis – despite the fact a third of them say their contents were at risk.
Noel Summerfield, head of household at Admiral, said: “It’s important that homeowners or renters provide a correct estimate for their contents, otherwise they could end up without enough cover should they have to make a claim. The value of most items can be searched on the internet, but antiques or jewellery should be valued by a professional before being added to your policy.
“It’s also important to ensure the total value of contents remains up to date, while most home insurance policies increase cover to recognise inflation, people often forget to add new purchased items, such as an engagement ring or a new television.”
