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Contents Insurance covers the cost of replacing or repairing your possessions if they are damaged, destroyed or stolen. As a rule of thumb, it includes everything you would take with you if you moved home including your furniture, appliances, curtains, bedding, clothing, television, computing equipment and jewellery.

Contents policies usually include a single item limit, such as £1,500 for example. Contents valued at less than this limit will automatically covered, though if you have more expensive items such as jewellery, works of art or electronic equipment that are worth more than this single item limit, you may need to pay an extra premium to cover them.

Most contents insurance policies cover the cost of replacing or repairing your possessions that are damaged or destroyed as a result of an insured event such as flooding, fire, subsidence, storms, theft, burst pipes and water damage.

However, most policies will not cover contents that are damaged or destroyed due to general wear and tear, mechanical or electrical breakdown, restricted cover when your home is empty for a long period or is let to tenants or any amount over the limits specified in the policy.

Most insurers also provide the following optional extensions:

• Accidental damage to your contents
• Cover away from home - sometimes known as 'all-risks', you can cover loss of or damage to your possessions while away from your home, up to asset limit.
• Legal expenses cover - access to legal advice, as well as covering the legal costs of compensation claims following an accident that was not your fault
• Home emergency assistance - covers the cost of calling a tradesman out to deal with an emergency, such as a broken boiler. It will cover the repairs and labour and may include overnight accommodation if you cannot stay in your home as a result.

How do insurers decide the cost of contents insurance?

Insurers take into account a variety of factors when calculating a contents insurance premium, with the key drivers being:

• Your contents value, such as accounting for higher risk items like jewellery
• Where you live - since some areas have higher crime rates or are more prone to flooding
• Security measures. Some insurers have minimum security requirements or offer premium discounts.
• Your previous claims history