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Scottish tenants urged to insure contents of home

23/04/08

The Highland council has urged its tenants across Inverness and the surrounding areas to buy home contents insurance after recent flooding and storm damage.

A series of awareness raising days have been organised by the council and the most recent event saw council insurance staff giving advice to tenants.

Although the council provides buildings insurance on its portfolio of 14,000 homes, it does not insure the tenants' personal possessions against having to replace furnishings and equipment lost to fire, flooding or burglary.

Councillor Margaret Davidson, chairman of the council's housing and social work committee, said: "We are concerned that many of our tenants have no home contents insurance and could be left with no means to replace their personal possessions or furnishings.

"The council is aware that many people feel they cannot afford this extra cost when living on a tight budget."

Ms Davidson added that the risks of not having adequate home contents insurance had been highlighted recently after a spate of flooding and severe storms which caused "substantial damage" to homes managed by the council.

Items such as furniture, TV, clothing, carpets, electrical items and general household goods need to be covered through a home insurance policy, the council has advised.

Earlier this year the environment minister Mike Russell revealed plans to upgrade flood protection across Scotland after the Scottish government said the country's flood defence arrangements needed modernisation.

Parts of Scotland were battered by heavy rain in December last year leading to ten flood warnings being put in place.

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