Do You Have High-Risk Items That Need to Be Listed on Your Home Insurance?

🧐 What Are High-Risk Items?

High-risk (or high-value) items are typically possessions worth more than £1,500 individually. They include:

• Jewellery and watches
• Original artwork or antiques
• Designer clothing or handbags
• Collectibles
• High-end electronics
• Musical instruments

These items are attractive to thieves, expensive to replace, and often excluded from standard policies if not specifically declared.

🛡️ What’s the “Single Article Limit”?

Most home contents insurance policies have what’s called a single article limit—this is the maximum amount the insurer will pay out for any one item that hasn’t been specifically listed.

This limit varies by provider, but it's usually around £1,000–£2,500.
If you claim for an item above that limit that isn’t listed, the insurer may refuse to pay out the full value—or reject the claim altogether.

🔎 Why It’s Important to Declare High-Value Items

Declaring your valuable items on your insurance policy gives you peace of mind that:

✅ You’re financially protected if something gets lost, stolen or damaged
✅ There won’t be surprises at claim time
✅ Your policy reflects your actual lifestyle and possessions

Failing to list these items could leave you significantly out of pocket if the unexpected happens.

🧾 What Should You Do?

If you think you might have high-risk items, here’s how to stay covered:

1. Get items professionally valued – especially jewellery, antiques, and art
2. Check your policy’s single item limit
3. List any items above the limit individually with your insurer
4. Store receipts or valuations securely
5. Consider separate insurance for extremely valuable or portable items

👋 Need a Second Opinion?

We’re here to help. Whether you're setting up new home insurance or reviewing your existing one, we can guide you through the process and make sure you’ve got the right level of protection—without paying for more than you need.

📩 Get in touch for friendly, no-obligation advice.

The information contained within was correct at the time of publication but is subject to change.