Understanding the differences between contents cover options
Contents cover with initio protects the things you own inside your property, but what’s included (and how it’s covered) depends on the type of policy you have.
Whether it’s your own home, a rental, or a holiday home, the level of cover and the items it applies to are different.
This guide explains each type so you can choose the right cover and set an accurate contents sum insured.
Own home contents cover (Owner Occupied)
If you live in the home yourself, contents cover protects your personal belongings from sudden and accidental loss or damage – whether they’re inside the home, in transit, or temporarily away from home.
Key features:
- Repair or replacement – Most items are covered on a replacement basis, meaning we’ll repair or replace them with new (if it’s economical to do so). Items like clothing, books, and certain electronics are covered for their present value.
- Coverage away from home – Your contents are covered when temporarily removed, whether they’re in storage with prior approval, travelling anywhere in New Zealand, or on short overseas trips to Australia and the South Pacific (up to $5,000 per trip).
- Extra benefits – Includes cover for things like alternative accommodation, contents in transit, home office equipment, hidden gradual damage, keys and locks, frozen food, and stress payments after a total loss.
- Limits for certain items – Jewellery, watches, cash, and similar items have set limits unless specifically listed on your policy.
See our guide on what’s a specified item and when you should list it for more details.
Landlord contents cover
If your property is rented out, landlord contents cover is for the household items you own that stay at the property for tenants to use – for example, curtains, whiteware, or furniture. Cover is limited to the insured property address.
Key differences:
- Cover type – Items less than 5 years old are replaced with new equivalents; older items are covered for their present value.
- Location-specific – Contents are covered while they’re at the insured rental property or in transit to it (with prior approval if in storage).
- Tenant-related risks – Includes extended protection under your landlord’s policy for intentional acts, theft, or vandalism by tenants (up to $25,000 combined for the home and contents, within which the contents sum insured applies).
Learn more about landlord’s protection and intentional damage cover. - Meth contamination – Covers loss to contents caused by contamination, within the overall limit for meth claims shown on your schedule.
See our meth contamination cover guide for details. - Natural disaster – Covered on the same terms as the home, up to your contents sum insured.
Common landlord contents examples:
- Curtains, blinds, and other window coverings
- Carpets, rugs, and floor coverings not permanently fixed
- Light fittings and lamps that aren’t part of the building structure
- Whiteware like fridges, freezers, washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers
- Freestanding stoves or microwaves
- Furniture such as couches, beds, tables, and chairs (if the rental is furnished)
- Heat pumps or portable heaters that aren’t fixed to the property
- Outdoor furniture and BBQs provided for tenant use
- Small appliances like kettles, toasters, and vacuum cleaners
Examples of what’s not covered: Owner’s personal belongings, vehicles, watercraft, pets, or items not kept at the insured address.
Holiday home contents cover
Holiday home contents cover works much like landlord contents cover – it applies to the items you keep at the holiday home for your own use or for guests. Cover is limited to the insured property address.
Key points:
- Similar cover to landlord contents – Replacement for items under 5 years old, present value for older items and certain categories.
- Guest or short-term rental protection – If your holiday home is rented out at times, tenant-related intentional acts or theft may also be covered under the same landlord’s protection and meth contamination benefits.
- Seasonal occupancy rules – To maintain cover while the home is unoccupied, the home must be inspected regularly and basic security and maintenance steps followed.
See our holiday home insurance tips for keeping cover valid. - Natural disaster – Covered up to your contents sum insured, with the same EQC top-up process as for landlord policies.
Common holiday home contents examples:
- Bedding, linen, and towels
- Kitchenware (pots, pans, utensils, cutlery, crockery, glassware)
- Whiteware (fridges, freezers, ovens, microwaves)
- Furniture for living areas, bedrooms, and dining rooms
- TVs, stereos, and entertainment equipment
- Outdoor furniture, umbrellas, and BBQs
- Hobby and leisure gear typically kept for guest use (e.g. board games, puzzles, books)
- Small appliances like coffee machines, blenders, and toasters
- Décor items like lamps, cushions, wall art
Examples of what’s not covered: Owner’s personal belongings, high-value sporting equipment not kept for guest use, vehicles, watercraft, pets, or items not kept at the insured address.
Tip: When setting your contents sum insured, think about what’s actually at the property. For your own home, this means everything you own. For a rental or holiday home, it’s just the items you provide for tenants or guests.
If you’re unsure where to start, use the CoreLogic contents calculator to help estimate the replacement value of your belongings.
If you’re still unsure, you can reach out to us directly – or even use an AI chat tool to quickly search your policy for specific details – just remember to always double-check the results!
Ready to begin your journey with initio? Start with a quote
Can I get contents insurance by itself?
It’s worth noting that initio does not currently offer stand-alone contents insurance. To get contents cover, it must be added to an active insurance policy for the same property. If you only need to insure your contents, such as when you’re renting or not insuring the home itself, initio is not able to provide contents cover.
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