What You Need to Know About Home Contents Insurance

Your home is more than a physical structure – its contents, layout, and decor reflect your personality and values. How can you make sure that your most valuable possession is protected from unexpected perils?

Accidents, calamities, and other misfortunes could happen to your home. In fact, according to the Singapore Civil Defence Force, there was a 7.8% increase in fire incidents in 2019, and 1,168 of those incidents occurred in residential areas¹.

Is fire insurance enough?

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has a mandatory fire insurance scheme, which gives some peace of mind. In the event of a fire, flood or explosion, this insurance usually covers the physical structure itself, the fixtures, and the fittings that are considered part of the building².

But what about your possessions at home? Should the worst happen to your home and you lose everything in it, will you have the funds to replace your work computer and household appliances like your washing machine, refrigerator, or stove? How about valuables like your camera, jewellery, or office clothes?

It’s important to know that all these items are not covered by the standard fire insurance required by banks or the HDB. To fully protect your home and its contents, you’ll also need additional coverage for those items.

Why do you need home contents insurance?

Home contents insurance, also known as household contents insurance, is a plan that protects you against the loss of the important things you have inside your home. Aviva’s home contents insurance covers including:

1. Air conditioning unit
2. Audio-visual equipment
3. Built-in wardrobe
4. Clothes
5. Jewellery
6. Domestic appliances
7. PC and laptop
8. Camera

If you are working remotely, home contents insurance becomes even more vital. Your work computer and the other appliances that you use for work are worth much more than their stated sticker price – your livelihood is attached to these devices.

If you lose them, not only do you lose the amount of money you paid for them, but you also miss out on the potential income until you get replacements. Home contents insurance reduces the time that you are not able to work because of the loss of your professional equipment.

What would Aviva’s home contents insurance protect you against?

The following perils are covered:

1. Fire
2. Flood
3. Earthquake and lightning
4. Explosions
5. Theft
6. Bursting or overflowing of water pipes or household apparatus
7. Vehicle impacts
8. Riots, strikes, or civil commotions

What is the real value of home contents insurance?

You may not believe it, but what you have inside your home could be worth a lot of money. All those small purchases add up, and you’ll only realise their combined worth when you need to replace them after a fire or other unfortunate events. Good thing then that home contents insurance ensures that you can easily purchase the essentials you need after losing your home, allowing your life to return to normal faster.

Home contents insurance secures not only the important things that standard fire insurance doesn’t cover, but it also covers the legal liabilities that may arise from the insured events. Therefore, if you want to enjoy peace of mind, add home contents insurance on top of the required fire insurance.

Good news! Ohmyhome is pleased to announce the collaboration with Aviva to provide our customers with Complimentary One-year Home Contents Insurance coverage. This is a limited-time offer, so get your free plan today!

Contact us via any of the options below for more details on the offer or sign up now before it ends.

Important notes: 

1. Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings. Extracted with permission. “PMD-related and vegetation fires fuel increase in fire incidents last year” 12 February 2020, 

2. Central Provident Fund Board. (n.d.). Home Protection Scheme. Retrieved September 24, 2021, from https://www.cpf.gov.sg/members/FAQ/schemes/Housing/Home-Protection-Scheme/FAQDetails?category=Housing&group=Home%20Protection%20Scheme&folderid=18096&ajfaqid=15103478 

Terms and conditions apply. The above product is underwritten by Aviva. Ohmyhome is not an insurance agent or intermediary and is not allowed to solicit any insurance business or give advice on or recommend any product nor be involved in any discussions or negotiations between you and Aviva or in the arrangement of any insurance contract between you and Aviva. Please direct all insurance enquiries to Aviva. This material is published for general information only and does not have regard to specific investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs of any specific person. A copy of the Product Summary may be obtained from Aviva Ltd and the participating distributors’ office. This material is not a contract of insurance. Full details of the standard terms and conditions of this policy can be found in the policy contract. Protected up to specified limits by SDIC. Information is accurate as at September 2021.