Insurance and Insurance Claims

Why do I need it?

As your landlord, we cover the buildings insurance for your home, but you are responsible, under the terms of your tenancy, for insuring your contents. It is always a good idea to shop around for a policy that will give you the cover you need.

Home contents insurance is not compulsory, but it is a good idea to consider what a policy would cover you for. Home contents insurance can help protect your personal belongings from incidents such as fire, theft, water damage, and many more household risks, giving you peace of mind.

Pay As You Go Home Contents Insurance Scheme

We have teamed up with Thistle Tenant Risks who provide specialist Tenants Contents Insurance policies. The scheme is a specialist insurance scheme provided by Thistle Tenant Risks and all tenants living in social and affordable housing are eligible to apply.

The scheme can offer you insurance for the contents of your home including cover for items such as furniture, carpets, curtains, clothes, bedding, electrical items, jewellery, pictures and ornaments.

What does contents insurance cover?

We have teamed up with Thistle Tenant Risks, to offer a Home Contents Insurance Scheme, designed specifically for tenants in social housing, all our tenants are eligible to apply. The scheme is designed to meet the demands and needs of social housing residents looking to purchase home contents insurance.

This policy can cover contents such as: Furniture, Carpets, Curtains, Clothes, Bedding, Electrical items, Pictures, Ornaments.

Terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions apply. For more information about the policy, please refer to the Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) (PDF, 43 KB)(opens new window) and Policy Wording (PDF, 478 KB)(opens new window).

If you are unsure whether this insurance policy is right for you, please contact us on 01506 282020 (Option 6) or Email: income@westlothian.gov.uk and we will be happy to help with your queries.

Thistle Tenant Risks Contents Insurance is designed to meet the needs of social housing residents who wish to insure their household contents.

How do I get further information?

If you'd like to apply for home contents insurance, you can do so by completing an  or you can request an application pack using the contact details on this page. Prior to completing the application form, please review the , , and RSA Notice to Policyholders (PDF, 170 KB)(opens new window). These documents give you important information on your rights and how we deal with you and your insurance and key information regarding the insurance cover.

Please note that the insurance policy we provide is arranged on a non-advised basis. This means that you will be provided with the key information to be able to make an informed decision on which cover is appropriate for your needs.

Reasons to choose West Lothian Council's Pay As You Go Home Contents Insurance Scheme

• Covers loss or damage to your contents caused by specific events such as, theft, water damage, fire, and many more household risks.
• Tenant's liability - We will pay up to 35% of the contents sum insured for damage to your landlord's fixtures and fittings which you are legally liable for as a tenant. There is no cover available if your home is unoccupied for more than 60 days in a row.
• Covers theft or attempted theft of contents in sheds, outbuildings and garages that form part of your home up to £3,000.
• Covers damage to external glazing for which you are responsible.
• We will pay up to £500 for replacement and installation of locks for outside doors or windows and alarms if keys are lost or stolen.
• You do not need to have special door or window locks, as long as your outside door locks, that is fine.
• There is no excess to pay in the event of a claim.

How can I apply for home contents insurance and how much will it cost? 

You can complete an Application Form (PDF, 473 KB)(opens new window), which includes additional information, and premiums. Please also review the Thistle Important Customer Information Document (PDF, 107 KB)(opens new window). You can contact us on the details above to request an application pack to be posted to you.  These documents provide important information about your rights, how we manage your insurance, and key details about the insurance.

Please note that the insurance policy we provide is arranged on a non-advised basis. This means that you will be provided with the key information to be able to make an informed decision on which cover is appropriate for your needs.

What to do if you have a complaint

It is always the intention to give you the best possible service but if you do have any questions or concerns about this insurance or the handling of a claim you should follow the procedure.

Please refer to the Thistle Insurance Services Complaints Procedure (PDF, 95 KB)(opens new window). For additional information, view our complaints page.

Thistle Tenant Risks is a trading style of Thistle Insurance Services Limited. Thistle Insurance Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority FRN 310419. Registered in England under No. 00338645. Registered office: Rossington's Business Park, West Carr Road, Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 7SW. Thistle Insurance Services Ltd is part of the PIB Group. More information is available on their Data Protection Privacy Policy page (opens new window).