Why do I need home contents insurance?

We do not insure the contents in your home so it’s important you take the steps to protect your personal belongings. Home contents insurance covers your home items from:

• Theft
• Fire
• Burst water pipes or floods
• Vandalism or damage
• Some accidents

It even insures you for lost or stolen house keys, your freezer contents (food) and the cost of alternative accommodation if you have to stay somewhere else after your home is damaged.

How can Riverside help me?

Riverside provides access to a low‑cost Tenants’ Contents Insurance deal specifically designed for our tenants, shared owners and leaseholders.

The scheme is administered by URIS and underwritten by Ecclesiastical Insurance Office PLC (Ecclesiastical).

Applying is easy and you can pay weekly, fortnightly, monthly or annually. If you do make a claim, there is no excess to pay up front.

Important update for customers currently on our contents insurance deal

Your current tenants’ contents insurance provider (RSA) is being replaced by Ecclesiastical at renewal.

To keep your cover running without interruption, RSA will securely transfer your personal information to Ecclesiastical so they can prepare your renewal quote. This includes your name, address, date of birth, policy details, past claims, and any additional support needs.

If you pay by Direct Debit and normally renew automatically, your bank details will also be transferred so your payments continue smoothly.

If you are happy for your insurance to continue, you do not need to do anything.

If you do not want your information to be transferred, please contact Ecclesiastical customer services team at 0345 671 8172 or by email at [email protected].

If you opt out, you will need to arrange alternative cover before your policy ends.

What you need to know about  tenants’ contents insurance

Tenants’ contents insurance financially protects the contents of your home, garage and shed.

Cover includes improvements you make to your home, such as new laminate flooring or a fitted kitchen.

You don’t need special door or window locks — standard locking external doors are fine.

Find out more about Ecclesiastical tenants’ contents insurance in their key information sheet.

Who do I need to contact to set up my home contents insurance?

The online application form for our home contents insurance deal will be available from April. In the meantime, you can call URIS customer contact team directly, from 24 March 2026, on 0345 671 8172 to apply by phone

Riverside offers two levels of cover under the scheme:

• Simple: Provides cover for the contents in your home against loss or damage caused by events such as theft, fire and flood. Accidental breakage is covered for mirrors, ceramic hobs in freestanding cookers and glass that forms part of the furniture.
• Simple+: Includes everything in Simple plus full accidental damage cover for your home contents—for example, accidental damage to your TV or breaking a vase.

Optional extras can be added to either level, such as cover for personal belongings, hearing aids, wheelchairs and Bicycles (inside and outside the home).

If you choose to take out this insurance, it is up to you to make sure the policy meets your needs. Riverside is not involved in day‑to‑day administration of the scheme. You may also choose any other insurance provider if you prefer.

Submitting a claim

Submitting a claim for home contents insurance can be very stressful. To help the process you can now access an online claims portal provided by the insurer. You can use the portal to submit a claim and track its process.

You can find the claims portal here.

Need support or advice with Welfare Benefit and Pension claims or appeals?

Sometimes, the complexities within the Welfare Benefits and Pension systems can make it difficult to know what you are entitled to claim and how to make an application.  We also know that many claims are turned down when they shouldn’t be and asking for a reconsideration or making an appeal can be daunting.  This is where our Money Advice Team can help.  They are specialists in this field and can assist you with a simple query or take you on a journey through a claim or appeal from start to finish.

They also have access to a range of extra support including affordable warmth advice, specialist debt advice and help finding employment.

Have you done a Benefit check?

If you would like to receive support from our service, please fill in the form below and we will call you back within 5 working days.