The Secret: Discover Your Added Home Contents Benefits
South Africans are well accustomed to the need for insurance, but it isn't only necessary for protecting your vehicle and home. Home Contents Insurance is equally important to protect your belongings in and around your home. In addition to covering your possessions against a variety of risks, Household Contents Insurance in South Africa can offer other benefits that are easily overlooked.
This 1st for Women guide looks at the unexpected items covered by this essential insurance product.
Fire, theft, weather, or malicious damage: the major risks to your home contents
When considering the risks your home is exposed to, we often dwell on theft and burglary while downplaying the other dangers. Each threat can result in heart-breaking loss and damage to personal belongings.
Burglaries and robberies
The difference between a burglary and a robbery is that the latter often involves violence, with at least one victim present. Both are common, and possessions are often targeted.
In the fourth quarter of 2023, over 40,000 home burglaries and more than 6,300 house robberies were reported across the country 1. Even though smaller items like electronics, jewellery, and cash are favoured, these items are still costly to repair or replace.
Fire and smoke damage
Fires move quickly and unexpectedly. Faulty wiring, cooking mishaps, lightning strikes, and wildfires can affect any household, rapidly destroying personal items, furniture, and appliances. Even if the fire is contained before spreading too far, you could still be left with most of your belongings damaged by smoke and water. The cost of replacing these is compounded by having to repair the damage to your home.
Damage from weather or natural disasters
Severe weather and other natural disasters affect many parts of the country with each season. Heavy rain leads to localised flooding, while strong winds and hail can destroy roofs and windows, resulting in water damage to carpets, furniture, electronics, and more. The April 2022 floods in KwaZulu-Natal resulted in damage to at least 13,000 homes 2, while extreme weather in the Western Cape led to widespread flooding and storm damage in 2023 and 2024.
Malicious damage
Damage inflicted on purpose, like vandalism or property destruction, isn't common but remains a risk. A burglar, angered by not being able to get into your safe, might smash items around your house. Civil unrest can lead to secondary damage, such as spoiled food caused by power cuts or fire and smoke damage from urban fires.
Water damage
Other than flooding following rain, water damage to your possessions can also be caused by leaking pipes, overflows, and burst geysers. Unnoticed leaks can be particularly bad, resulting in irreversible damage by the time they are discovered. Even if the damage isn't widespread, replacing a sofa or part of a seasonal wardrobe can be expensive.
Many of us are aware of these major risks and look to have them covered when taking out Home Contents Insurance. Along with Building Insurance, home contents insurance ensures that your home and its contents are covered for loss or repairs caused by common, significant events.
Unveiling the secret of added Home Contents Insurance benefits
You want insurance coverage that protects your personal belongings against theft, fire, and other major risks. With 1st for Women, you get that, plus a range of additional benefits that go beyond standard coverage. These benefits are easily overlooked or forgotten about.
6 Unexpected items covered by Home Contents Insurance
Ever thought about what you might do if you had to temporarily vacate your home following a fire or severe weather damage? Or if a visitor is injured on your property? 1st for Women has, and these are just some surprising items and situations covered by our Household Contents Insurance.
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Accidental damage - Accidents like spills on a laptop or a child crashing over a TV can result in costly repairs or replacements. With accidental damage cover included, you won’t need to worry about the financial impact of replacing or repairing unintentionally damaged items.
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Cover for items outside the home –Garden furniture, a high-end braai or ceramic grill, and even your laundry could be stolen or damaged. Just because these items aren't inside your home when this happens shouldn't mean they can’t be included in a Home Contents Insurance claim. This includes your smart devices when they're on the go.
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Alternative accommodation – If a significant incident renders your home temporarily uninhabitable, such as a fire or severe water damage, you’ll need somewhere safe to stay. This policy includes coverage for alternative accommodation, taking care of hotel or rental costs until your home is repaired and ready for return. It can also cover the cost of security guards if damaged security measures can't be repaired immediately.
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Spoiled food – Ageing infrastructure and severe weather can lead to extended power outages. When this happens in the middle of a South African summer, you can easily end up with a fridge and freezer full of spoiled food. With 1st for Women, these items can be part of a Home Contents Insurance claim.
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Legal liability protection – A friend or visitor injuring themselves on your property can result in ruinous medical and legal expenses. With legal liability protection included with your Home Contents Insurance, you can ensure these costs are covered without harming the friendship.
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Handbag cover – For 1st for Women policyholders, there’s a bonus of handbag cover for losses or damages if your handbag and its contents are stolen, lost, or damaged, whether at home or on the go. Even if the bag isn't worth much, the personal items inside—like your phone, wallet, and makeup—can be costly to replace.
The added value of Home Contents Insurance
Beyond the tangible coverage for items, 1st for Women’s Household Contents Insurance also includes Assist benefits that simplify life’s unexpected challenges. These include:
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Guardian Angel on Call – Roadside assistance is great to have, but with 1st for Women, this includes being able to order a reliable and trackable towing service. For an extra measure, you can also have a Guardian Angel wait with you until help arrives.
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Guardian Angel Lifestyle Assist – This is a comprehensive set of services that help with finding a plumber, electrician and other home services. Additionally, you can get professional medical, finance, tax, and legal assistance and advice.
These lifestyle assists help with unexpected household mishaps and also support you and your family in times of need. Without requiring anything other than the right Home Contents Insurance.
Get a Household Contents Insurance quote
With 1st for Women, you can ensure that what’s valuable to you remains safeguarded—today and every day. To learn more about how our tailored coverage can support you, get a Household Contents Insurance quote from 1st for Women.
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Sources:
1 BusinessTech: https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/753413/11-worst-areas-for-break-ins-and-home-robberies-in-south-africa/
2 JBA Risk Management: https://www.jbarisk.com/products-services/event-response/south-africa-kwazulu-natal-floods/
Disclaimer: The information in this article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, or medical advice.
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