Contents insurance covers your own belongings – clothes, furniture, PC and other things you own – against fire, water and theft. Even if you rent, you need it. Your landlord's insurance covers the building, not your things.
What is contents insurance?
Contents insurance is insurance for your belongings at home. It replaces your possessions if they are damaged or stolen. Contents means all movable property you would take with you in a moving truck: furniture, clothes, electronics, kitchen equipment and books.
Many newcomers think that insurance is only for people who own their home. That is not true. Everyone who lives somewhere has valuables they can lose. On SamfunnPrep you will find a separate guide about insurance in Norway for newcomers, where contents insurance tops the list of what you should have first.
Does the landlord's insurance cover my things?
No. The landlord's insurance does not cover your private belongings. This is the expensive misunderstanding many renters make.
When you rent, your landlord has a building insurance (also called house insurance). It covers the building itself and permanent fixtures, such as kitchen fittings and flooring. It does not cover your clothes, PC or furniture.
If the apartment burns, your landlord's insurance covers the walls – but not the things inside. If there is a break-in, it covers none of what was stolen from you. To cover your own belongings, you need contents insurance.
Some landlords require in the rental agreement that you have contents insurance. Even if it is not mentioned there, it is equally necessary. Contents insurance has nothing to do with the deposit: the deposit secures the landlord against damage and missed rent, while contents insurance secures you.
How building insurance and contents insurance cover different things
The table shows who pays in typical situations (as of 2026):
| Situation | Landlord's building insurance | Your contents insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Fire damages the walls | Covers | Does not cover |
| Fire destroys your furniture | Does not cover | Covers |
| Break-in – your PC is stolen | Does not cover | Covers |
| Water from pipes damages the floor | Covers | Does not cover |
| You flood the neighbor below | Does not cover | Covers (liability) |
What does contents insurance cover?
Contents insurance covers physical damage to your belongings from the most common accidents at home. A standard contents insurance typically covers (as of 2026):
- Fire, lightning strike and damage from electrical fault.
- Water leaking from pipes, dishwasher or washing machine.
- Theft and break-in, and vandalism of your belongings.
- Natural hazard, such as storm and flood.
In addition, you almost always get two extra parts included:
- Liability insurance (personal liability). It covers if you accidentally damage others or their belongings and have to pay compensation. Example: you forget to turn off the tap, and water runs down to the neighbor below.
- Legal aid insurance. It covers lawyer and court costs if you end up in a dispute, for example with your landlord. At many companies this covers up to 100,000 kroner in one case (as of 2026).
These two parts are worth a lot on their own. Many renters do not know that they already have liability and legal aid coverage in their contents insurance.
What does contents insurance cost for a renter?
Contents insurance is cheaper than people think – often around 100 kroner a month. The price depends on the insurance sum and where you live.
If you insure contents for 500,000 kroner, the price is usually between 500 and 1,500 kroner a year (as of 2026). If you have expensive contents over 2 million kroner, the price can be from 1,000 to over 4,000 kroner a year. If you live in an area with a lot of break-ins, the price will be a bit higher than in a quiet place.
Price differences between companies are large, so you can save a lot by comparing. Forbrukerrådet operates Finansportalen, where you can compare contents insurance prices from all companies. There you can also see if membership in a union or other organization gives you a discount.
What is a deductible, and how much is it?
A deductible is the amount you pay yourself in case of damage – the rest is covered by the insurance. The principle is the same as with car insurance: you take part of the bill, the company takes the rest.
At most companies, the standard deductible for contents is between 3,000 and 4,000 kroner for ordinary damage (as of 2026). Two types of damage have their own, fixed deductibles:
- Natural hazard: 8,000 kroner. This amount is determined by law and is the same at all companies in 2026.
- Legal aid: 4,000 kroner plus 20 percent of the costs in the case.
A low deductible gives a slightly higher price, and vice versa. For small damages below the deductible you get nothing paid out, so it is not worth reporting them.
How to set the right insurance sum
The insurance sum is the total value of all your belongings. Set it as close to the real value as possible – neither too low nor too high.
If you set the sum too low, you are underinsured. Then you only get part of the loss covered, even in a small claim. If you set it too high, you pay too much in price without getting more in return.
Calculate based on replacement value: what it costs to buy everything new today, not what you paid back then. Finans Norge has a free contents insurance calculator that gives you a guideline insurance sum based on the number of rooms and people in your household. A small household often ends up around 400,000–500,000 kroner. Remember to update the sum when you buy something expensive, like a new PC or bicycle.
How to buy and switch
You can take out contents insurance online, by phone or at your bank. You can switch companies at any time. If you buy online or by phone, you also have 14 days right of withdrawal, just like with other consumer purchases with withdrawal rights and complaints.
SamfunnPrep also has a checklist for your first week in Norway, where insurance is one of the practical points you should arrange early.
Rules about housing, consumer issues and insurance are part of the curriculum for the civics test. On SamfunnPrep you can practice for free on questions like these.
