Council tenant is an electric winner

Yvonne Wootton, of Barbaras Close, Maltby, entered the competition by signing up to the tenant home contents insurance scheme run by Rotherham Council and Aon Insurance.

The competition was launched at the Rotherham Show in September, inviting tenants to commit a weekly fee alongside their rent to secure their personal belongings against damage or loss.

Any tenants still subscribing to the scheme after four months were entered into the prize draw giving them a chance to win a hamper of new kitchen items.

Yvonne said: “I realised I probably needed contents insurance as my roof had leaked and damaged my television.”

“I couldn’t afford to mess about with other insurance companies and found the Aon scheme a lot cheaper. It was also easy to pay alongside my weekly rent – just £1 extra a week.”

“My roof hasn’t leaked since but I now have peace of mind if it does.”

Matthew McKinley, from Aon Insurance, said tenant home contents insurance schemes are designed specifically for council tenants to protect personal belongings against fire or water damage.

“Incidents such as these can cause misery,” he said.

“Tenants may not be aware but if the worst happens, they are responsible for replacing their own items.”

Rotherham Council’s housing income manager Simon Bell added: “The landlord is only responsible for maintaining the buildings part of the home; ensuring that the property is structurally sound, and renewing items such as kitchen and bathroom units.”

“We would therefore recommend all tenants take out home contents insurance. If something happens to destroy or damage your possessions, it can cost a lot of money to replace those items, some of which may be essential.”

Over 1,500 Rotherham Council tenants have already signed up to the scheme, and many others have taken out contents insurance through other providers.

The Aon scheme is available to all council tenants and leaseholders and insurance payments can be made in the same way that you pay your rent.

For more information call 01709 255633.