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Evidence · Home and contents insurance

Every question, every answer, every source

Explore all 372 home and contents insurance questions and the 1,476 answers saved on 11 October 2026. Read the original responses and download the tables behind the study’s comparisons, sources, sentiment and factual checks.

questions
372
answers saved, of 1488 planned
1476
consumer situations
12
named regions
16
AI platforms
4

01

Every question, with its answers

Each question went to the four AI platforms. All were collected with a New Zealand setting. Open a question to read every captured answer in full.

Showing 20 of 372 questions

Show all 372

02

The tables behind the study

Every figure on the study page comes from these tables. They are CSV files, which open in any spreadsheet.

  • Questions

    questions.csv

    One row per question, with its exact saved wording.

    Question ID, source references, question, consumer situation, named regions, question group and collection setting

    372rows

    Download questions (CSV)

  • Answers

    answers.csv

    One row per captured answer, with its full text.

    Answer ID, question ID, platform, collection setting, consumer situation, named regions and full answer

    1,476rows

    Download answers (CSV)

  • Sources by answer

    sources.csv

    One row per website recorded as a source of an answer.

    Answer ID, question ID, assistant, collection setting, website and publisher type

    9,014rows

    Download sources by answer (CSV)

  • Checks against primary sources

    checks.csv

    One row per stated assertion checked, for one platform.

    Check, question and answer IDs, assistant, exact passage, verdict, primary-source finding, URL and date

    97rows

    Download checks against primary sources (CSV)

  • Consumer recommendation coding

    consumer-recommendation-coding.csv

    One row per reviewed provider role in a consumer-selection answer.

    Answer ID, question ID, consumer, platform, provider, role, counted recommendation, exact passage and conditions

    659rows

    Download consumer recommendation coding (CSV)

  • Consumer selection membership

    consumer-selection-membership.csv

    One row per answer in the matched consumer-selection comparison.

    Answer ID, question ID, consumer, platform, question group and full text; twelve home and twelve contents selection questions, with missing captures preserved

    94rows

    Download consumer selection membership (CSV)

  • Ongoing support coding

    support-coding.csv

    One row per reviewed named-provider role in an eligible support answer.

    Answer ID, question ID, consumer, platform, provider, role, support-preference decision and exact passage

    75rows

    Download ongoing support coding (CSV)

  • Ongoing support membership

    support-membership.csv

    One row per answer in the actual consumer-support group.

    Answer ID, question ID, consumer, platform, question group and full text; acquisition validation is excluded

    71rows

    Download ongoing support membership (CSV)

  • Regional recommendation coding

    regional-recommendation-coding.csv

    One row per reviewed provider role in a region-named selection answer.

    Answer ID, question ID, named consumer region, platform, provider, recommendation decision and exact passage

    1,017rows

    Download regional recommendation coding (CSV)

  • Regional selection membership

    regional-selection-membership.csv

    One row per answer in the matched regional comparison.

    Answer ID, question ID, named consumer region, platform and equal-comparison membership; four home and three contents platform answers per region

    112rows

    Download regional selection membership (CSV)

  • Insurer sentiment

    insurer-sentiment.csv

    One row per unique saved claim about an insurer in a selection answer.

    Claim, question and answer IDs, insurer, saved stance, exact passage and original-answer offsets

    3,828rows

    Download insurer sentiment (CSV)

  • Recorded source URLs

    source-urls.csv

    One row per recorded answer, website and URL association.

    Answer ID, question ID, platform, website, URL, source records and presence in the captured answer text

    13,048rows

    Download recorded source urls (CSV)

  • Matched consumer platform membership

    platform-membership.csv

    One row per answer in the identical-question platform comparison.

    Answer ID, question ID, product, consumer and platform; 22 identical questions per platform

    88rows

    Download matched consumer platform membership (CSV)

  • Matched regional platform membership

    regional-platform-membership.csv

    One row per answer in the identical-question regional platform comparison.

    Answer ID, question ID, product, region and platform; 31 identical questions per platform

    124rows

    Download matched regional platform membership (CSV)

Use these tables to trace findings back to the original questions and answers. The full text of each answer is also on this page, under its question.

03

Read in full and checked

Some answers were read in detail or checked against official sources. Those appear on the study page, beside the findings they support.

ChatGPT · New Zealand

How do insurers treat contents in shared housing, storage units and unusual living arrangements?

In New Zealand, insurers usually treat contents based on who owns the items, where they are kept, and how the living arrangement is described on the policy. Shared housing, storage units and non-standard living setups can create gaps if the insurer does not know the arrangement. Consumer NZ

Shared housing / flatting

  • Your own belongings: If you are renting or flatting, you generally need your own contents insurance for your possessions. A landlord’s insurance normally covers the building, not your belongings. Tenancy Services
  • Flatmates’ belongings: Your contents policy usually covers your own contents, not your flatmates’ property. A flatmate normally needs their own policy. ICNZ | Insurance Council of New Zealand
  • Damage between flatmates: Policies vary. Some may cover your belongings if a flatmate accidentally damages them, but you should check whether the policy covers damage you cause to other people’s belongings or the landlord’s items. ICNZ | Insurance Council of New Zealand
  • Shared rooms: If two people share a bedroom, insurers may ask who owns specific items and whether both people are insured. High-value items (for example jewellery, cameras or specialist equipment) may need to be listed separately.

Storage units

Storage is one of the most common areas where people assume they are covered when they are not.

  • Many contents policies cover items temporarily removed from your home, but may exclude items that are permanently kept elsewhere or placed into storage. NZI Site
  • Some insurers provide limited cover for contents in a professional storage facility, often with conditions, time limits or restricted events covered. MAS
  • A private garage, shed, friend’s house, shipping container, or informal storage arrangement may be treated differently from a commercial storage facility.

Before storing valuable items, tell your insurer:

  • where the storage is located
  • how long items will be stored
  • what type of facility it is
  • the approximate value of the contents

Unusual living arrangements

Insurers may treat these differently and may require disclosure:

  • Boarding houses or room-by-room rentals: Your policy may need to reflect that you do not occupy the entire dwelling. Tenancy Services
  • Living with family or partners: Some policies may cover family members in the same household, while others define insured people more narrowly. AA Insurance
  • Students living away from home: Some people may still have cover through a parent’s policy, depending on the wording and circumstances. ICNZ | Insurance Council of New Zealand
  • Tiny homes, converted vehicles, boats, caravans, or temporary accommodation: These may fall outside standard contents definitions and often require a specific conversation with the insurer.
  • Working from home or storing business equipment: Business-related items may have limits or exclusions unless the insurer has been told about the use. ICNZ | Insurance Council of New Zealand

Things insurers commonly ask about

When arranging or updating contents insurance, expect questions such as:

  • Who lives at the property?
  • Is it owner-occupied, rented, or a shared arrangement?
  • Are there boarders or flatmates?
  • Are valuables stored away from the home?
  • Is anyone running a business from the premises?
  • Is the property vacant for long periods?

Practical steps

  • Read the policy definition of “contents” and “your home” rather than relying only on the product summary.
  • Tell the insurer about changes in living arrangements before a claim occurs.
  • Keep receipts, photos and valuations for expensive items.
  • Consider whether your contents sum insured still reflects everything you own.

For a specific situation (for example, “I live in a flat with three others,” “my belongings are in a self-storage unit,” or “I live in a van/tiny home”), the answer can change significantly depending on the insurer and policy wording. ICNZ | Insurance Council of New Zealand

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · New Zealand

How do insurers treat contents in shared housing, storage units and unusual living arrangements?

Insurers in New Zealand treat contents insurance differently depending on whether you live in a shared flat, keep items in a storage unit, or have an unconventional lifestyle. Underwriting guidelines vary across providers (such as AA Insurance, Tower, and NZI), but standard industry approaches apply to these situations:

1. Shared Housing (Flatting)

Living with flatmates or in a boarding situation brings unique considerations regarding ownership and security:

  • Ownership Boundaries: Insurers only cover your personal belongings or items you legally own. If you share a TV or lounge suite with flatmates, you can only insure your proportional share or the specific items registered in your name. Flatmates need separate policies for their own independent property.
  • Security and Forced Entry Requirements: Many policies stipulate that doors and windows must be securely locked. In flatting situations where multiple people come and go, insurers closely examine forced entry. If a flatmate leaves a door unlocked and items are stolen, a claim can be denied because there was no signs of "forcible and violent entry."
  • Boarders and Subletting: Some standard policies exclude cover if you have paying boarders or flatmates who are not part of the immediate family or named on the policy, or they may require the insurer to be notified. Always check if the definition of "family" or "household" restricts flatting arrangements.

2. Storage Units

When personal items are moved out of a home and placed into a commercial facility, coverage rules shift:

  • Limited Off-Premises / In-Storage Benefits: Many standard New Zealand contents policies include an automatic "contents in storage" or "temporarily removed" benefit, but this is usually subject to strict limitations. It often covers only specified events (such as fire, storm, or burglary with forced entry) and may restrict coverage to a fraction of your total sum insured (e.g., 10%).
  • Commercial Facility Requirement: Insurers generally mandate that the items must be kept in a professionally managed, secure commercial storage facility (such as a recognized self-storage company) rather than an unsecure shed, garage, or a friend’s spare barn.
  • Standalone Storage Insurance: If your standard policy does not provide adequate limits for items in storage, or if you are storing an entire household long-term, insurers or storage operators offer specialized storage insurance policies tailored to the total value of the goods inside the unit.

3. Unusual Living Arrangements

Non-traditional lifestyles (such as living permanently in a caravan, tiny home on wheels, boat, or house truck, or squatting/nomadic living) fall outside standard residential underwriting:

  • Non-Standard and Specialty Policies: Standard house and contents policies assume a fixed, permanent residential address built on fixed foundations. Living in mobile structures or unorthodox properties usually requires specialty policies (such as marine insurance for boats, caravan/motorhome insurance, or specialized tiny home policies).
  • Unattended or Vacant Properties: If an unusual arrangement means the property is left unattended for extended periods (e.g., traveling seasonal workers or nomadic lifestyles), standard contents policies may automatically suspend theft or malicious damage cover if a house is left unoccupied for more than 30 to 60 consecutive days without prior insurer approval.
  • Lack of Permanent Address: Insurers require a clear risk address to calculate regional weather and crime risks. Living entirely off-grid or without a permanent fixed mooring/parking location can make standard insurers decline cover entirely, requiring a bespoke broker-negotiated policy.

Are you currently navigating a specific living arrangement and trying to figure out which policy type fits best?

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · New Zealand

How do insurers treat contents in shared housing, storage units and unusual living arrangements?

AI Overview

In New Zealand, how insurers treat your belongings outside of a standard, single-occupancy home depends strictly on who has access to the space and where the items are stored.

Insurers evaluate risk based on security, meaning shared keys, external storage facilities, or non-traditional structures heavily alter your coverage limits and policy terms.

1. Shared Housing & Flatting

When flatting or living in a shared house, standard contents insurance policies usually do not cover the entire household under one policy unless you are related or in a de facto relationship.

  • Individual Policies Required: Each flatmate generally needs their own individual renters or contents policy to cover their personal items.

  • Theft Exclusions: If a flatmate, their guest, or an invitee steals or intentionally damages your items, most Kiwi insurers will decline the claim. Cover is typically restricted to instances of forced, violent entry into the home or your specific bedroom.

  • Legal Liability: A critical benefit of individual flatting contents insurance in New Zealand is legal liability cover. If you accidentally cause a fire or flood that damages the landlord's property or your flatmates' belongings, this protects you from massive out-of-pocket costs.

2. Commercial Storage Units

Most New Zealand contents insurance policies offer a built-in extension for items "temporarily removed" from your primary residence, but strict conditions apply to commercial storage units.

  • Time and Value Caps: Belongings stored in a professional storage facility are often only covered for a limited window (e.g., up to 14 or 30 days) or capped at a set percentage of your total sum insured (e.g., 15% to 20%), unless explicitly extended.

  • Approved Facilities Only: Cover is usually contingent on the facility being a commercially operated, lockable, and professionally monitored storage complex. Storing items in a friend’s garage or an unmonitored shed rarely qualifies.

  • Separate Storage Insurance: If you are storing items long-term (e.g., while moving or travelling overseas), you must notify your insurer to purchase a specific transit and storage policy or buy insurance directly through the storage facility vendor.

3. Unusual Living Arrangements

As alternative housing options grow across New Zealand, mainstream insurers treat unconventional structures with a high degree of scrutiny.

  • Tiny Homes & Caravans: If your tiny home is on wheels (a trailer vehicle), it is often treated under a specialist mobile home or caravan policy rather than standard contents insurance. If it is permanently fixed to the land with building consent, it may qualify for standard asset cover, provided the site avoids high-risk flood or natural hazard zones.

  • Sleepouts & Minor Dwellings: Belongings kept in a sleepout on the same property are generally covered under the main household contents policy, provided the sleepout is fully lockable and structurally sound. However, if the sleepout is rented out to a tenant or flatmate separately, it requires its own distinct policy arrangement.

  • Unapproved Structures: If you are living in an unpermitted dwelling, a converted garage without a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC), or a temporary structure, insurers may refuse contents coverage entirely due to the unmitigated risks associated with sub-standard wiring, fire hazards, and structural integrity.

To ensure you are fully covered, it is highly recommended to proactively disclose your exact living or storage arrangement to your provider before an event occurs. If you'd like to dive deeper, let me know:

  • What specific living or storage arrangement are you currently navigating?

  • Which insurance provider are you considering or currently using?

I can help clarify their exact policy wordings or exclusions for your situation.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · New Zealand

How do insurers treat contents in shared housing, storage units and unusual living arrangements?

In New Zealand , insurance companies handle non-standard living situations, shared spaces, and stored items by applying specific definitions, security requirements, and sub-limits. Because standard policies are designed for a single family or owner-occupier living in a secure, traditional dwelling, shifting outside those norms changes the risk profile for insurers.

Here is how New Zealand insurers generally treat contents in these three scenarios:

  • Shared housing (flatting and boarding) requires individual policies, as standard contents insurance covers only the policyholder and their immediate family members living with them, meaning flatmates' belongings are excluded. Insurers usually expect each flatmate to hold their own renters or contents policy for their personal property. While items in a private, lockable bedroom are typically fully covered, coverage for items kept in communal areas (like a shared lounge or kitchen) can sometimes carry restricted terms, lower sub-limits for theft or accidental damage, or require proof of ownership if a dispute arises over who owns what. Additionally, if doors to the flat or individual rooms are left unlocked, theft claims can be declined due to a failure to take reasonable care.

  • Storage units are sometimes covered under standard comprehensive contents policies, but with notable restrictions. Many New Zealand insurers provide temporary or limited cover for items stored in a professional, commercially operated storage facility, but this is usually restricted to specific "defined events" like fire, flood, storm, or forced-entry burglary (mysterious disappearance or damage by pests/moisture is often excluded). Furthermore, major commercial storage providers in New Zealand (such as National Storage) often mandate separate or specific transit/storage risk insurance because standard home policies cap the value, time frame, or type of items allowed to remain off-site indefinitely.

  • Unusual living arrangements (such as tiny homes on wheels, houseboats, caravans, communes, or non-standard/unpermitted dwellings) require specialized underwriting. Standard residential contents or house policies will usually decline coverage outright if the structure does not meet standard building definitions or lacks a permanent, secure foundation. For movable or alternative dwellings, New Zealand insurers generally require niche policies (such as caravan, marine, or specialized mobile-home insurance) where the policy wording explicitly dictates how and where the contents are secured, and whether coverage applies only when the dwelling is at a specified location or actively being towed/moved.

If you have a specific living arrangement or item value in mind, let me know and I can detail what policy endorsements or specialist providers you might need.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026