Campaign launched to help insure low-income families

The Association of British Insurers said a third of the 4.8 million people who lived in social housing did not have contents insurance.

But it warned that social housing tenants were twice as likely to be burgled as people who own their home, while arson attacks are 30 times higher in low-income communities.

The group added that low-income families were also eight times more likely to be living in an area that is at a higher risk from flooding.

The ABI is urging more local authorities and housing associations to offer their tenants contents insurance schemes to help them protect their belongings.

It said these provided low-cost insurance, with premiums sometimes less than £1 a week, against damage to home contents as a result of fire, flooding, burglary or accidental damage.

To help people spread the cost of the cover, premiums are usually paid at the same time as rent.

Nick Starling, the ABI's director of general insurance and health, said: "Many social landlords are missing a trick by not providing tenants insurance.

"As well as protecting the most vulnerable, those covered are less likely to fall into rent arrears as they will be financially protected should disaster strike.

"The ABI is committed to improving the take up of contents insurance among those in rented accommodation, and we will work with the Government and social landlords to ensure that the most vulnerable people in society are financially protected against the unexpected."