COUNCIL house tenants will soon be able to sign up to a low-cost contents insurance scheme.

The borough-wide service is being organised by their council landlords, who are choosing which insurance company should provide the service.

Housing bosses say everyone is a winner. Residents will get cheaper insurance, at a flat rate across the borough. This will help those on some estates who have difficulty getting insurance which they can afford.

The council also benefits, by being paid commission for the more tenants they put the insurance company's way. They promise to spend this bonus on further security measures to council homes.

Also, it should stop some residents trying to claim against the council: the local authority insures only the buildings, but does provide third party cover for contents in certain circumstances.

Councillor John Smith, housing spokesman, said: "The introduction of this scheme will bring benefits all round. It will cut the cost of insurance and give our tenants increased peace of mind while helping to dramatically reduce the numbers of those uninsured.

"It will reduce the number of liability claims against us, provide us with a profit share to fund local security initiatives and complement our own anti-poverty and social inclusion aspirations."