Kevin Keenan, Labour group leader on Dundee City Council, has called for action after a survey revealed that almost half of households in some parts of Dundee lack contents insurance.
The annual consumer survey, commissioned by the council, showed that as many as 41% of households in some areas were affected, Mr Keenan said.
He added that the issue is particularly pressing because of the adverse weather witnessed across much of the UK recently.
The Labour leader said: “There is a lot that is positive in the report. But the number of properties that have no household insurance in place is really worrying.
“The survey asks the question: ‘Do you have insurance for the contents of your house, such as furniture, electrical goods etc?’
“In some areas, as many as 41% of people responded that they have no contents insurance.
“Looking at the news reports recently, there is a very real chance that the weather could cause flooding, frozen pipes, things like that.
“A burst pipe, for example, could cause water damage that people simply can’t afford. This is one of a number of things that need to be addressed and, having asked the question, we now need to find some sort of solution to this.
“If we put the effort in now it will be better in the long run,” he added.
The council said that they do have a scheme in place for council house tenants, but not private tenants, and that they would look at the issue.
The annual consumer survey is a city-wide assessment based on a sample taken from more than 2,000 citizens.
It was put before the policy and resources committee last night and the results will now be passed to council departments and local community planning partnerships.
Alongside the statistics on contents insurance, the survey also provided a wide range of very positive statistics, including that 97% of Dundonians rate their neighbourhoods “good” or “very good”.