As spring turns into summer the time of year draws near when the next generation of university students starts considering where they’re going to spend (at least) the next three years.
Many people will be travelling around attending different open days and hoping that they get the exam grades to get into their first choice. A recent student survey suggested that the current generation of University-goers take an average of £1,400 worth of possessions with them.
This may be in the form of musical instruments, computers, printers, MP3 players, speaker systems, just about anything that you can think of has probably been taken to University by a student. This makes universities prime targets for thieves and burglars.
A number of British universities have relatively old apartment blocks with downstairs windows that don’t match up to modern safety requirements and even without breaking and entering it’s very easy to be let into a block claiming to be someone’s friend.
Whilst insurance might not be the first thing that people think of when they head for Uni, then, it should definitely be something that is considered. Many insurance companies will allow your possessions to be included on your parents contents insurance, but it’s best to check and sort out your own insurance if they don’t.
Additionally, any insurance policy that you get should only be for one year, most students at most universities live in private accommodation in their second and possibly third years and this poses different insurance implications.
Most landlords will have their own buildings insurance, so you only need to worry about contents, but it can be difficult when you’re not solely responsible for the security of your house (if, for example, your downstairs housemate has a penchant for leaving his window open).
More often than not an insurance provider will be able to help you out. As with tenant’s insurance it can be cheaper to have some expensive items not included on your policy but on their own separate policies.
Theft is one of the main dangers to students, particularly second and third years, and nothing can be more disruptive to your university career than suffering a theft. Co-Operative Finance are one company who are offering good home insurance deals at the moment and might be the ideal place to look for a good policy.
