If you are about to head off to University for the first time or as a returning student, you may not have considered student possessions insurance until now. Going to University is often the first experience young people may have of living on their own and away from parental guidance. Until you begin to discover what living on your own is all about, it is unlikely that you will have a great deal of knowledge about of what to expect from living independently.
Technology has become an increasingly available commodity and as a result there are now three times as many students owning high value goods such as laptops and mobiles than there were 10 years ago. This is just the tip of the iceberg; many students will also have games consoles, DVDs, MP3s, cameras and other electronic devices.
However, despite the rise in the number of students who own gadgets, many student houses still do not take security as a serious issue and as a result s tudent houses represent a soft target for buglers and many students fall victim to crime during their first year. Research has shown that over 200,000 students do not take out any form of insurance cover when they move to University yet theft, criminal damage and burglary account for seven in ten crimes with one student burgled every 4 minutes.
If your son or daughter is about to head off to University don't make the assumption that your house insurance policy will automatically cover them while they are away from home. Some insurers will offer this as an additional benefit although in truth the policy terms and conditions are very restrictive. It is far better to take out a policy which will provide the right level of cover for the right price.
In addition to providing a policy that is specifically for student possessions you may also receive additional benefits for no extra charge such as counselling on health, drugs, contraception, debt, housing, legal and welfare matters. You can also expect to the policy to cover your belongings during the holidays or when they are in transit.
In the fight against crime you can help to minimise the chances of becoming a victim. Some simple steps include property marking, fitting dead locks to the property, and leaving valuable items out of sight.
