If you’re off to halls this year, you’ll probably have a big to-do list you’ve been working through. One of those tasks is shopping for things you need to take with you. Pots, pens, bedsheets, and a host of other items that somehow fill every available inch of the car.
Among your belongings will probably be some valuable items – think laptops, phones, maybe even specialist equipment for your degree. So, now you’ve got everything organised, it’s time to think about protecting it all, too.
You may be taking more valuables than you realise
If you’re taking any of the items below with you, your bedroom could easily contain belongings worth thousands of pounds.
- * Bike
- * Headphones
- * Jewellery
- * Gaming consoles
- * Mobile
- * Laptop
- * Tablet
- * Specialist equipment for your degree
In student accommodation, there’s a lot that can go wrong. Let’s say you forget to lock your door and discover that someone spilled a drink on your laptop, or perhaps some of your expensive science equipment has go missing. These items can be costly to replace, and they’re also things you may need regularly, meaning you might need to replace them quickly.
Don’t assume you’re already covered
Some home insurance policies include a handy feature known as home away from home cover. That means if your belongings are damaged while you’re at university, your parents’ home insurance – if they have it – may be able to cover them. But this is often the exception rather than the rule, as many home insurance policies don’t include this feature as standard.
Accidents can go both ways
So, what if the reverse happens and you accidentally damage a friend’s laptop or someone else’s property, or even cause them an injury?
While these situations might be uncommon, it’s worth thinking about these things and how you’d expect to pay for them in the event another student files a claim against you. If this is something you’re worried about, or you just want to be extra secure, having liability insurance can help.
Liability cover is simply a type of insurance that protects you if someone makes a claim against you for damaging their property or causing them injury.
Small habits help to protect your things
Just because you have the right insurance in place, it doesn’t mean you can throw caution to the wind. In fact, insurers will usually expect you to have taken reasonable steps to prevent loss or damage for a claim to be successful. That’s why, alongside having insurance, you’ll want to take some common-sense precautions like:
- * Locking doors and windows
- * Never leaving valuables visible
- * Registering your high-value items and recording serial numbers
And, while you’re out and about on campus, make sure to:
- * Never leave laptops unattended
- * Use bike locks
- * Keep devices password protected
If your car’s coming, too
Taking a car to university? Make sure you’ve checked the policy details of your car insurance so you know you’re properly covered.
Many car insurance policies are based on where the car is usually kept, so it’s important to let your insurer know if you’ll be relocating, even if it’s only for part of the year. That way, you can be confident your cover is still valid.
You’ll also want to check your annual mileage limit. If you’re going to be travelling to and from university regularly, or using your car to get around, your annual mileage may increase. Since your premium and policy details are based on the initial figure you gave, you’ll want to update this figure if anything is changing.
Lets talk
Not sure what cover fits you best? Get in touch with us at 01524 848506 or at info@tic-insurance.co.uk to discuss your requirements and how we can help protect your belongings.
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