Getting university covered

With A-level results due out next week, students heading off to university need to be fully prepared for three years of working hard and partying hard but, with the amount of expensive gadgets freshers taking with them on the increase, insurance is a must.

Changing times

According to Legal & General full-time students have around £13,000 worth of contents in their student digs and one in three under-graduates have bought electrical equipment in the past three months with iPods or other MP3 players being most popular. Andy Dawson of Legal & General says: "Today's students are more attuned to the benefits of modern technology and so have some high value consumer goods such as a computer or laptop and a mobile phone. In addition, most have their own TV and DVDs so the value of their belongings can soon mount up."

Too many people don't have the right contents insurance Are you among them? Check you have enough cover right now.

Sizing up the accommodation

About one in three students become a victim of crime during their time at university with about a quarter of those studying being burgled. Shared student houses, in particular, offer rich pickings. There will be plenty of valuable equipment to steal in one go and burglars tend to be aware of when the property will be empty - because of lectures, for example, or during university holidays.

Thefts from halls of residences may be rarer but there is a higher chance of walk-in thefts when doors are left open, as opposed to forced entry. Some halls of residence include contents insurance in their accommodation fees so it is worth checking this before taking out your own policy.

Ways to do it

For students living in privately rented accommodation, there are two main ways to get contents insurance; students can either take out their own contents policy or be insured on their parent's home insurance policy. If you decide to get your own policy, be aware that not all insurers will cover contents in just one room in a shared house although some providers such as Endsleigh and E&L Insurance specialist in students and sharers.

Do you have the best coverage for your home insurance? Find out now.

10 August 2007 © Moneyextra.com

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