Parents take cover as students head off to university

As students across the UK take up university places and finalise their accommodation, rural insurer NFU Mutual reminds parents to check that their insurance policy covers their children too.

According to the Home Office, students own more expensive consumer goods per head than the rest of the population. If students only took a laptop, ipod and portable TV, they could easily be placing over £2,000 worth of property at risk before even taking into account other personal possessions such as mobile phones and books.

Young people aged 16 to 24 years old are also around three times more likely to be victims of burglary than people in other age groups, which makes students all the more vulnerable.

NFU Mutual’s Premier home contents insurance automatically covers the possessions of any member of the household who is away at an educational establishment within the UK, up to £5,000 for any one claim.

Laura Wood from NFU Mutual said: “As undergraduates embark on their first year at university, it is important for them to check that their personal possessions are insured.

“Many students already find it a considerable financial struggle to make ends meet and one of the last things they need is to have to pay out to replace stolen possessions. However, arranging insurance can be as simple as speaking to mum and dad.

“Parents should check their existing insurance to see if their children are already covered. Not only does NFU Mutual’s insurance apply to universities but it also covers students at boarding schools and other places of full-time education.”

NFU Mutual covers student’s property whilst inside their accommodation for the usual standard risks including fire, flood and malicious damage and theft from their room or car, as long as it involves forced entry. Belongings are covered for the whole year, not just during term time, so students have the added benefit of knowing their property, if left at university, is covered during vacation periods.