Student contents insurance: does it cover halls of residence?
If you’re going to be living in halls of residence while you’re at uni, you’ll need to know if all your belongings are insured. Here’s how to find out whether you’ve got the cover you need and how to arrange it if you haven’t.
If you’re going to be living in halls of residence while you’re at uni, you’ll need to know if all your belongings are insured. Here’s how to find out whether you’ve got the cover you need and how to arrange it if you haven’t.
60-second summaryJust want the basics? Here’s your quick guide to student contents insurance for halls of residence:
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Why do I need contents insurance at university?
Research from the Office for National Statistics shows that there were more than a quarter of a million burglaries in the year leading up to June 2024. While these stats don’t specifically cover halls of residence, it’s obvious that communal accommodation, with lots of people coming and going and lots of laptops and other devices around, would be a temptation to burglars.
This may make it a good idea if you’re a student to have contents insurance to cover all your possessions while you’re living in university accommodation. It could mean that if something is stolen from your room – such as your phone or your laptop – you won’t have to pay to replace it.
Are my possessions already covered at my halls of residence?
Before taking out a new student contents insurance policy, check if you’re already covered under an existing one.
- Check your parents' home insurance: Your first step is to ask your parents to check whether your belongings are covered by their home contents insurance.
- Check your university accommodation cover: You should also find out whether any student accommodation insurance is included as part of what you pay to live in halls. You should be able to find out by reviewing your accommodation contract, visiting their website or office, or contacting the insurance provider listed on the contract.
If you are insured, the next step is to check the level of cover. How much would the insurance pay out if, for example, your student room got burgled?
You also need to think about whether you have any expensive bits of kit that may need to be listed separately on a policy, for example, a high-spec camera, laptop or musical instrument.
If you don’t have any contents insurance through your parents or via your student accommodation, it’s easy to arrange your own student home insurance.
What does student contents insurance cover?
Many universities will include some contents insurance for students living in university halls. Check the terms of your agreement or ask your accommodation provider.
If cover is included, ask for a copy of the policy details.
Typically, policies will cover the following items from theft as well as damage by fire or flood:
- Valuables and jewellery
- Computers – including your laptop
- Phones
- Audio equipment
- Musical instruments
- Sports equipment
- Cameras
- Clothes.
University and college insurance for student halls often includes other useful cover, such as:
- Damage to your items due to faulty laundry equipment or broken fridges and freezers
- Theft of items from communal areas if there are signs of forced entry
- Theft of your bag and contents while in transit between home and halls.
For a more comprehensive look at what is and isn’t usually covered by student contents insurance, read our downloadable guide to student contents insurance.
How much cover do I need?
Whether you’re covered through your university or your parents’ home contents insurance, or you’re arranging your own cover, you need to make sure you’re happy with the maximum amount that the insurance provider will pay out.
Working out how much contents insurance you need is especially important if you have any particularly valuable items, such as a new laptop or jewellery. You need to be careful to avoid being underinsured.
How to calculate the value of your possessions
- Make a list: Start by listing all the items you want to insure. Include everything from electronics and jewellery to clothing and textbooks.
- Estimate the value: Work through your list and make an estimate of the value of each item. If you’re unsure, look up the current market value or replacement cost. This is particularly important for electronics and gadgets, which can depreciate quickly.
- Prioritise high-value items: Make a separate note of any high-value items which will need to be listed separate as part of the single-item limit. These are usually items worth more than £1,500.
- Include new purchases: Don’t forget to add any new items you acquire throughout the year. Keep receipts and documentation for these purchases.
- Review regularly: Reassess your list and the value of your possessions regularly, especially if you acquire new items or if the value of existing items changes.
What is a single-item limit?
Most policies have a maximum amount that they will pay out for any single item before you need to specify it separately on the policy. It’s usually around the £1,500 mark but can be lower, so do check.
Anything worth more than the single-item limit could be covered, but you’ll need to tell your insurance provider about it and pay a bit extra to have it listed separately.
Which items are not covered by my contents insurance?
You might find that mobile phones, cash, credit cards and other valuables are excluded from your home insurance (unless they’re stolen as a result of forced entry to your room).
You usually have to add on cover if you have a bike you want to insure. You might also want to consider adding personal possessions insurance, which offers cover for the belongings you take with you when you’re out and about.
You should also check if you have accidental damage cover, which could cover accidents such as spilling a drink over your laptop.
If the policy covers everything apart from an expensive laptop or other tech, consider taking out separate gadget insurance.
Am I covered by my parents’ home insurance?
Your parents’ home contents insurance may include, or could be extended to include, cover for your possessions while you’re studying away from home.
If this isn’t possible, don’t worry, you can always arrange your own policy to get the protection that you need for your possessions.
Compare home insurance quotesHow to get cheap student home insurance
Here are some tips to help you get a cheaper student contents insurance quote:
- Shop around: Use our home insurance comparison service to find cheap student contents insurance.
- Increase your excess: Offering to pay a higher voluntary excess can lower your premium, but make sure it’s an amount you can afford to pay if you need to make a claim.
- Pay annually: Paying your premium in one lump sum is often cheaper than monthly instalments, as insurers may add interest to monthly payments.
- Secure your accommodation: Installing additional security measures, such as a lock on your bedroom door, can sometimes reduce your premium.
- Limit your coverage: Only insure items that are necessary and avoid over-insuring to keep costs down.
Student contents insurance tips
- Make sure you value your contents adequately, don’t just guess. You’d be surprised at how quickly it all adds up.
- Make sure your possessions are still covered during the holidays – check your policy.
- Keep your room locked when you’re not in it – you might not be able to claim on your contents insurance if your belongings are stolen and there’s no sign of a break-in.
- Have a look at the process you’d need to go through to make a claim. There’s usually a section that explains how to do this in your paperwork on the provider’s website.
Lots of insurance providers offer home insurance tailored to cover many aspects of student life. Use our contents insurance comparison service to help you find the level of cover you need, at the right price for you.
How to make an insurance claim
If you need to make a claim on your student contents insurance, follow these steps:
- Tell the police: If your belongings are stolen or damaged, report the incident to the police and get a crime reference number.
- Contact your insurer: Tell your insurance provider as soon as possible. Have your policy number and details of the incident ready. If you have a crime reference number, you’ll need that, too.
- Provide documentation: Submit any required documentation, such as receipts for the stolen or damaged items, photos or any other evidence you can gather.
Read our full guide on making a home insurance claim.
Anna McEntee – Home, travel and pet insurance expert
Anna’s all about delivering fantastic insurance products at a great price. Value is the most important thing for Anna, as she cuts through the jargon and finds what’s most important and worth your hard-earned money.
This article is written by a Compare the Market expert, backed by data and enhanced by AI. Find out how we ensure accuracy and quality in our Editorial Guidelines.