Does my contents insurance cover halls of residence?

What do university insurance policies cover?

You’ll find that many universities have some cover in place that could protect some of your possessions kept in student halls of residence. You’ll need to request a copy of their policy details to find out if this is the case.

You’ll often find possessions covered (against loss by fire, flood and theft) in halls include:

• gadgets, including computer equipment
• audio equipment
• valuables and jewellery
• musical instruments
• sports equipment
• photographic equipment
• clothes

As every policy will be different, it's important to ask your new university if they have an insurance policy and what it covers.

University and college insurance policies often include 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 home insurance.

What about my parents’ home insurance?

If you find that your place of study doesn’t have adequate cover (or you’re a student not living in university accommodation) you might want to check your parents’ home contents insurance policy. It may include, or could be extended to include, cover for your possessions while you’re away in student digs.

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 contents insurance quotes.

How much cover do I need?

If you've found that you do have cover through your university or parents' home contents insurance, you need to make sure you're happy with the maximum amount that the insurance provider will pay out. This is especially important if you have any particularly valuable possessions, such as a new laptop, digital camera or jewellery.

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 (this is often around £1,500, but can be lower). So make sure you check whether you need to list any individual valuable possessions separately on the policy.

What if the university's insurance doesn’t cover my new laptop?

If the university’s policy covers everything apart from an expensive laptop or other tech, consider taking out separate gadget insurance.