Students advised to increase home insurance cover

Students own more expensive consumer goods per head than anyone else in the UK, a new poll found.

They are bringing more and more expensive items to university and may have to increase their home insurance cover in order to protect their property, it has been suggested.

Most students (70 per cent) own computers or laptops, and 86 per cent have mobile phones. The survey also found that a third of students quizzed became the victim of a crime each year at university.

The research from specialist insurance provider Hiscox also found that many students may be paying twice for insurance, by failing to check whether or not their parents' home insurance policy covers them while they are studying away from home.

Hiscox director Kevin Kerridge said: Students have very little cash to spare these days and they need to save money wherever they can.

However, with high burglary rates in many student areas they can ill-afford to take risks with their possessions and go without insurance - especially as iPods, computers, televisions, stereos and large CD collections are the norm for many students.

The insurance provider advises students to keep a record of all valuable items before setting off for university, note down serial numbers on bikes and computer equipment and look for accommodation with smoke alarms, window locks and mortice locks.