Experts give home insurance advice for parents

Parents should not waste their money on taking out a separate home insurance policy for students heading to university, an expert has claimed.

Many home insurance policies will allow free cover for students living away from home, an analyst at moneysupermarket.com asserts.

Peter Gerrard, the company's senior researcher, commented: Unlike other areas of student life, insurance should not cost the earth.

In fact, it may not cost anything at all if they are able to take out cover under their parents’ home contents policies.

It’s easy to do and will save much needed cash at a time when budgeting is tight.

Mr Gerrard notes that many of the top home insurance providers in the UK offer cover up to £5,000, which he believes should be enough to protect most student's possessions.

Home insurance provider More Than recently announced that students living away from home could be covered for up to £11,250 on its policy.

Students often accrue valuable possessions, such as mobile phones, study materials and personal computers, which could cause great disruption if irreplaceably lost.