Students given home insurance warning

Whilst students may well be looking for ways to economise, home insurance is not something that can be gambled on, it has been argued.

Gareth Kloet, head of household at confused.com, has stressed the importance of students not making the assumption that they have cover elsewhere.

There may be a certain level of cover on a parental policy, he explained, but it is vital to know what the restrictions are.

For parents looking for this extra level of cover, Mr Kloet said, they should make sure they shop around and check the small print. Items stolen where there is no sign of forced entry, for example, are not covered.

He added that halls of residence - where students can be lax with their belongings and high strength security systems are rare - represent the perfect target for the opportunist thief.

With so many new and unknown people entering your residence a potential thief could go unnoticed, he observed.

This echoes claims made last week by the Association of British Insurers urging university students to put home insurance at the top of their list of priorities.