Students should take out content insurance, expert says
August 23, 2007 by admin
Filed under News, News-Insurance
Britain’s students were strongly advised today to take out contents insurance on their possessions.
Cooper Healey, who runs Manchester Student Homes – a provider of private sector student accommodation – said that the insurance was important as protection against possible theft.
“There is a chance that you will become a victim of crime,” he said.
Mr Healey added, however, that there was “safety in numbers” in halls of residence “to some extent.
“The fact that [students] are often surrounded by CCTV which acts as a deterrent,” Mr Healey said. “Often they have 24-hour staff on site or otherwise they have a security patrol and security numbers so that does make parents feel very safe about where their child is going to be living.”
There is an increasingly unfavourable financial climate for students to take out perceived “non-essential” cover, however.
Not only are student loans on the rise – which have hit £20,000 for some university entrants this year – but rent is increasing, as well.
In a recent survey by the National Union of Students (NUS), rent was found to have increased by £19 per week on average in the last three years.
