‘Common room valuables’ may not be covered

As the academic year gets underway for thousands of students, one organisation is warning them to keep an eye on their belongings or risk losing out financially.

Graeme Trudgill, technical services manager for the British Insurance Brokers’ Association, said that items left in communal areas like the kitchen or living room may not be included in some insurance policies.

“Don’t leave valuable items where they’re visible through windows, and they need to keep their laptops and things in their locked room when they go out,” he advised. “If it’s stolen from a communal area, it may not be covered.”

According to the London Student Housing Guide, the average cost of a student burglary is £900 – and what’s more they are more at risk than other Britons.

“Students are three times more likely than the average homeowner to be burgled,” Mr Trudgill said. “One in three students fall victim to crime each year.”

A separate report from Abbey revealed recently that each student will have on average £3,300 worth of possessions with them at university.

Tags: home insurance, the London Student Housing Guide, insurance policy, Common room valuables, victim, Don