Renters insurance is important for students, whether you are living in a dorm or renting a house with roommates. Many students are under the assumption that their landlord’s home insurance will cover their belongings if they are damaged or stolen. However, your landlord receives compensation only for structural damages to the building or apartment you are renting. Should you experience a fire, water damage or theft and you’re not covered by renters or apartment insurance, you will not be compensated for any of your possessions. That means you will have to replace your laptop, iPod, television, books, clothing and other possessions at your own expense.
While your personal property is protected under your student renters insurance policy, experiencing damages from a natural disaster or theft can still be stressful. Fortunately, there are some preventive measures you can take to decrease your chances of experiencing damages or theft to your personal property, and potentially lower your insurance premium at the same time.
Ways to decrease your chances of theft or damage to personal property – Where you choose to rent can impact the likelihood of theft or damages to your personal property.
When looking for an apartment or house, consider the following:
Look for an apartment or house with features such as a security system (which may decrease your student renters insurance premium), sturdy door locks, motion sensor outdoor lights and off-street parking.
Avoid large student apartment complexes that are known for having a “party” atmosphere – frequent and numerous visitors can increase the likelihood of theft or damage to personal property.
Choose an apartment higher than the ground floor to reduce your risk of a break-in.
Live with one to three roommates. Any more than that, and you may encounter an excessive amount of foot-traffic coming in and out of your living space. While having a few roommates is a good idea for safety reasons, living with a crowd of students can make you more likely to encounter problems, such as an accidental fire or theft from strangers.
Ways to stay safe – Be aware of your belongings and surroundings, at home as well as on campus.
Always lock your bicycle wherever you ride it and even in your garage.
Extinguish any candles or open flames when you exit the room.
Have a lock installed on your bedroom door.
Also, leave your valuable keepsakes at home! If you must bring them to school, buy a small, fireproof safe to store your jewelry, passport and other items that are difficult to replace.
Hopefully this helps to start the semester with confidence and reassurance that you’re doing all you can to protect your belongings, and yourself. If you aren’t yet covered by renters insurance, start browsing for renters insurance quotes at rates that meet your student budget.