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Insuring your belongings

Insuring your belongings

 

Blackfriars Hall does not insure our residents’ belongings.  For this reason, we strongly recommend that students purchase or arrange your own insurance policy while you are living with us, especially for valuable items like your mobile phone and laptop that are costly to replace.

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association advises that many students can be added onto their parents insurance if this is an option on their policy; or you can phone a BIBA-certified insurance broker for comprehensive, independent advice or to take out your own policy.   BIBA offers a telephone helpline to help potential customers find an insurance broker at:  0370 950 1790, and quotes can of course also be obtained through UK insurance price comparison websites.  We are aware that some of the Oxford colleges work with an insurance company called StudentGuard (formerly Endsleigh): https://www.guardcover.co.uk/studentguard

Top tips for keeping your belongings safe include:

  1. Make an inventory of your possessions.
  2. Ensure your insurance policy covers these items while in student accommodation, and advise your broker (if you have one) of your move to Uni.
  3. Check whether your items are covered for accidental damage (e.g. if you dropped a laptop).
  4. Check whether items are covered while outside the accommodation, (e.g, is your camera fully insured if you damage or lose it away from you accommodation).
  5. If you have a car and the car belongs to your parents, does the insurer know that you are now the user and that the vehicle is being kept at a separate university address?
  6. Mobile phones may already be covered under your home insurance, so check with your broker rather than taking out a specific mobile insurance policy
  7. Tell your insurer you are in shared accommodation and don’t leave tempting items out in full view of roommates.
  8. Staying in dorms –  rememember to lock your room even if popping out for a moment.
  9. Expensive books and jewellery: Textbooks can be costly and often students possessions can exceed £3,000 – so make sure you are not underinsured.
  10. Bicycles are often excluded, and you will need to ask your broker specifically about covering them.
  11. Possessions are often excluded if stolen from an unattended vehicle, so unload that car as soon as you arrive!