What insurance does a student living in a student residence need?
Living in a student residence usually means lots of social contacts, visits from fellow students,and a calendar full of activities. No wonder then that accidents sometimes happen in student houses, often due to forgetfulness amidst all the hustle and bustle: a student leaves the stove on or forgets to turn off the tap in the bathroom. In case of fire or water damage in the student residence, the student is held liable as a tenant, unless he can prove that the damage occurred due to “force majeure” (not his fault). Therefore, a student needs a fire insurance that covers his tenant liability.
With the growing number of valuable electronic devices that students keep in their rooms, it is also useful to include “theft” coverage in the fire insurance policy.
Additionally, a personal liability insurance is recommended, which intervenes if the student causes damage to third parties (for example, injuring a fellow student while cooking).
Does the student need to take out separate policies for this?
The student residence of a student who is still officially registered at his or her parents’ home is almost always covered by an extension of the fire insurance that covers the parental home. The same applies to theft and personal liability insurance.
If the student is no longer registered at his or her parents’ home, he or she must take out their own insurance to cover damage to the rented property, its contents, and any damage to third parties.
What should (parents of) students pay attention to?
- First, check whether the fire insurance of the parental home includes an extension to cover student rooms. If not, a separate policy for the student room is necessary.
- Carefully check the limitations and definitions of terms in the fire and liability insurance. Do internships also fall under the term “studies”? Are there any limitations regarding area, time, or geography? Which risks are specifically insured, since theft and vandalism, for example, are not covered by a basic policy?
- For theft insurance, it is worth checking what the insured value is. Especially for expensive items, it may not always be sufficient.
What about studying abroad?
Just like staying in a student residence in Belgium, studying abroad is generally also covered by the fire and liability insurance of the parents. However, studying abroad involves other risks as well, for which it is best for the student to take out travel assistance insurance. When the international adventure lasts longer than three months, this also affects the student’s hospitalisation insurance. Therefore, it is always best to check with your insurance broker and the educational institution.
