It's back-to-school season, and students and parents alike are getting ready for the big move.
The new school year is quickly approaching, and many students will be leaving home and moving into on-campus housing or their first apartment. There's a lot to pack to make sure your child is ready to live on their own, not to mention the student essentials like laptops, tablets, and entertainment systems to name just a few. But, what about property insurance? Will you and your child be packing property insurance too?
Depending on where your student is living, you may be able to extend your own home insurance policy's liability and contents coverage to your child's new (temporary) abode. However, rules vary by insurer and this extension may solely apply to on-campus housing. If this is the case, and they're living off-campus, it may be best that your child has their own tenant insurance policy as a student living away from home for the first time.
The good news is Kanetix.ca makes it easy and affordable to get the renter's insurance your young academic needs. With prices starting as low as $15 a month, you can get a tenant insurance quote in minutes and buy the policy online, ensuring your student kicks off the school year on the right foot.
Why students need tenant insurance
Well, in a nutshell, anything can happen.
1. Liability
They may be young and on their own for the first time, but that doesn't mean they can't be held liable for accidents in their apartment or room. If the landlord doesn't salt the walkway in the winter, that is the landlord's negligence. But if your child has friends over and someone trips over their Xbox One or PS4 controller and is hurt resulting in a missed semester, your child could be held financially responsible for the injuries (and the tuition fees).
Liability also provides coverage for accidental damage they may cause to their unit or even other parts of the building. For example, if your student gets adventurous in the kitchen and causes a fire, a tenant insurance policy will likely cover the damage to their apartment along with damage to the neighbouring units.
2. Contents
If there is a fire or if someone breaks into their home, a surprisingly large number of renters (17.3 per cent) believe their possessions are covered under the building owner's insurance policy. This is not the case. Others simply believe they have no need for insurance because they don't have much to replace. Take inventory of all the items in your child's apartment and you'll soon be amazed by how expensive it would be to replace them all at once. Laptops, electronics, furniture, clothes, appliances, equipment, instruments...it all adds up and the premium for tenant insurance is a small fee in comparison.
3. Contents away from the home
Most people don't realize that property and tenant insurance covers items even when they are not technically inside the home. Let's say your student's laptop is stolen while they're in the library. The laptop is a personal item and considered their "property" which means it would be covered under their tenant insurance policy if someone were to take it.
Tenant insurance for students
Unfortunately, accidents happen and thefts occur. Whether it's through an extension of your own home insurance policy, or by setting your child up with a tenant insurance policy of their own, make sure your student gets an A+ for being prepared. Get a tenant insurance quote today in minutes and buy online, for as little as $15 a month.
