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As a new university year approaches, Aviva is urging parents and guardians to consider protecting students’ important possessions while they are studying away from home.
With an Aviva Direct Home policy, students who are undertaking full time education and living away from home will automatically have £12,000 worth of their belongings covered at their term-time accommodation under their parent or guardian’s home contents insurance policy, provided they return to the family home during the holidays.
The cover is provided under the ‘contents temporarily removed’ clause. This means items such as televisions, games consoles, mobile phones and laptops that are temporarily removed from the main insured property to student accommodation or a shared flat, are protected from incidents such as fire, escape of water and forcible entry, such as a break in.
If students want additional protection for items such as mobile phones, ear pods, laptops, tablets and jewellery, including for accidental damage and loss, then personal belongings cover can also be selected on the main home insurance policy. This useful addition safeguards against theft, loss, and accidental damage both inside the home and while out and about, with cover provided anywhere in the world.
Knowing that their personal items are properly protected via their parents’ contents insurance policy means students can focus on their education and enjoying university life, while parents can have peace of mind knowing that cover is in place.
Steven Jackson, home product manager for Aviva, says “Students often have thousands of pounds worth of gadgets and equipment in their student accommodation which can cost an eyewatering amount to replace in the event of an unfortunate incident, such as a burglary or water leak.
“Knowing that their personal items are properly protected via their parents’ contents insurance policy means students can focus on their education and enjoying university life, while parents can have peace of mind knowing that cover is in place.
“With smart phones, tablets and laptops also common targets of theft, personal belongings cover is another potentially useful addition for students, who may be carrying expensive items around with them on campus or on nights out. This ensures a misplaced laptop, or a lost phone can more easily be repaired or replaced where necessary.”
While any bikes being kept in student accommodation may be covered automatically by a home contents insurance policy, keen student cyclists may want additional cover. Aviva offers up to £5000 worth of pedal cycle cover, for theft, loss or damage to bikes anywhere in the world, as long as they are locked in a building or properly secured to an immovable object such as a post or railings.
Studying away from home can be daunting, but Aviva is here to help ensure our customers enjoy their experience. Below are five top tips for helping keep belongings safe:
- Keep valuables out of sight: avoid leaving expensive items like smartphones, laptops, expensive jewellery, or games consoles out in plain sight, both at home in your accommodation or around campus. Store them securely when you aren’t using them.
- Secure your accommodation properly before going out: opportunistic thieves can strike at any time and the sheer number of people coming and going from student accommodation can leave people vulnerable to theft. Secure accommodation properly before leaving, even if you are only popping outside.
- Be cautious with gadgets in public: studying in public places like libraries, cafes, or on campus can be a great way to keep motivated, but be careful never to leave your laptop, mobile phone, or bags unattended. Secure your items with strong and unique passwords to protect your personal information if the worst does happen.
- Be careful on nights out: finding your belongings missing can be a horrible ending to a great night out. Potential thieves will often strike in crowded bars, pubs, or clubs, so use a secure bag that is attached to your person and be careful flashing your phone or expensive items in public.
- Get home contents insurance: ask your parents or guardian to help you properly protect your belongings with insurance that is right for you, so you can have peace of mind while you are studying. An Aviva Direct Home policy provides £12,000 worth of cover for students living away from home, via your parents’ main home contents insurance policy.
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Further information:
- When choosing the sum insured, customers should ensure that the total sum incorporates items at the main home address as well as items temporarily removed from the home.
- For policies purchased before 20/03/2024 or renewed before 21/04/2024: cover is provided up to £5,000 per claim for loss of or damage to contents by any of the major perils.
Enquiries:
Karmen Ivey
General Insurance
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Phone
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+44 (0) 7385 013 292
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Email
Notes to editors:
- We are the UK's leading diversified insurer and we operate in the UK, Ireland and Canada. We also have international investments in India and China.
- We help our 19.5 million (as at 30 June 2024) customers make the most out of life, plan for the future, and have the confidence that if things go wrong we’ll be there to put it right.
- We have been taking care of people for more than 325 years, in line with our purpose of being ‘with you today, for a better tomorrow’. In 2023, we paid £25.6 billion in claims and benefits to our customers.
- In 2021, we announced our ambition to become Net Zero by 2040, the first major insurance company in the world to do so. We are aiming to have Net Zero carbon emissions from Aviva’s operations and supply chain by 2030. While we are working towards our sustainability ambitions, we recognise that while we have control over Aviva’s operations and influence on our supply chain, when it comes to decarbonising the economy in which we operate and invest, Aviva is one part of a far larger global ecosystem. There are also limits to our ability to influence other organisations and governments. Nevertheless, we remain focused on the task and are committed to playing our part in the collective effort to enable the global transition. Find out more about our climate goals at www.aviva.com/climate-goals and our sustainability ambition and action at www.aviva.com/sustainability
- Aviva is a Living Wage, Living Pension and Living Hours employer and provides market-leading benefits for our people, including flexible working, paid carers leave and equal parental leave. Find out more at https://www.aviva.com/about-us/our-people/
- As at 30 June 2024, total Group assets under management at Aviva Group were £398 billion and our estimated Solvency II shareholder capital surplus was £8.2 billion. Our shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange and we are a member of the FTSE 100 index.
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