Growing up is never easy

For a parent, sending your children out into the big wide world to university can be a stressful experience. Will they eat properly? Are they settling in?

For a student, going to university is the next step of their life; a time to flee the nest, have fun and grow up.

Amidst the excitement of packing up their belongings and planning Freshers’ Week, insuring treasured possessions is often forgotten.

The clothes they stood up in

Students have a lot of stuff. Apart from laptops and speakers, there are the ‘essential’ culinary items (such as the garlic press, blender and gourmet kitchen knives) they just had to have, guitars, fancy-dress costumes and text books.

Perhaps not a burglar’s dream haul, but a lot of students’ possessions are worth quite a bit of money and often have irreplaceable sentimental value.

As part of the preparation to move out, it’s worth making a list of all their personal possessions, that way, if the worst does happen, they won’t have to panic about trying to remember how many pairs of shoes they own.

Why do students need to be prepared?

According to a study by the Home Office on university student safety, theft-related offences account for 70% of crime experienced by university students. Domestic accidents are also common, as student houses can be slightly run-down and other housemates may not know how to use the washing machine.

University accommodation is often less well-protected than normal housing and thieves know that most student houses will contain several bicycles, televisions and sound systems. Students walking home late at night are also a prime target, as bags and pockets often contain valuable items such as mobile phones, MP3 players and laptops.

With the cost of university tuition fees constantly increasing, the last thing you or your teenagers want to do is have to replace expensive lost, damaged or stolen items.

How can John Lewis Home Insurance help?

If your offspring are heading off into the big wide world, it’s likely that they’ll still go home to Mum and Dad for the holidays. Not only does this give you the chance to fatten them up with home-cooked food, it also makes protecting student possessions much easier.

With John Lewis Home Insurance, students who normally live at home outside of term time will be covered at university, up to the value of their parents’ Home Insurance policy.* However, theft cover at the term time premises will be restricted to forcible and violent entry, up to a value of £2,500.

Our Home Insurance also includes personal possessions insurance to give you peace of mind whilst your teenager’s out and about. If your son or daughter’s bag is stolen, our possessions protection covers valuables including cameras, student railcards and credit cards.

By insuring your son or daughter’s possessions, you can spend less time worrying about your offspring leaving home and your teenagers can use their student loan for more important things.

*Terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and eligibility criteria apply. A full copy of the policy wording and the insurance complaints procedure are available on request.

*Terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and eligibility criteria apply. A full copy of the policy wording and the insurance complaints procedure are available on request.

John Lewis Insurance is a trading name of John Lewis plc.  Registered in England No. 00233462. Registered office 171 Victoria Street London SW1E 5NN. John Lewis plc is an appointed representative of Ageas Insurance Limited who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Ageas Insurance Limited. Registered in England No. 354568. Registered office: Ageas House, Tollgate,  Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO53 3YA