For many students, heading to post-secondary is their first time leasing a home or apartment. By ensuring that they have the right insurance, you can help give yourself and your child some peace of mind while they explore their newfound freedom.
In this article, we’ll go through the top three reasons why your kid should have student tenant insurance – beyond your current policy – this back-to-school season.
While the terms “tenant insurance” and “renter’s insurance” may seem different at a glance, they are synonymous with one another. Unlike home insurance or a landlord’s insurance policy, renter’s insurance for students is specifically designed to protect full-time students’ finances from unforeseeable events while leasing.
It can help prevent your kids from experiencing financial upset by:
Covering their belongings in the event of theft or disaster with contents insurance
Protecting them from personal liability allegations
Covering additional living expenses in the event of an emergency
Below are three of the main reasons why your kids should obtain their own coverage while they are living in student housing.
Many parents add their children attending university to their homeowner’s insurance with a call or email. However, while several insurance providers allow those living outside of the primary household to obtain coverage, there are several nuances that must be considered.
Under your current homeowner’s policy, your kids are likely listed as “dependents”, “student dependents”, or a “dependent child living away from home”. Unfortunately, these terms are often vague or even subjective. Meaning that in the event of a claim, whether or not your child is a dependent can be disputed by most insurance companies.
Other implications which can impact their status as a dependent under your homeowner’s policy include whether or not your child:
Is over 18 years of age
Has individual sources of income, such as part-time, full-time, or a side hustle
Uses their own money to sustain themselves
Not only is renter’s insurance for students highly recommended, but it can ensure your child is protected if faced with difficult, unplanned events.
While your coverage may be enough to meet their landlord’s requirements, coverage for dependent children can be as limited as $5,000. Which as we know, is not nearly enough to secure you or your loved ones from financial woes that can arise from claims.
These risks can be mitigated with student tenant’s insurance, as it is specifically designed to meet the unique needs of your kids who may be living in student housing. Renter’s insurance often covers the cost of replacing items and personal belongings, as well as protection from personal liability in the event of:
Fire or water damage
Additional living expenses (like Hotel stays) in an emergency
Obtaining an additional insurance policy might seem unnecessary. But, with individual policies, you and your kids living away from home can receive better coverage and insurance quotes. This is because any claim you make for your children could then negatively affect your insurance premium or rating.
By obtaining a separate policy, not only could your child be better prepared for the future, but so could you. The renter’s insurance quote for your kids will vary based on certain factors, such as:
The style of the rented home or apartment
The value of the personal belongings on the property
Preferences in terms of how much coverage is preferred
Student tenant’s insurance may initially seem like an unnecessary expense, but no cost is ever too small when protecting your loved ones — especially when this minimal additional cost can help protect your kids’ financial future and allow them to focus on their studies.
APOLLO offers effortless tenant insurance designed to protect renters across Canada. Get your free quote in less than a minute and we’ll send your policy documents right to your inbox.
Originally published August 19, 2022, updated September 17, 2024
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