How can I insure my laptop and camera in a student house?

September 24, 2009 6:33 AM

What is the best plan for insuring my laptop and camera in my private rented accomadation with 2 other students in Nottingham, UK?

The general move seems to be just use Endsleigh Student Contents Insurance. The problem with this is that it has a minimum of £2000 of possesions insurance which doesn't include my camera and laptop, so I have to add them afterwards when really that is all I want insured.

I have looked at non student contents insurance, but they seem to only allow it if you or your family live in the building. I have looked at insuring my laptop and camera individually, not contents insurance, but the problem with this is that walk in thefts are not covered like with the Endsleigh cover, and though I know I will always lock the door, I can't say the same about my housemates, and Nottingham is very big for oppurtunistic thefts with open windows/doors.

Any other ideas about specific insurers who I can get a decent policy which will cover accidental damage, theft, loss and all that, both at home and out and about for my macbook (£900) and D60 plus lenses (18 - 55, 55 - 200, 50; which equals about £650).

posted by lukeo05 to shopping (6 comments total)

Have you checked that you are not covered under your parents household insurance - I seem to remember that soem policies cover this.
posted by laukf at 7:02 AM on September 24

Get a laptop lock, and when you aren't home, secure the laptop to something strong, preferably inside a closet or cupboard. If it's not in plain view, it won't tempt casual jerks, and if it's locked, that will deter more serious thieves in a hurry. Not a direct answer to your question, but even so..
posted by theora55 at 7:57 AM on September 24

having gone to Nottingham Uni myself and having lived in studentsville, you definitely definitely want insurance.

Do you really not want cover for your clothes / phone etc? Don't underestimate how much your clothes cost. And yes, they will take them, I had friends whose entire belongings were taken.

If you really do only have the camera and the laptop to ensure, I would second seeing if your parents can add it to their policy. Otherwise check endsleigh's other insurance policies. I got mine cheaper by not going with the student policy.
posted by nunoidia at 9:56 AM on September 24

I seem to remember my student flat at Nottingham Uni was covered by dorm insurance as part of my rent? That'd be worth checking out.

If you've moved into Lenton or similar, however, I seem to remember Ensleigh was the *only* option for shared houses.

I never bothered with insurance, though - I bought a cheap filing cabinet from Staples, put it in my wardrobe and screwed it to the inside. Important things went in the top drawer when I went out, which was locked with a key on my keyring.

Thieves like things they can walk off with without being obtrusive (I never heard of anyone having their clothes stolen - that's not really a 'opportunity theft'!). They can't see stuff in the cabinet; if they did know it was there, they'd have to steal the whole cabinet; and because it's screwed to the inside of a wardrobe, they'd have to take the whole lot!

Memail me if you want to know more about crimefighting in Nottingham! I've lived in all the worst places :)
posted by citands at 11:57 AM on September 24

I used confused.com for the first time the other day (yes, the incessast advertising worked) for contents insurance. The questions they ask before searching for quotes/policies are pretty detailed - I seem to remember it including selections for shared houses, etc. Might be worth a bash if you haven't tried this already.
posted by peanut butter milkshake at 3:59 AM on September 25

When I shopped around last year, Compucover came up well.
posted by Idcoytco at 10:00 AM on September 25