College housing
Does my parents' homeowners insurance cover me in an off-campus apartment?
Updated By the Housing Rocket moderators
Short answer
Sometimes, but often not fully. Many homeowners policies extend some coverage to a full-time student's belongings in a dorm, but coverage in an off-campus apartment varies by insurer and is often limited or excluded. Call the insurer to ask. If the answer is unclear, a student renters policy is usually inexpensive.
Questions to ask your parents' insurer:
- Does the policy cover a full-time student living off campus, and up to what amount?
- Is there an age limit, or a requirement that the student is still a dependent?
- Does it include liability, for example if a guest is hurt or you cause a fire or water leak?
- What is the deductible? A high deductible can make a claim for a stolen laptop not worth filing.
Even where some off-campus coverage exists, it's often capped at a small share of the parents' personal property limit, and it usually won't satisfy a landlord who requires each tenant to carry their own renters insurance with liability coverage.
Many landlords and student complexes require renters insurance and ask to be listed on the policy as an interested party. For what a renters policy covers and how much to buy, see leases and deposits.
Want the whole picture? Read Off-Campus Housing for Students: A Semester-by-Semester Timeline.