Walker County Messenger

Renters Insurance for College Students A Smart Move

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As the start of the college school year begins, students who move out of the house or off campus may want to consider purchasing renters insurance.

According to Georgia Insurance Commission­er Ralph Hudgens, renters insurance can cover the loss of computers, tablets, musical instrument­s, jewelry and much more in the event of theft, fire or some other unforeseen disaster.

“If your college student is moving away to school with expensive computers or other valuables, buying renters insurance is a smart move,” Hudgens said. “The landlord may have insurance on his building, but that won’t cover replacemen­t of a tenant’s possession­s.”

Commission­er Hudgens offer answers to these common questions about renters insurance:

Q: What does renters insurance cover?

A: The possession­s of anyone who rents a residence, whether it’s an apartment, house, manufactur­ed home or condominiu­m. Renters insurance protects personal property, such as furniture, electronic­s, and clothing. It also provides liability protection for the policyhold­er should someone be injured or sustain damage to their property while visiting the policyhold­er’s residence.

Q: My neighbor accidental­ly started a fire that destroyed the entire apartment building, including my unit. Will his insurance cover my personal belongings?

A: His liability insurance may cover your belongings, but only if it is determined he was negligent in causing the fire.

Q: Won’t the landlord’s insurance cover my personal belongings?

A: In most cases, no. The landlord’s insurance may cover you if you can prove liability on the part of the landlord.

Q: If the pipes in my apartment burst, through no fault of my own, wouldn’t the landlord be responsibl­e for replacing my belongings?

A: Maybe. If the pipes burst as a result of negligence on the part of the landlord, the landlord may be liable. However, negligence can be hard to prove.

Q: My roommate has renters insurance; won’t that cover all my belongings as well?

A: No. The policy only protects the person named in the policy or a relative living with that person.

Commission­er Hudgens suggests discussing the needs of your student with an insurance agent who can tailor a renters policy to your individual needs. Everything from property damage caused by fire, hail or smoke, to liability suits brought by guests slipping on stairs or in the bathroom can be included in a policy.

Consumers may get more informatio­n on renters insurance by calling an insurance agent or by contacting the Georgia Department of Insurance at 404-656-2070, or toll-free 1-800656-2298.

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