A4.17 Contents Insurance for Renters

Contents Insurance for Renting in the UK

In my previous article, "How to buy property in the UK? Can you buy UK property while living in China? Can you buy UK property on a tourist visa?", I mentioned that after purchasing a property in the UK, it's important to get insurance, including contents insurance (such as Home Contents Insurance or Tenants' Insurance).

 

This type of insurance covers the contents inside your home. It generally applies to the entire property – for instance, if items are lost or damaged, the insurance will provide compensation. There are various types of coverage and compensation methods, depending on the policy you choose.

 

In fact, if you have valuable items in your rental property, international students renting in the UK are also advised to take out contents insurance. If loss or damage occurs, the claims process for this insurance is relatively quick – the efficiency of the capitalist economy is quite good in this regard.

You can purchase it online or in-store, but be sure to read the terms carefully, check reviews online, and choose a policy that suits your needs.

 

Actually, anyone who has lived abroad will notice that reporting incidents to the police overseas is often very inefficient and, in many cases, not very useful. Unless you're highly influential, a celebrity, or within certain networks where things are handled extremely quickly, in most other situations, the process is slower than the sloth in Zootopia.

I remember one year, when I was just a teenager, and it was my first time studying abroad (aside from travelling). I was placed in university accommodation, and on the very first day, all my money and cards were stolen. For me at that time, it was a huge sum – it was meant to cover my upcoming accommodation fees and living expenses.

 

A teacher accompanied me to the police station to give a statement, but that was all they did; no further action was taken. Because I had just arrived overseas on a temporary visa and didn’t have valid local ID, I couldn’t open a bank account. I was left penniless and had to rely on borrowing money from a roommate I’d only known for one day. She was very kind – even though we’d just met, she trusted I’d pay her back, and that got me through until I could open a bank account.

 

Because of that, I’ve also been quite generous in lending money to roommates or classmates I haven’t known long, always trying to help where I can. However, among international students, there are also those with poor character – the type who specifically borrow money with no intention of repaying. After being successfully scammed a few times, I eventually stopped lending money.

 

But there was one friend among those who borrowed money who was different. This girl was very beautiful, tall, and had a great figure – she had countless admirers. How beautiful was she? So beautiful that her suitors were all wealthy, driving luxury supercars worth millions. At the time, she and I were very close; we often chatted and went shopping together. I even met her father. But later, she transferred to another school, and after that, I heard rumours about her. She was said to be someone who frequently borrowed small amounts of money from people and never paid it back. Yet, she never once borrowed money from me – in fact, she even treated me to meals. So, at first, I didn’t believe the rumours, but as more people came forward, it was confirmed.

 

So, when you’re abroad, besides protecting your personal safety, the second most important thing is protecting your property – especially your academic work. What matters most to a student? Essays and reports! Remember to back them up regularly.

In addition to contents insurance, travel insurance is also required when applying for a Schengen visa, as mentioned in the article "How to apply for a French Schengen visa in the UK?"