Q: “If a college student lives in a sorority or fraternity house, should they carry renters insurance? Is Greek housing considered the property of the college or university? If the student’s parents have homeowners coverage, will it respond to a property or liability loss while the student is away at school?”

A: “The ISO HO-3 does not distinguish between dorm, sorority, fraternity or apartment living. I just read an article on an insurance media website that said parents’ coverage should extend to a student who is away at college, unless they’re living in an off-campus apartment—but the ISO policy doesn’t say anything about this.

Some insurers have underwriting preferences and may want to see an HO-4 for someone who doesn’t live in a dorm, but that has nothing to do with coverage. I also just read a customer newsletter from a major national non-ISO insurer that said the same thing—I have a copy of this insurer’s policy and, again, it says nothing about this. Presumably, the insurer is saying there is no coverage to move the exposure to a separate policy, often with lower liability limits than the parents’ HO-3 and umbrella—a big mistake.

I extended my HO policy and umbrella when my son was in college. He spent three years in a dorm and one year in an apartment. Securing the same amount of coverage—particularly liability coverage, which is particularly important for college kids—would have been very expensive using an HO-4 and his own umbrella.

Talk to your underwriters. If they say coverage will extend to a dorm room but not elsewhere, ask them to cite specific policy language.”

Bill Wilson is former director of the Big “I” Virtual University.

This question was originally submitted by an agent through the VU’s Ask an Expert Service. Answers to other coverage questions are available on the VU website. If you need help accessing the website, email logon@iiaba.net to request login information.