Moving into mess accommodation is a huge first step in the early stages of a career in the armed forces. Although it helps build character, enables you to forge relationships and helps you develop professionally, there is so much happening so fast that it can be easy to forget some of the basics.
One of these is insurance. You might already be scratching your head, unsure what you may need insurance for. After all, many items within the accommodation aren’t yours in the first place. But what about the items that are, and what about the items that are issued to you?
For those, you’ll need insurance. From military kit insurance to contents insurance, this blog will explain what you need and what it covers.
In short, for your time in mess accommodation, you’ll need to insure:
- Personal electronics
- Clothing & personal belongings
- Issued and personally purchased kit
- Leisure equipment
- Furniture
- The room itself!
Let’s explore in a little more detail what needs to be protected and what kind of policy you may need.
What is mess accommodation?
Mess accommodation is a term used for on-base or on-site military living quarters. A mess can be found in the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and the Army. Originally, a term used just for the communal areas shared by military members, it has now been accepted as a way to describe the wider living environment.
In most cases, each base or ship may have two or three distinct messes.
- Officers’ Mess (for Commissioned Officers and Officer Cadets)
- Warrant Officer & Sergeants’ Mess
- Junior Ranks Mess
Each is run semi-independently, with an elected committee fulfilling roles such as Treasurer, Entertainments Member and President.
It’s a cost-effective housing solution for single service personnel, those who have recently enlisted and those who have been posted away from their permanent home. Rent is payable for living in mess accommodation, and compared to civilian rents, it is heavily subsidised.
This can come at a cost, though. Less privacy, no real choice in where you live and stringent rules over how you maintain your accommodation and what you can bring to it mean there is a trade-off between cost saving and lifestyle.
Who uses mess accommodation?
Mess accommodation is used across all military ranks, but the mess you belong to will depend on your role and rank. In the UK, there are typically three types of mess as we touched upon earlier.
Officers and SNCOs (Senior Non-Commissioned Officers) are required under King’s Regulations to be members of a mess and to live, eat and socialise within it when unmarried. For lower-ranking members, it’s the same, and when you are posted away from your home unit, you are welcome in any mess of your rank, as long as you are paying your way in at least one mess.
For many recruits and junior ranks, the Junior Ranks’ Mess will be the first real experience of military life outside of training. It’s a shared environment, and that can make insurance even more important.
What insurance will I need in mess accommodation?
There is often a misjudged assumption that living in military accommodation means the MOD covers you if things go missing, get damaged or are stolen. It’s essential, especially for recruits, to understand that this isn’t the case. Your belongings and the kit issued to you are your responsibility.
The MOD will look after the building and its fixtures; items such as your laptop, your phone or your clothes fall well outside their remit.
When living in MOD accommodation, Licence to Occupy insurance, included in the Trinity policy, is essential. This protects the accommodation itself up to £20k against accidental damage you are responsible for.
Contents insurance
Contents insurance is vital and will cover your items in your accommodation. It protects yourcontents against fire, theft and accidental damage. Specific policies exist for those living in SLA (Single Living Accommodation). A standard home contents policy is unlikely to provide the protection you require, so looking for specific insurance plans for serving personnel is advised. As mentioned above, Trinity’s military kit, contents and personal possessions insurance includes Licence to Occupy cover as standard, which is an important protection for those living in SLA or mess accommodation that a standard contents policy will not provide.
Personal Possessions insurance
Covers your possessions in your accommodation and worldwide. Items you take out of your accommodation on a regular basis such as when on holidays and when you go to see family and friends.
Military kit insurance
Covers your kit in your accommodation and worldwide. You’ll have issued kit, temporary issued kit and personal purchased kit during your time in the Navy, Royal Marines, RAF or Army, and although general wear and tear can be accepted on these items, loss or damage through negligence can see you charged for them. This can soon mount up, especially with issued kit. A specific policy helps you avoid those costs.
What items should I insure when I live in mess accommodation?
A comprehensive insurance policy is essential for maximum protection from unexpected costs. You should be looking to protect the following items.
Contents
Items such as a desk, your own bed, a mini fridge, mirrors, and pictures.
Personal electronics
Items such as your phone, laptop, game consoles or headphones are essential for helping you to enjoy some downtime. If they were lost, stolen or damaged, there could be substantial costs to replace them. Look for a policy that protects such items not just in living spaces but also in communal areas.
Clothing & jewellery
Your personal clothing, watches, shoes, and any jewellery may hold both sentimental and monetary value, and when living away from home, they may offer comfort. Losing or damaging these could be tough emotionally and financially. Having these items covered will at least reduce some of the financial burden.
Military kit
Uniform, body armour, a Bergen and more are all provided to you, but whilst you didn’t pay for them directly, you may have to cover costs if they are lost or damaged. A special military kit policy will protect you from this expense.
Personal kit
For many serving personnel, issued kit is topped up with personal items. Webbing, day sacks, new boots, base layers and more are all common items people buy themselves to add to their professional kit. There is no MOD cover for these, so you will need to ensure adequate protection against loss, theft or damage.
Leisure equipment
Having the chance to unwind or work out may be exactly what you need after a tough day. Bikes, exercise equipment and more should all be sufficiently covered. Pedal bikes are included in the Trinity policy up to £400, but you might want to consider a top-up if you have a more expensive road bike, for example. These items will need to be insured to avoid costly repairs or replacements. Some policies may exclude specific high-value items; therefore, check the policy documents before signing.
Common questions to ask before insuring your items
Navigating insurance can be complicated. The various terms, costs and jargon can make it tricky to work out exactly what you need. Before committing to any policy. Check the following:
- Does the policy cover mess or SLA? Some standard home insurance policies will not pay out if you are not living in a privately owned or rented property.
- What is the excess? A low excess may mean higher monthly premiums and vice versa. The excess is the amount you pay towards your claim before the insurer picks up the rest of the bill, so it is worth considering how much you can afford each month, and what you may have to pay towards the cost of a lost or damaged item.
- Does the cover remain in place when you are deployed? Your items will go with you when you are deployed, and specialist policies cover you worldwide and during a transfer.
- Are there single-item limits? Some policies may have a cap on how much can be claimed for specific types of items. If you own a valuable watch, for example, check the limit carefully. Always make sure your high value items are specified and keep hold of receipts or valuation paperwork.
Once you have the answers to these questions, you can make an informed decision on the best policy for your needs.
Moving into the block or mess accommodation is an exciting step, but it is not without its challenges. Obtaining the correct insurance before you start living on base is a simple yet worthwhile part of your moving-in checklist.
At Trinity, we provide a range of insurance policies specifically tailored for those in the armed forces. Request a call back from one of our specialist team today to discuss your requirements.