Home insurance covers the people who reside in a household. Some insurance companies require every member of the household is named on the policy. If the insured's partner, child, relative or pet damages someone else's property, the liability portion of the homeowners insurance policy would extend to cover the liable family member. Typically, it also extends to cover family members who may be away from home — like a child heading off to college. Some insurance companies may only provide coverage if the student is living in on-campus housing — the rules may vary slightly from insurer to insurer. If a child is living in off-campus housing, they should consider purchasing a renters insurance policy.