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If you’re renting an apartment or home, you’ll need an insurance policy to cover your belongings. Your landlord‘s property insurance policy covers losses to the building itself; whether it’s an apartment, a house, or a duplex. Your personal property and certain liabilities, however, are covered only through a renter’s insurance policy that you, as a tenant, have to find and pay for. While 95% of homeowners have a homeowner’s insurance policy, only 41% of renters have renter’s insurance, the most up-to-date figures (2018).
Why do so few renters have insurance? One explanation is that many people incorrectly assume they are covered by their landlord’s policy. Another reason is that people underestimate the value of their belongings. If you add up the value of just your clothing and electronics, it probably wouldn’t take long to get into the thousands of dollars.
One more often overlooked reason is liability: If someone is injured in your house—a friend, neighbor, or the pizza delivery person—they could sue you. Even if you thought you didn’t need insurance, here are six good reasons why you should get a renter’s insurance policy.
Key Takeaways
- When renting a home, you’ll need an insurance policy to cover your personal belongings known as renter’s insurance.
- Landlords have property insurance but those policies cover only the building, not your personal items within.
- Many renters don’t purchase renter’s insurance, either because they don’t think it is necessary or believe they are covered under the landlord’s policy.
- Your landlord may require you to purchase it.
- The cost of renter’s insurance is relatively low.
1. It’s Relatively Affordable
The average renter’s insurance policy costs $15 to $30 a month in 2022 (latest figures), according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Your actual cost will depend on factors, including how much coverage you need, the type of coverage you choose, the amount of your deductible, and where you live.
2. It Covers Losses to Personal Property
A renter’s insurance policy protects against losses to your personal property, including clothes, jewelry, luggage, computers, furniture, and electronics. Even if you don’t own much, it can quickly add up to a lot more than you realize; and a lot more than you’d want to pay to replace everything.
Renter’s policies protect against a surprisingly long list of perils. A standard HO-4 policy designed for renters, for example, covers losses to personal property from perils including:
- Damage caused by aircraft
- Damage caused by vehicles
- Explosion
- Falling objects
- Fire or lightning
- Riot or civil commotion
- Smoke
- Theft
- Vandalism or malicious mischief
- Volcanic eruption
- Weight of ice, snow, or sleet
- Windstorm or hail
- Damage from water or steam from sources including household appliances, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, or fire-protective sprinkler systems
Losses resulting from floods and earthquakes are not covered in standard policies. A separate policy or rider is required for these perils. In addition, a separate rider might be needed to cover wind damage in areas prone to hurricanes.
You may have to pay a deductible on your policy before coverage kicks in.
3. Your Landlord Might Require It
Your landlord’s insurance covers the structure and the grounds, but not your belongings. A growing number of landlords require tenants to purchase their own renter’s insurance policies, and they’ll expect to see proof.
If you need assistance finding or obtaining coverage, your landlord may be able to help. This could be the landlord’s idea or an “order” from the landlord’s insurance company. The idea is that if the tenants are covered, some responsibility can be shifted away from the landlord.
4. It Provides Liability Coverage
Liability coverage is also included in standard renter’s insurance policies. This provides protection if someone is injured while in your home or if you (or another covered person) accidentally injure someone. It pays any court judgments and legal expenses up to the policy limit.
Most policies provide at least $100,000 of liability coverage and a smaller amount for medical-payments coverage. You can request (and pay for) higher coverage limits if necessary.
Renter’s insurance policies don’t cover losses caused by your own negligence or intentional acts. For example, if you fall asleep with a lit cigarette and cause a fire, the policy most likely will not cover the damage.
5. It Covers Your Belongings When You Travel
Renter’s insurance covers your personal belongings, whether they are in your home, car, or with you while you travel. Your possessions are covered from loss due to theft and other covered losses anywhere you travel. Check your policy or ask your insurance agent for details on what constitutes “other covered losses.”
6. It May Cover Additional Living Expenses
If your home becomes uninhabitable due to one of the covered perils, your renter’s insurance policy may cover “additional living expenses,” including the cost associated with living somewhere else temporarily, food, and more. Check your policy to find out how long it will cover additional living expenses and if it caps the amount the company will pay.
Is Renter’s Insurance Really Worth It?
Yes. If you can afford it, renters insurance is usually worth it. It will protect your belongings, provide liability coverage, and may cover your personal items when you travel. Renter’s insurance protects you from a long list of perils, as well.
What Are the 3 Things Covered by Renter’s Insurance?
Renter’s insurance usually covers a long list of items, but three of them are clothing, electronics (including your computers and tablets), and furniture.
How Much Does Renter’s Insurance Cost?
It could cost you as little as $15 to $30 a month, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
The Bottom Line
Renter’s insurance provides coverage for your personal belongings, whether in your home, car or with you while you’re on vacation. In addition, renter’s insurance provides liability coverage in case someone is injured in your home or if you accidentally cause injury to someone.
Be sure you understand what your policy covers, and ask your agent about available discounts, deductibles, and coverage limits. For example, be sure you know whether your insurance provides replacement cost coverage (RCC) for your personal property or actual cash value (ACV).
When choosing renter’s insurance, make sure to choose a company that works best for you. The first will pay to replace your 15-year-old carpet, say, with a new one, at current market rates, while the second will only reimburse you for the value of a carpet that’s 15 years old. Needless to say, RCC costs more.