What Every Landlord Needs To Know About Renters Insurance

Most people who own a home carry homeowners’ insurance. It’s a small price to pay for peace of mind. It protects your belongings and your property should something happen.

However, the same isn’t necessarily true for many renters. Whilst landlords are required to have landlord’s insurance, this only covers the building itself, landlord insurance will not cover the contents of the apartment, nor someone suing for damages if they had an accident within your apartment or rented space. Renters insurance is a form of property insurance that covers a tenant’s personal property as well as covering liability claims.

Renters insurance is one of the cheapest and easiest forms of insurance to obtain. Yet, surprisingly, many tenants don’t have it.

Why, exactly is it so important for both renters and landlords? And why would tenants object to obtaining this peace of mind to protect themselves and their belongings from misfortune?

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What Renter’s Insurance Covers

A very basic renter’s insurance policy will cover the contents of the dwelling as well as some basic threats. These basic named threats generally include perils like; fire, theft, vandalism, plumbing, and electrical malfunctions, and certain weather-related damages.

Another common policy component covers loss of use. Meaning if the property becomes uninhabitable the policy will provide some money to pay for temporary housing, (this has to be specified on the policy; if it isn’t; it isn’t covered). On this note, it’s worth mentioning, as with any insurance, the more coverage one gets, the more your policy is likely going to cost.

A final clause of the renters’ insurance that’s well worth making sure a policy has a cover for is their car and luggage whilst travelling. It will also pay any court judgments as well as any legal expenses, up to the policy limit.

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Image Source: Consumer Advocate

Why Is Renters Insurance Important For The Landlord?

Tenants having their own insurance acts like an additional  layer of protection for everyone, not just the tenant. Things do go wrong, and should disaster strike your renters, even a basic policy will help repair damages and ease the process of making things right again.

For the landlord it will also actually reduce the amount you or your insurance have to pay which will help keep premiums down and helps avoid costly legal fees.

If any major damages do occur you will be able to avoid disputes with your tenants over who has to cover what costs, and it means should the property become uninhabitable your renters won’t be out on the streets.

Final benefits are that your tenants are less likely to sue you to try and claim compensation for loss. Which whilst they may not win (though they just might) – it would be a timely and expensive process anyway.

Renters insurance could save everyone a lot of time and heartache.

Requiring Renters Insurance: 6 Benefits To Landlords

An extra layer of protection never hurts when it comes to owning a rental property. Benefits experienced by landlords that require renters insurance include:

• Loss of use/relocation expenses: Insurance may cover the cost of temporary housing for tenants renting units deemed unlivable; as well as prevent the loss of rental payments to the landlord
• Property damage: Tenants with damage for stolen belongings are less likely to sue the landlord for failing to protect the property
• Damage or injuries from pets: Mitigate risks caused by pets to others or others’ property
• Personal liability: Protection if your tenant or their guests get injured on, or damage, your property
• Keep insurance premiums low: When the tenant has renters insurance, they are less likely to make claims against the landlord’s rental dwelling policy
• It will help you find responsible tenants: A tenant that cannot afford the additional cost of, or does not care to purchase, a renters insurance policy, poses a risk

What Doesn’t Renter’s Insurance Cover?

Renters should be equally aware of the things that the policy doesn’t cover, as much as what the policy does cover.

For example most policies don’t actually cover the following (though you can normally get this coverage for an additional cost):

• Backup of sewage into the residence;
• Earthquakes;
• Floods;
• Other natural disasters deemed “Acts of God”;
• Unusually expensive items i.e. Musical instruments, an expensive art collection, fine jewels.

Renter’s insurance policies also do not cover losses caused by the tenant’s own negligence or intentional acts.

In Summation

• Renter’s insurance is much like homeowners insurance but without any need for covering the property itself which makes it much cheaper for the tenant.
• Basic policies will cover loss for damage of items in the home related to fire, theft, vandalism, plumbing, and electrical malfunctions.
• The renter may need a separate policy for more expensive items like specific items of high-value jewellery or art.
• Renters should take and maintain an inventory check of the belongings if they do need to make a claim.
• The two different types of renters insurance are cash value and replacement.
• Actual value pays what belongings are worth at the time of damage.
• Replacement value pays the cost of replacing the items.

Should you require your tenants to get renters insurance? The policies aren’t expensive and they will offer the tenant and yourself peace of mind. It’s well worth them having it for their own belongings.

It’s a good idea then to have a clause in your lease requiring tenants to purchase their own renter’s insurance when they move in (it’s not legal to require renters insurance in every state – so make sure you check your local state laws). If they don’t then they will be in breach of contract and should something goes wrong, you will have reduced your own liability.

Remember your landlord’s insurance protects the building, it never covers a tenant’s belongings.

Get a fast quote for renters insurance today from Sure →

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