Can a Landlord Require Renters Insurance? | Travelers Insurance (2024)

Can a Landlord Require Renters Insurance? | Travelers Insurance (1)

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Can a Landlord Require Renters Insurance? | Travelers Insurance (2)

Being a landlord requires numerous responsibilities, one of which is protecting your property. It’s likely that you have landlord insurance, but you may wonder if it’s possible to require your tenants to have their own renters insurance. The answer is probably yes.

To be clear: It is not mandatory for a landlord to require tenants to getrenters insurance. However, you may require that they obtain a renters policy as a condition of the lease. Requiring tenants to have their own renters insurance policy can give them liability protection and can help protect you as a landlord from liabilities caused by your tenant.

Why Might a Landlord Want to Require Renters Insurance?

As a landlord, you might want to require renters insurance of your tenants for several reasons. Consider these benefits:

  • Renters insurance can help cover damages associated with liability claims.Typically, as the property owner, you could be responsible for injuries sustained on your property. A renters insurance policy, however, could help cover your tenant in the event of an injury to your tenant’s guests, up to the limit of the policy. This protection may or may not be available, depending on the circumstances of the injury.
  • Accepting pets may be easier when tenants have renters insurance.While tenants may cherish the company of their pets, the potential liability can be worrisome for a landlord. Requiring tenants with pets to have a renters policy helps offer protection and allows you to extend rental opportunities to those with four-legged companions. A renters insurance policy typically covers injuries a tenant’s pet might cause to others while on your property, up to the liability limit.
  • Renters insurance can help protect you from a tenant’s party damage.You may decide to prohibit large parties in the terms of your lease, but damage from smaller get-togethers could still occur. You may want to require renters insurance to help cover losses in the event of a mishap. Without a renters policy in place, damage or injury from a gathering gone wrong could be your responsibility.
  • Renters insurance can help protect a landlord against tenant negligence.Tenant negligence can take many forms, ranging from akitchen firewhile cooking towater damagefrom an overflowing tub. When a tenant’s negligence causes damage to your building, the tenant’s renters insurance could help cover the damage to your property.

Should My Tenants Have Renters Insurance?

A typical landlord policy will not cover the tenant’s personal property, such as furniture or electronics. One big difference between a landlord’s insurance coverage and a tenant’s renters coverage is that your insurance would repair the building in case of damage from a covered loss, but would not cover the costs to replace or repair your tenant’s personal property.

Here are some specific reasons your tenant should consider renters insurance:

  • In the event of a covered loss such as a fire, which makes the property uninhabitable for a period of time, a renters insurance policy might cover the cost of temporary housing.
  • If a tenant’s personal belongings are stolen, a renters insurance policy would typically cover the loss.
  • If a tenant is found responsible for causing water damage to their apartment and/or the units below, a renters insurance policy could cover the damage.
  • If your tenant negligently causes property damage or personal injury, a renters policy could cover the damage and help them avoid some out-of-pocket expenses and potential legal fees, up to the policy limit.

How Much Renters Insurance Should a Landlord Require?

It is up to your tenants to decide how much renters insurance they want. But by requiring a minimum level of renters liability insurance as part of the lease agreement, you are highlighting the value of protecting their property and minimizing their liability risk.

Tenants who own expensive electronics (such as computers or gaming consoles) or keep other items of great value in their home should consider adding apersonal articles policyto assist them with replacement costs if any of those items are damaged or stolen.

Doesn’t Landlord Insurance Cover Everything?

Landlord insurancetypically covers the liabilities attached to owning a rental property. It covers things like damage to the building and medical payments for visitors injured on the property. Tenants have separate interests that are not covered by your landlord insurance policy. With renters insurance required in the lease, you are helping your tenants protect themselves against financial loss that could occur as a result of an insurable incident.

Learn More About Landlord Insurance from Travelers

If you’re a landlord or considering becoming one, you’ll want to protect your property withlandlord insurance. Learn more about landlord insurance and then contact yourlocal independent agentor Travelers representative to get a quote today.

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FAQs

Can a Landlord Require Renters Insurance? | Travelers Insurance? ›

Is renters insurance required in California? That depends on your landlord. While there is no federal or state law requiring that you get renters insurance, it is required by law that you comply with your lease. So, if those terms include having renters insurance, you need to make sure you're covered.

Why do landlords want you to have renters insurance? ›

Unlike some other states, California landlords are allowed to require tenants to obtain and maintain renters insurance while they are under the terms of the lease. This is done in part to protect landlords from lawsuits in the event that damage to the property causes it to become uninhabitable.

Can a landlord require renters insurance in CA? ›

While renters insurance is not required by law in California, some landlords may require it for you to live in their building. It's generally a good idea to have at least some form of coverage as your landlord's insurance is not liable for any damage to your personal property.

Do most landlords and apartment complexes require you to have renters insurance True or false? ›

Under California Landlord-Tenant laws, there are no specific requirements that renters purchase and maintain renters insurance throughout the entire tenancy. However, that doesn't mean that landlords can't require their tenants to purchase the coverage as a condition of their tenancy.

Why is it important to get renters insurance? ›

Renters insurance can help you repair or replace property after loss due to many types of damage or theft. It can also provide coverage for an accident at your residence. Policies usually have very affordable annual premiums.

Should a landlord be named on renters insurance? ›

Your landlord shouldn't be listed on your renters insurance policy as an additional insured. Having an additional insured on your renters insurance means that you would be paying to cover them and their personal property too.

What does renters insurance actually cover? ›

Renters insurance covers personal property, personal liability, medical payments and additional living expenses or loss of use, up to the limits of your policy.

Why do landlords require renters insurance in California? ›

Without a renters policy in place, damage or injury from a gathering gone wrong could be your responsibility. Renters insurance can help protect a landlord against tenant negligence. Tenant negligence can take many forms, ranging from a kitchen fire while cooking to water damage from an overflowing tub.

Can I be evicted for not having renters insurance California? ›

In most cases, not having renters insurance doesn't always lead to eviction. However, if it's a requirement stated in the lease agreement, not having coverage could give your landlord grounds to initiate eviction proceedings.

How much is renters insurance per month in California? ›

The Cost of Renters Insurance in California

According to data collected by Quadrant Information Services in 2023, renters insurance costs $187 per year or $15.58 per month on average in the state of California.

How much renters insurance do most apartments require? ›

According to the Investopedia article mentioned above, most renters insurance policies cover personal items, living expenses, and liability insurance (typically from $100,000 to $300,000 in damages).

What is one thing that is covered by renters insurance and one thing that is not? ›

Accidental or intentional damage, whether it's caused by humans or pets, is not considered a covered loss or event. As a result, your insurance carrier won't pay to repair or replace the damaged item. For example, if a fire damages your laptop, your renters insurance policy will pay to replace it.

What is the Sutton rule in Oklahoma? ›

The Sutton approach comes from an Oklahoma case where a landlord's insurance carrier sought to pursue a negligent tenant for damage caused to the landlord's property. That court stated “the law considers the tenant as a co-insured of the landlord absent an express agreement between them to the contrary. . .” Sutton v.

Why is it bad to not have renters insurance? ›

Your Landlord Won't Cover Damages

For example, if there is a fire in your apartment, and you lose everything, your landlord will not pay to replace your belongings, even if the fire is not your fault. The same goes for many other kinds of emergencies that could befall a renter.

Why is failing to get renters insurance important? ›

Renters insurance protects your belongings from loss, damage, or destruction following things like burglaries, fires, tornadoes and other covered events. Plus, renters insurance also protects your liability (and your money) if someone is injured at your rental home or apartment.

Is renter insurance worth it? ›

Renters insurance coverage is almost always worth it. It is much more affordable than other policies, including home or auto insurance, and provides valuable financial protection. Even if you can save enough money to cover unexpected loss, renters insurance may be worthwhile.

What is the average cost of renters insurance in California? ›

The Cost of Renters Insurance in California

According to data collected by Quadrant Information Services in 2023, renters insurance costs $187 per year or $15.58 per month on average in the state of California.

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