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

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.