Renters insurance reimburses you if your personal property is stolen or damaged by a covered peril.
Your appliances are considered part of your personal property, so if your appliances are stolen or damaged by covered hazards then your insurance company will reimburse you for the loss.
However, renters insurance will only cover your personal belongings — so if your roommate isn’t on the policy or they don’t have renters insurance of their own, they won’t be covered if their personal appliances are damaged or stolen from the rental property. Certain appliances in your rental property owned by the landlord — like the stove, microwave, or dishwasher — are covered by the landlord’s insurance policy.
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What appliances does renters insurance cover?
Renters insurance covers different electrical and home appliances owned by the renter, including:
Television sets
Air-conditioning units
Blenders, mixers, cookers
Computers and laptops
Video game consoles
Mini refrigerators
Coffee makers and espresso machines
Vacuums, fans & portable heaters
Washer and dryers
Essentially, renters insurance will cover most personal household appliances up to your policy’s limit. If you have expensive appliances, like fancy TVs, you should consider adding an endorsem*nt to your policy to extend coverage for those items.
When does renters insurance cover appliances?
Your appliances are covered from the same perils as the rest of your personal property. So for example, if there is a building fire and your espresso machine is ruined, your renters insurance will reimburse you for the loss up to your policy’s personal property coverage limit.
Some commonly covered perils include:
Fire
Lightning
Smoke damage
Theft
Vandalism
Damage from steam-heating/water-heating appliances/systems
Leakage or overflow of water or steam
Short-circuit damage caused by electrical appliances
Renters insurance typically doesn’t cover home appliances if they were damaged in a power surge, However, if the power surge is caused by a covered peril, then renters insurance may cover the damage. For example, if a lightning strike causes a power surge to fry your TV, then your renters policy may cover the loss.
Check the personal property coverage section of your policy to see which perils are included or excluded.
When does renters insurance not cover appliances?
Renters insurance will not cover appliances in the following instances:
Damage caused by natural disasters like floods and earthquakes
The appliance breaks from normal wear and tear over time
Maintenance breakdown due to negligence
Water damage from groundwater or rain
Read more to learn what renters insurance does and does not cover.
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How to file a renters insurance claim for appliances
If an appliance is stolen from your rental property, you should file a police report.
You should then contact your insurance company. Most renters insurance companies require you to file a claim within 24 to 72 hours of the incident. Make sure you have the following on-hand when filing a claim:
Your insurance policy number or policy declarations page
Police report (if you filed one)
Your home inventory containing a record of your belongings and their values
Documentation of the damage (photographs, videos, receipts)
A phone number that you can easily be reached at
After you file your claim, your insurer will assign you a claims adjuster who will investigate your claim to determine if it’s covered by your insurance policy. Depending on the extent of the claim, it could take weeks to complete. Be sure to check with your insurance company to get a timeline of the claims process. If your claim is accepted, you’ll need to first pay your deductible before your insurance company reimburses you for the remainder of the loss.
Consider equipment breakdown coverage
Equipment breakdown coverage is a renters insurance endorsem*nt that covers home appliances from hazards that aren’t typically covered, like electrical or mechanical failure. Equipment breakdown coverage will protect everything from your TV’s to your dishwasher if they are damaged or broken due to the following incidents:
Accidental breakdown due to improper installation
Pressure systems breakdown
An artificial electrical current, like electric arcing
Mechanical breakdown, including rupture or bursting that’s caused by a centrifugal force
If your renters insurance company offers equipment breakdown coverage, it can typically be added to your policy for a small additional premium.
FAQs
Personal property coverage limits for a renters insurance policy typically start at around $10,000, with an average coverage limit of around $30,000, according to PolicyGenius. Here's a rundown of what's included: Furniture. Household goods and appliances: Everything from kitchen appliances to clothing and decor.
What does renters insurance cover group of answer choices? ›
Renters insurance typically covers fire, windstorms, lightning, explosions, theft, and vandalism. Your personal property, personal liability, additional living expenses, and guest medical expenses are usually covered under your renters insurance.
Which one of the following is not covered by renter's insurance? ›
Standard renters insurance will likely only cover situations listed in your policy, like fire, theft, and vandalism. Natural disasters, like floods and earthquakes, are generally excluded, though you may be able to add extra protection for an additional cost.
Does renters insurance cover refrigerator going out? ›
Renters insurance policies generally cover the appliances you bought in the same way they cover your other belongings. You'd file a claim, and the insurance company would get to work.
Does renters insurance cover ovens? ›
Renters insurance coverage generally extends beyond broken stoves, helping pay for damages to your belongings up to your policy's limits. For example, if an explosion damages your rented property and some of your belongings (including your oven), renters insurance can help pay for general repairs or replacement.
What are the three major parts of a renters insurance policy? ›
Renters insurance has three basic coverage components: personal possessions, liability, and additional living expenses.
Does renters insurance cover clothing? ›
Personal property coverage covers your possessions—including electronics, clothing, and furniture—in case of loss or damage. Your possessions may be covered even if you're away from home when the loss occurs.
Does renters insurance cover a microwave? ›
Renters insurance only covers broken appliances if they break due to a covered peril, such as a pipe bursting and causing water damage or a hurricane destroying them. Unfortunately, broken appliances aren't covered if they break due to normal use, wear and tear, human error, malfunction or any similar event.
Does renters insurance cover food expenses? ›
Your renters insurance policy will cover food that is damaged or lost in your fridge, freezer, or kitchen due to certain specific causes—like fire, water from burst pipes, or certain power outages that are caused by direct damage to your property. Always keep in mind that every claim is unique.
Does insurance cover food loss from a broken refrigerator? ›
Most standard homeowners insurance policies cover up to $500 in food loss after a power outage, but only if the cause of the outage is covered by your policy. Homeowners insurance doesn't cover maintenance issues, so if your food spoils because your refrigerator suddenly stops working, your policy won't cover the loss.
You don't need appliance insurance if your appliance is under warranty. When you buy a new appliance, you'll generally have a guarantee, or warranty, from the retailer or manufacturer which will cover your appliance if it breaks down.
Are appliances considered contents? ›
What is covered by personal property insurance? Your home contents insurance applies to everything you own that resides within the walls of your home or apartment — your clothes, TV and other electronics, furniture, appliances, and so on.
Are kitchen appliances covered by contents insurance? ›
Yes. Your contents cover does include kitchen appliances that are free standing, such as washing machines. But if your appliance is built in, it will be covered under your buildings insurance. There's no cover for your washing machine if it breaks down.
What does renters insurance cover Quizlet? ›
What is this Renters insurance? Renters insurance provides liability insurance and the tenant's personal property is covered against named perils such as fire, theft, and vandalism. It also pays expenses, when the dwelling becomes uninhabitable.
What does renters insurance typically cover quizlet? ›
Renter's insurance typically covers: loss of personal property, loss of use of property, and personal liability.
What is rental coverage insurance? ›
Rental reimbursem*nt coverage helps you pay for transportation expenses, such as a rental car or public transportation fare, while your own vehicle is being repaired after a covered insurance claim. It does not apply if your vehicle needs routine maintenance work or if you need to rent a car on vacation.
Does renters insurance cover pet damage? ›
Renters insurance may cover pet damage as part of your policy's liability coverage. This may help protect your finances if your pet injures someone else or damages their property. However, renters insurance won't cover damage to your own property that's caused by your pet.
