While most people know how important it is to have homeowner’s insurance, many never stop to consider whether renters also need to protect themselves. (Quick hint: They do!)
Many tenants assume that they don’t need renter’s insurance because any hazards will be covered by their landlord’s insurance—after all, they’re the ones who own the property, right?
Nope.
The landlord’s insurance will cover only what the landlord owns, and that will be limited to the land and the physical structures on it. Anything inside the building that you own will be excluded by the landlord’s insurance company.
Somewhere in the stack of papers that you signed along with your lease, you would probably find something that says that it’s your responsibility to insure your property, but you either didn’t know or didn’t want to spend the money.
But guess what, you need to have renter’s insurance.
What is Renter’s Insurance?
Renter’s insurance is a type of insurance that protects the renter, as well as their property.
Just like other forms of insurance, customers will choose their amount of coverage and deductible, and be then required to pay a monthly premium based on these, as well as a few other, factors.
The amount of coverage that a renter chooses should account for the value of their belongings and offer enough coverage that they are adequately protected in case of an emergency.
What do renter’s insurance plans usually cover?
Much like a homeowner’s insurance policy, renter’s insurance policies typically cover fire, theft, vandalism, utility malfunctions (plumbing and electricity), weather related damage and a host of other hazards.
Two things you should be aware of in regard to what renter’s insurance policies will and won’t cover:
- Flooding and earthquakes are not included. If you live in an area prone to either you may need to get specific policies to cover those hazards. For flood insurance look at the National Flood Insurance Program.
- Any hazard that isn’t specifically listed isn’t covered! If your renter’s policy doesn’t list water damage from faulty plumbing, then you aren’t covered for it.
Renter’s insurance policies, like homeowner’s policies, are characterized by a lot of assuming as to what’s covered.
Never assume something’s covered when it comes to renter’s insurance!
How much coverage should you buy?
The answer to this question will depend on how much money you have tied up in personal possessions.
For some people, a few thousand will be enough, while for others $100,000 won’t be sufficient. You should have at least a rough idea as to how much your possessions are worth and be guided by that estimate.
For most people, coverage equal to at least $25,000 to $50,000 will be enough. But if you have certain items that are worth a substantial amount of money, such as jewelry or antiques, you should consider getting additional coverage for those items (this would likely be a rider or a floater which will most likely require an appraisal). Make sure you discuss any special valuables you own when pricing out policies.
For example, after I proposed to my soon-to-be wife we made sure her ring was covered in our rental insurance. We had to go get her ring appraised and then we sent the appraisal to our insurer as proof of its value.
If you work at home make sure your equipment, like your computer, is covered. There could be a cap on their payout and if you have specialty equipment you might not get the full value back.
Personal liability coverage
Most renter’s insurance policies will also offer some liability coverage.
Customers may also choose how much liability coverage they need, depending on their budget and the amount of protection they feel most comfortable with. Liability coverage will help protect a renter if they are sued due to an accident that happened in or on the property they rent. (Imagine you host a party and a friend’s friend comes and trips on your carpet and breaks their wrist — You are at risk of being sued for liability.)
Replacement Cost or Actual Cash Value (ACV)?
Renters can choose from policies that will pay the replacement cost or Actual Cash Value (ACV) of their belongings.
Actual Cash Value
An actual cash value (ACV) policy will reimburse you only for the current value of the item lost.
This is what cash value is like — you’ll get what the insurance company thinks your stuff is worth today, after you’ve worm it out for a bit.
There’s nothing wrong with kind of policy, you just need to understand what it is.
Why would you even take such a policy? Cost is one factor; since ACV policies pay out less in benefits, they’re also generally less expensive to buy. If the choice is between an ACV policy and no renters coverage at all, you’d be better to take the ACV than to be uninsured.
Another reason might be if you’re a very frugal type who avoids buying new and prefers second hand merchandise. Since what ever you buy will be closer to actual market value, the ACV policy may suit your needs perfectly. A cash value plan is good if you don’t have a lot of stuff to replace and/or your cash-strapped as it will cost you less.
Replacement cost
Under a replacement cost policy the insurance company will reimburse you for the retail value of the items that you’ve lost. In other words, with a replacement cost plan you’ll get full replacement value, not the depreciated value.
If for example you lost, among other things, a living room set that you paid $2,000 for, and the set is five years old, the insurance company will reimburse you for the full $2,000. The fact that the set is five years old and worth far less on resale isn’t an issue. You will be in a position replace your set with a comparable, brand new one.
For most people, this will be the better policy to have, though it will be more expensive (you get what you pay for, right?).
Here’s another example to help understand Replacement Cost vs. Actual Cash Value — If you paid $500 for a computer you would think that’s what you would get if something should happen to it, right? Not necessarily. With Actual Cash Value (ACV) the insurance company takes into account how long you have owned the computer to figure out it’s value. It’s like if you were selling it on Craigslist. You wouldn’t get the new value of the computer. You might only get $100 of that $500 you paid. And if you need a computer you would have to shell out the difference to buy a new one. This is a bit of information many people don’t know about or understand until they need to make a claim.
Five Reasons Why You Need to Protect Yourself with Renter’s Insurance:
1. Renter’s insurance will cover the cost of belongings lost in a fire, due to lightning, a windstorm, or hailstorm.
Losing your belongings in a fire or storm can be devastating. Luckily, those with renter’s insurance are covered in these situations and can be compensated for their loss. Don’t assume the landlord’s insurance on the residence will cover your stuff. It won’t.
2. Renter’s insurance can protect you from theft.
While these policies cannot actually stop a theft from happening, they will cover the cost of lost items. Depending on whether a person chose ACV or replacement cost personal property coverage, the insurance company will cover the depreciated value of the stolen items or the cost to replace them.
Oh, and did you know that some renters insurance also covers identity theft?
3. If your home is damaged and uninhabitable, renter’s insurance can cover the cost of other living arrangements.
Most people don’t have the money to pay for a hotel while their home is being repaired. Luckily, renter’s insurance will cover the cost of a customer’s living arrangements until their home is again inhabitable.
4. Renter’s insurance covers the costs of accidents that occur on a renter’s property.
If a person is hurt while on your property, you may be held liable, even if you aren’t necessarily to blame. The liability coverage in a customer’s policy will protect them from being sued for medical bills or other costs.
5. If a person loses important items while traveling, renter’s insurance can cover that too.
Losing a suitcase while traveling is extremely frustrating. Most airlines will only reimburse customers up to a certain amount, which may be less than the lost items were worth. Fortunately, renter’s insurance may cover the remaining cost of the lost items, which makes these policies all the more valuable to renters who frequently travel.
Things to Consider and Do When You Get Your Renters Insurance Coverage
Be aware of any deductibles your insurance may have. You don’t want to be surprised in the event you need the coverage and find out you’re on the hook for an amount you weren’t prepared to pay. Really you should know this information before you sign on the dotted line.
Also know what the policy is on natural disasters such as hurricanes are. Some policies may not cover them while others may have a significant deductible you’ll have to pay before coverage kicks in.
Inventory your belongings
This step is recommended for any insurance policy. You don’t need to do a detailed inventory of every item you own, but some sort of general baseline should be established, especially for those items of value.
Start by inventorying your most valuable possessions—furniture, entertainment equipment, jewelry, artwork—anything worth at least a few hundred dollars. Take photos and keep purchase receipts.
As to general possessions, take photos of each room in your home, including the cupboards, closets, storage areas and garages so that there’s a general idea as to what you had.
VERY IMPORTANT! Your inventory records should be stored outside your home so that they aren’t destroyed by what ever consumed the rest of your possessions. A safe deposit box, your folks, or online are all places to consider. A service like Evernote or Dropbox is an easy option to store your insurance pictures in the “cloud.” Also make sure you have a copy of your policy handy outside of you home as well. Some insurers even have apps to help you inventory your home.
Your inventory will enable you to be prepared to get the full value of your possessions in the event of a claim.
Final Word On Renters Insurance
Don’t make the mistake that many people do and think the one that owns your apartment will have insurance and you are taken care of.
Fact is, their insurance will cover the physical home but not your belongings or liability.
Also don’t make the mistake of thinking you don’t need renter’s insurance because your stuff isn’t that valuable. Unless you have enough put away to cover theft costs or liability costs, you need to make sure you are covered.
Truth is, renter’s insurance is a fraction of the cost of homeowner’s insurance and depending on the coverage you need, you may find the cost is pretty low (could be from about $100 and up a year, depending on your needs).
And with many insurance companies, if you bundle your renter’s insurance with something like automobile insurance you will probably get a discount. Also check with your employer and see if there are any company discounts on insurance plans.
The cost of the insurance will be well worth it should something happen to your apartment!
USAA Renters Insurance
Liberty Mutual
Allstate Renters Insurance
It’s a good idea to have renter’s insurance. I was renting 2 years ago in the general area of Washington DC. I had insurance of Audio and Video equipment, furniture and all the items I owned inside the apartment. The cost was $109 for the year for $20,000 insurance.
Renter’s insurance is especially important if you have a specialty item like audio equipment in your home!
Thanks for the example.
On a side note about renters insurance, it is very cheap, and if you combine it with your auto policy, you can get discounts. I discovered that I could get the cheapest renters policy my insurer offered at $4/mo, and it would save me $16/mo on my auto due to the multi-policy discount! Done deal!
When I combined my home insurance with my auto policy I saved a good deal! If you are happy with your insurance company then it’s definitely worth looking into adding your policies with the same company.
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I would add renter’s insurance like homeowner’s covers possessions in your car and elsewhere when traveling or just transporting them.
It can. Just make sure you understand what your policy actually covers.
I don’t have renter’s insurance, but my boyfriend does (and we live together). So if someone gets hurt in our apartment, I hope his coverage will cover it. Otherwise, the total sum of my belongings is worth less than $2,000 and I have family near by that I can stay with. I feel okay with not having renter’s insurance, although if something changed (i.e. I move out of an area where I do have family and I am living alone), I would get renter’s insurance.
I can’t speak for how his coverage would cover you. But his having coverage will protect the majority of belongings in the apartment (appliances, furniture, etc…).
Definitely worth it imo. My tenants had their laptops stolen, and renters insurance paid for it.
Thanks for the perspective from a landlord!
I never carried renter’s insurance but I’m seeing the importance of it more now. First off, it’s very cheap.
Secondly, I married a man who volunteers with the Red Cross. He’s on call to help people burned out of their homes by providing for their immediate, basic needs (very few are homeowners; most are renters). The vouchers from the Red Cross are a big help, but they don’t go very far in replacing people’s belongings. These folks are basically starting over.
That’s the thing with insurance, isn’t it? You don’t think about it or even consider it until something bad happens.
Thanks for your take!
My little brother just had his apartment broken into and his macbook pro, xBox, and keyboard stolen. They were all old and busted and he got a check for $1900 from renter’s insurance!
If I’ll goes as planned, I’ll be paying “Homeowners Insurance” instead of “Renter’s Insurance” before too long, right?
Save and make the right financial moves and you just might be paying homeowner’s insurance before long. Just make sure you really are ready for it.
Great points Glen, renters insurance is considerably cheaper than home insurance and when you buy it from your existing auto insurance company and inquire about a multi-policy discount, they typically offer 10% savings on the total premium for both policies. So, if your auto insurance costs 150/month and your renters insurance only costs 16/month, you’re pretty close to getting a policy for free. Regarding the landlords perspective, I just thought I’d notate that many landlords are now requiring their tenants in the lease to purchase coverage so they obtain additional liability protection in case someone is injured on the property.
My son is renting an apartment in Chicago that requires him to get renters insurance. If he does not the property will fine him $250.00 a month. He asked my husband to put it on his homeowners policy since this was the way his roommate would be handling his, at a cost of $15.00 a year(I think). My husband refuses to do this because he has said we will lose our home if anything goes wrong within the apartment. I don’t know if this is true, so that is my first question. Secondly, what can my son do at this point? He’s 20 yrs old and does not have a car, so no auto insurance to add on to. Is there a way from him to buy a policy on his own?
Having auto insurance isn’t a requirement for renter’s insurance. He should be able to check around a few companies for quotes on his own.
I’m also not sure about you losing your home if you add your son to your home policy. But I’m also not sure how this is done exactly and whether that’s really allowed. Certainly it could cause your insurance to go up should there be a reason for the insurance to be used. You could call your insurance and ask them if it’s a possibility to add your son’s renter’s insurance to your plan and what the repercussions are if the insurance is used (if something happens).
You could call also call your insurance company on your son’s behalf and ask what his renter’s insurance would cost on his own. Perhaps they would give you a good rate because you are already a customer?
And make sure to ask about any possible discounts. Your son may be eligible if he’s a member of any organizations or because of the school he’s going to? You never know until you ask!
My boyfriend was telling me that a friend of his wanted to get renter’s insurance, but his lease forbids it. Is this legal?
I couldn’t say if it was legal or not but it does seem strange. My first thought is to ask if it is a legal apartment? I’m thinking that if someone converted their basement into an apartment that they might not want a tenant getting insurance. But that’s just my speculation.
For me, it seems completely pointless to have renter’s insurance.
My belongings that I can’t do without, added up, are worth less than what I’ve saved over the last 8 years by not having renter’s insurance.
If I had to replace my laptop, clothes, books TOMORROW, I would spend maybe $1000 out of pocket.
If I had payed R.I. premiums for the last 8 years, the cost would be $1500 or more.
My lease says I should have it, but I asked about this and they said I will not be charged for not having it, so I just don’t.
If we all had the cash to pay out we wouldn’t need any insurance really. But the fact is you don’t know what will happen. If you didn’t go 8 years without needing it, maybe only one, then you might think differently.
It depends on your situation. But I think for the relatively low cost renters insurance is definitely something you should have.
This is a very informative and useful article. Thanks a lot for sharing. It’s important to be protected whatever the situation it may be. I know there are great benefits to combining renter’s insurance with auto policy and/or home insurance but are there any disadvantages? Do tell.
I FEEL THAT IN OUR SOCIETY, WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING YOUR BACK COVERED, DO ALL YOU CAN TO PREVENT YOURSELF FROM BECOMING THE NEXT VICTIM. IT’S BETTER TO HAVE INSURANCE,AND NOT NEED IT, THAN TO NOT HAVE IT!
True, especially when a policy like renter’s insurance is so relatively inexpensive.
If I move, but do not inform my insurance company of the change of address, would my items still be covered in an event of theft?
Interesting question Wesley. I’d contact your insurance provider and find out what they say, but I think you should make sure to contact them if you plan on moving to make sure you have the coverage you need as well as making sure they will still cover you.
I considered getting renters insurance at the last place I rented, but never ended up doing it because I didn’t make it a priority to document/photograph all of my belongings to evaluate the price. Fortunately nothing bad happened, but I am definitely getting it at my next place – I just bought a new computer, can’t afford to have that stolen/damaged. Thanks for the post, Glen.
Just a question…as a homeowner who had visitors overstayed at my home and found out they have a renter’s policy under our address ( they did not pay any rental fee at all; they sataed for free) and still am receiving their mail which implies they are still using my address for their renter’s insurance policy. Is there something I need to be concerned about them not using their current address for their renter’s insurance policy? I am just concern as our address may still be used under their business ( which makes sense because of computer usage, etc).
Contact your local Post Office and let them know which names are legitimately associated with your address and which names are not. Put your approved names inside your mailbox and let your carrier know that there are some names that should not be getting mail at your address. At some point, if the mail is rejected, the insurance company will understand that the address is wrong.
Thanks for explaining the facts, I really appreciate that. Your post is very helpful and informative. Keep up the good work.
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