What is Renters Insurance & How Does it Work? (2024)

FAQs

What is the main purpose of renters insurance? ›

Renters insurance protects your personal property in a rented apartment, condo or home from unexpected circ*mstances such as theft, a fire or sewer backup damage – and will pay you for lost or damaged possessions. It can also help protect you from liability if someone is injured on your property.

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.

Renters insurance has three basic coverage components: personal possessions, liability, and additional living expenses.

Does each roommate need renters insurance? Many insurance companies will require roommates to have their own separate renters insurance policy rather than allowing roommates to be on a policy together. If your landlord doesn't mandate renters insurance, you and your roommates aren't required to carry a 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.

Renters insurance can provide essential benefits to tenants, such as protecting personal belongings, liability coverage, and additional living expenses coverage. However, it has potential drawbacks, such as additional expense and limited coverage.

Flooding, earthquakes and sinkholes are all examples of natural disasters that are not covered by a typical renters insurance policy.

Things like theft, fire, vandalism, some types of water damage (such as from burst pipes), a windstorm, and so on. (These are what's known as 'named perils' in insurance speak.)

You'll choose your deductible when you buy a renters insurance policy. A higher deductible means your claims will cost you less money out of pocket. Typically, renters insurance deductibles are $500 or $1,000, but companies often provide a range of options.

Most states allow two unrelated people to share a renters insurance policy if they live in the same rental home. Many renters insurance companies allow policy sharing as well. Should you share a renters insurance policy with a significant other? That's a very different question.

Can I add my girlfriend to my renters insurance? ›

But no worries – you can add them as an “additional insured” for an extra cost. If you go down this route, just keep in mind that it may be cheaper (and easier) for each of you to get your own insurance policy.

There are also some exceptions, such as if the theft was perpetrated by a roommate, in which case your stolen property will not be covered. Typically, you have to pay a deductible (amount of expenses out of pocket) before you can file a theft claim and have your insurance kick in.

Most standard renters insurance policies do cover damage to your windows. This coverage typically falls under your policy's “perils” or “named perils” section. Commonly covered perils include vandalism, theft, and certain natural disasters like storms or hail.

Renters insurance is only tax-deductible when it covers a location in which you are operating a business. More specifically, you can only deduct the percentage of your home allocated to business from your taxes. A home office must conform to IRS guidelines to be eligible for a tax deduction.

The key reason renters insurance comes cheap lies in what it does and doesn't cover. With homeowners' insurance, you insure both the structure and belongings. With renters insurance, however, you only protect your possessions, personal liability if someone gets injured in your rental, and guests' medical bills.