Renters insurance

WHAT IS RENTERS INSURANCE?

Renter’s insurance is property insurance that provides coverage for a policyholder’s personal belongings, liabilities, and possibly living expenses in case of a event of loss.
For people renting a single family home, apartment, duplex, condo, studio, loft, or townhouse.

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Renter’s Insurance Explained

Increasingly, proof of renter’s insurance is required by many landlords. Personal belongings within a rented property are typically not covered under the owner’s or landlord’s property insurance. For example, if a flood or fire destroys all the personal property within a rented apartment, the structure would be covered under the landlord’s policy, but the personal property would only be covered through a renter’s insurance policy. Without this coverage, the tenant would be responsible for the loss out of pocket.

In general, renter’s insurance offers three types of financial protection:

  • Coverage for personal possessions
  • Liability protection
  • Additional Living Expenses (ALE) protection

Renter’s Insurance Coverage for Personal Possessions

Renter’s insurance covers your personal property from loss due to theft, fire, and other types of disastrous loss events. You should buy enough renter’s insurance to replace all of your personal possessions in the event of a loss event. The easiest way to determine this amount is to create a detailed list of all of your belongings with estimated values.

You can choose between replacement cost or actual cash value (ACV) coverage. ACV policies pay only for what an item was worth at the time it was damaged or destroyed. Replacement cost coverage costs more, but it will provide a payout large enough to buy a new item to replace the old one at the current full retail price.

If there are abnormally high-value possessions, a renter may want to add a floater, which is a separate policy that provides additional coverage for costly valuables if they are lost or stolen.

Renter’s Insurance Liability Protection

Renter’s insurance provides liability protection against lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage done by the renter, their family members, and pets. This coverage covers legal defense costs up to the limit of your policy. A renter’s policy should also include no-fault medical coverage as part of the liability protection. This coverage allows someone who gets injured on your rented property to submit their medical bills directly to the insurance company in lieu of a lawsuit.

Renter’s Insurance ALE Coverage

Additional living expenses (ALE) coverage provides financial protection against an insured disaster that makes it necessary to temporarily live somewhere else. The coverage will pay for hotel bills, temporary rentals, restaurant meals, and other living expenses while a rental home is being repaired or rebuilt. Most policies will reimburse you for the full difference between your additional living expenses and your normal living expenses. There is, however, either a dollar limit on the total amount an insurer will pay or time limit on the ALE payments.

Faq

Do I need renters insurance?

If you're renting the place you live, the answer is probably yes. Although you may not own the building, you do own your stuff in it. The best way to make sure your stuff is protected is with a renters insurance policy. How renters insurance can help: Theft. Rental units are prime targets for theft, and burglars are getting smarter about how to break into apartments. Fire and smoke damage. Although your landlord's insurance might or might not replace the carpet, it won't replace your furniture. Renters insurance can cover items damaged by fire, smoke, and other situations. Water damage. Similar to fire and smoke, your renters insurance can cover damage to items caused by accidental discharge or overflow of water. In general, renters insurance doesn't cover flooding or water backup (example, sewer backup). Temporary living expenses. If your apartment is damaged by water or fire, you'll likely need to find another place to stay. Some policies include coverage for hotel expenses if you can't use your apartment because of a covered loss. Liability protection. Renters insurance can cover injury to another person at your home. It can also include medical payments coverage that pays for expenses of people who don't live with you, but who are injured in your apartment

How much does renters insurance cost?

Renters insurance is very affordable, especially for people renting their first apartment. Consider what deductible you should have. Higher deductibles can lower your cost. However, you should also think about how much you're willing to pay in case of a claim.

Does my college kid need renters insurance?

Probably. Some homeowners policies provide some coverage, but not in all situations. You should check your homeowners policy to see what's covered.

What is a rider or endorsement on renters insurance?

Riders and endorsements are add-ons to an insurance policy.

What is replacement cost coverage?

Most renters insurance quotes include actual cash value, not replacement value for your belongings. Actual cash value takes depreciation into consideration when calculating a post-claim payout. This could mean you may not get enough to buy a new version of the item that was lost. This is where replacement cost coverage can help.

What is additional coverage for disasters?

Depending upon where you live, you may want to look into extra coverage for natural disasters such as flood, earthquake, or wind and hail. Not all renters policies include coverage for these losses; ask a GEICO Insurance Agency agent for more information.

What is actual cash value coverage?

This typically only covers the cost to replace items minus depreciation. That means it may not cover the total cost to replace something. Speak to your representative at the GEICO Insurance Agency about actual cash value coverage versus replacement cost coverage to pick what's right for you.

What's a policy period for renters insurance?

This is the amount of time the insurance policy is in effect. Make sure you understand when the policy begins and ends. In general, a policy period is 1 year.

What's personal liability coverage?

This insurance protects you against claims that others make against you. Depending upon your personal assets and individual situation, you might benefit from additional liability coverage.

What's covered by living expensese?

If your home, apartment, or condo you rent is destroyed by a covered peril, this insurance helps cover additional living expenses.

What's covered by personal property coverage on a renters policy?

This helps protect your personal belongings. This can include things like furniture, clothing, electronics, and other items up to a certain amount. If you own valuable collectibles, specialized equipment, or other unusual items then you might need additional coverage.

What is scheduled personal property?

This is additional insurance for high value items or special collections. Some examples can include jewelry, coin collections, sporting goods, specialized electronics, and other valuables.

What is incidental business liability?

If you have a home business, like a small baby-sitting business, this insurance helps protect you against liability claims related to your business

What is business merchandise coverage?

This additional insurance is useful for people who sell products online.