Understand your coverage, meet your landlord’s requirements, and protect your belongings.
Renters insurance is useful whether you rent an apartment, condo, or house. Your landlord’s insurance generally protects the building—not your furniture, clothing, electronics, and other personal belongings.
What Does Renters Insurance Cover?
Personal belongings
Personal property coverage helps repair or replace belongings damaged or stolen in a covered event. Fire and theft are common examples. Coverage depends on your policy’s terms, limits, and deductible.
Personal liability
Liability coverage may help if you’re legally responsible for accidentally injuring someone or damaging someone else’s property. Coverage for damage to your rental home depends on the policy.
Additional living expenses
If a covered loss makes your rental uninhabitable, loss-of-use coverage may help pay increased expenses, such as temporary housing and extra meal costs, subject to policy limits.
Medical payments to others
This coverage may help pay certain medical expenses for guests accidentally injured, subject to the policy’s terms. It does not replace your own health insurance.
Getting Insurance Because Your Landlord Requires It?
Before purchasing, have your lease or property manager’s insurance instructions ready. Check these details:
- Liability limit: Check whether your lease requires $100,000 or a higher amount. Your landlord’s minimum may differ from the amount of protection you want.
- Rental address: Include the correct apartment or unit number.
- Start date: Make sure coverage begins by the date your landlord requires.
- Landlord information: Have the exact company name, notification address, and any required contact information.
- Proof of insurance: Ask where to email or upload your policy documents.
Plan ahead: Policies purchased through ePremium cannot begin the same day as purchase. Confirm the effective date and time shown in your policy documents.
What Is an “Interested Party”?
Your landlord may ask to be listed as an additional interest or interested party. This generally allows them to receive certain policy notifications. It does not give them insurance coverage under your policy.
An additional insured is different—it involves extending coverage. If your lease uses that term, contact us before selecting an option so we can help clarify the requirement.
How Much Coverage Do You Need?
For your belongings, think about the cost of replacing everything—not just your most expensive items. Furniture, clothes, kitchen supplies, electronics, and bedding can add up quickly.
Take photos and make an inventory. Ask about special limits for jewelry, collectibles, firearms, or other valuables.
Meeting your landlord’s liability requirement is one consideration. Your own belongings and potential liability deserve attention too.
What Is a Deductible?
A deductible is the amount you’re responsible for on a covered claim when a deductible applies.
For example, if a covered belongings claim totals $2,000 and your applicable deductible is $500, the insurer would generally pay $1,500, subject to the policy’s settlement terms and limits.
Replacement Cost vs. Actual Cash Value
Replacement cost coverage generally bases payment on replacing an item with a comparable new one, subject to policy conditions.
Actual cash value generally subtracts depreciation for age and wear.
Check which option your quote includes before purchasing.
What Might Not Be Covered?
Renters insurance does not cover every loss. Flood and earthquake damage generally require separate coverage. Wear and tear, maintenance issues, and intentional damage are also commonly excluded.
Some water damage may be covered, but that does not mean every leak, backup, or flood is covered. Ask about the specific protection you need.
After You Purchase
- Review your documents for the correct name, rental address, coverage limits, and effective date.
- Check that any required landlord or property manager information is listed correctly.
- Send your landlord the proof of insurance they request and confirm they’ve accepted it.
- Keep your policy documents and belongings inventory somewhere you can access away from home.
Ready to Get a Quote?
Explore renters insurance options through ePremium Insurance.
Opens the ePremium Insurance website in a new tab.
Need help understanding your options or your landlord’s instructions? Call 619-457-4999.
This guide provides general information. Coverage, exclusions, deductibles, eligibility, and effective dates depend on the policy purchased.