Renters Insurance: Benefits for Northern Lake County Landlords and Tenants

2/11/2022 (Permalink)

Renter’s insurance is relatively inexpensive but can save tenants and property owners thousands in the event of a disaster.

Requiring renters insurance for your tenants is not required by law, but some landlords make renters insurance mandatory as part of their lease. When executed correctly, requiring your tenant to have their own renters insurance policy is legal. Learn the benefits of requiring renters insurance as a landlord and what protections it provides to both you and your tenants.

Landlord insurance vs. Renter’s insurance?

Rental property insurance typically only provides coverage and protection to the structure and the owner or landlord -- the coverage is not extended to the tenant.

Renters insurance provides certain protections to tenants that would typically fall outside of what is covered in a landlord insurance policy. For example, a renters insurance policy can provide coverage of the tenant's personal belongings and provide additional liability protection in the event there is damage to the property by the fault of the tenant or a guest of the tenant.

For the Tenant

Protection of personal property:

One of the biggest benefits to a tenant is having protection for their personal effects in the event they are damaged or stolen. Even if the damage to the property, such as an electrical fire or storm, would be covered in the landlord's property insurance policy, the tenant's personal effects would not be included. 

Personal Liability coverage

If damage is caused to the property and the tenant or a guest of the tenant is found at fault, rental property insurance will provide liability insurance repaying part or all of the replacement cost or repair cost for the damage done. 

For the Landlord

Lowers Liability

Renters insurance provides some security by reducing the potential for litigation between the landlord and tenant. For example, if the tenant doesn't have renters insurance and their personal effects are lost, they may pursue legal charges for the cost or replacement of their belongings.

In another example, the tenant may attempt to take the landlord to court if they or one of their guests are injured on the property and do not have adequate health insurance to help cover related medical expenses. Renters insurance provides tenant coverage up to a specified amount, reducing the likelihood of litigation and reducing the landlord's overall liability.

Supplements relocation costs

If the property is damaged and is considered uninhabitable until the repair or replacement is completed, some states may require the landlord to find temporary housing for the tenant while the work is completed. Maybe a pipe burst and the flooring of the property needs to be replaced. If the tenant has renters insurance, this can help pay for some or all of the cost relating to relocation and temporary housing expenses for the tenant.

Provides financial protection for the landlord

If the tenant causes damage to the property, your property insurance policy may cover the cost for damages at no additional cost to you. However, you as the landlord are still responsible for paying the deductible. If the tenant has renters insurance, the cost for the deductible will likely be covered from that insurance policy, reducing your out-of-pocket expenses.

In the event your rental property sustains damage from flood, fire, biohazard, or the like, please don’t hesitate to contact SERVPRO of Gurnee at 847-838-2954.  We are here to help with any size disaster, and we will respond to your call 24/7/365