RENTERS INSURANCE
Renters insurance protects what your landlord's policy does not.
Your landlord's property insurance covers the building. It covers nothing inside your unit. Renters insurance protects your belongings, covers your liability as a tenant, and pays your hotel and food costs if a covered loss makes your unit uninhabitable.
What it covers
What a renters policy covers.
What it covers
Personal property
Your personal property against fire, theft, vandalism, water damage from plumbing failure, and most other sudden losses. Coverage applies whether your property is in your unit, in your car, or with you while traveling.
What it covers
Personal liability
Pays if you are legally responsible for injuring someone or damaging their property. This is your personal liability coverage, and it includes incidents in your unit, like a guest slipping in your bathroom, and incidents away from home, like your dog biting someone in a park.
What it covers
Loss of use
If a covered loss makes your rental uninhabitable, this loss of use coverage pays for a hotel, meals, and other additional living expenses until you can return or relocate. Standard limits are usually a percentage of your personal property coverage.
What it covers
Medical payments to others
This medical payments coverage pays small medical bills for guests injured in your unit regardless of fault. Designed to handle minor injuries quickly without involving liability claims.
Where policies have edges
What a renters policy does not cover.
Not covered
Flood damage
Standard renters policies exclude flood damage. If you live in a flood-prone area, contents flood coverage is available through NFIP or private insurers.
Not covered
Earthquake damage
Earthquake damage is excluded from standard policies. Available as an endorsement or separate policy in earthquake-prone regions.
Not covered
High-value items above standard sub-limits
Jewelry, watches, firearms, fine art, and collectibles have low sub-limits in standard policies, often $1,500 to $2,500 total. Items above that need to be scheduled separately for full coverage.
Not covered
Business property and liability
Equipment used in a home-based business and liability from business operations are excluded. Home-based work needs a business endorsement or a separate commercial policy.
Who needs this
Who needs Renters Insurance?
Anyone who rents. Your landlord's policy covers the building structure, not your personal property or your liability. If you later buy a place, the same idea carries over to homeowners insurance. Many landlords now require renters insurance as a lease condition. Even when not required, the cost is small relative to what it covers.
What it costs
What can you expect to pay?
Varies by state, location, coverage limits, and deductible. Most renters pay between $120 and $400 per year for typical coverage.
Requirements by state
How does this work in your state?
Renters Insurance rules, regulatory requirements, and available coverage vary by state. Send us your state and details through a free coverage review and we will confirm what applies to you.
If You Need to File a Claim
Claims tips
Renters claims usually involve theft, water damage, fire, or a liability incident. The basic playbook is the same.
- Make the unit safe and notify your landlord immediately. Water leaks, fire damage, and break-ins all require immediate landlord notification regardless of insurance. The landlord's policy and yours may both apply to different parts of the loss.
- File a police report for any theft. Most renters policies require a police report for stolen property claims. Get the report number on scene if possible, or as soon as you can.
- Document your belongings before disposal. Photos and video of every damaged item, in place, before you move or throw anything out. Save damaged items if practical until the adjuster has reviewed them.
- Notify your carrier promptly. Most policies require prompt notice of any loss. Get your claim number and adjuster contact in writing, and see our claims help for what to expect next.
- Keep receipts for additional living expenses. Hotel nights, meals beyond your normal grocery spend, laundry, and transportation costs that result from being displaced are usually reimbursable under loss of use.
- Have a current home inventory. The hardest part of any renters claim is proving what you owned. A phone-camera walkthrough of every room, drawer, and closet, updated annually, makes a real difference at claim time.
OUR CARRIER PANEL
Carriers We Work With
The carriers we compare are licensed and regulated in your state. We shop these markets and present the options that match your situation; a licensed advisor reviews the fit with you in a free coverage review.
Branch
Bundled home and auto insurance with fast digital quotes for Georgia families outside Atlanta city limits.
Learn moreChubb
Premier coverage for high-value homes, collectibles, and affluent families in North Atlanta.
Learn moreNationwide Insurance
Nationwide brings financial strength and a wide product range to personal and commercial clients. An honest review of their ratings, claims,
Learn moreProgressive Insurance
Progressive is strong on auto and specialty vehicles. How they compare on ratings, claims, and who they suit best.
Learn moreSafeco Insurance
Safeco sells exclusively through independent agents like Olive Cover. An honest review of their ratings, product strengths, and who they fit
Learn moreTravelers Insurance
Travelers is one of carriers reviewed by Olive Cover. An honest look at their ratings, strengths, weaknesses, and who they
Learn moreCommon Questions
Renters Insurance: frequently asked questions
Does my own insurance cover me when I stay in an Airbnb or VRBO?
The host's short-term rental policy protects the host, not you. As an Airbnb or VRBO guest, your own homeowners or renters insurance usually covers your belongings and personal liability away from home, within policy limits, while travel insurance covers trip-specific risks neither the host nor your home policy will.
What is the difference between a landlord policy and a renters policy?
A landlord policy covers the building and the landlord's own liability. A renters policy covers the tenant's belongings and the tenant's own liability. They are separate policies covering separate things.
How do personal property limits work on a renters policy?
The personal property limit is a single dollar cap set at purchase; replacement cost vs actual cash value and off-premises rules change what it pays.
Does renters insurance cover hotel costs if I have to move out temporarily?
Yes. Loss of use coverage pays for a hotel and meals above your normal food costs while your apartment is being repaired after a covered loss.