What does renters insurance cover? This is a common question when renters are considering purchasing renters insurance. You may know that a renters insurance policy will cover your belongings in case of a covered loss. If a burglar breaks into your apartment and steals your new living room furniture, renters insurance may cover the replacement cost. It can also cover clothes damaged or destroyed by major accidents like fires, so long as their value meets your deductible. Many people think that renters insurance only covers the cost of replacing or repairing these everyday items.
In addition to covering a person's belongings, renters insurance has several lesser-known benefits. When renting an apartment, condominium, or house, knowing everything an insurance policy can do for you is important. Below are some interesting things covered by renters insurance. Be sure to check your insurance policy to find out what coverages are available to you.
What Does Renters Insurance Cover? Some Surprising Items
Typical Renters Insurance Coverage
- Coverage while traveling: Have an item stolen or damaged while you are traveling? Stolen luggage, although not simply lost luggage, is usually covered. Renters insurance should cover your loss up to your coverage limit minus the deductible.
- Mold and water damage from burst pipes: If a pipe bursts in your rental, damaging your property or causing mold issues that make your belongings unsafe to use, your renters insurance policy should reimburse you up to your coverage limits.
- Theft from your car: If your car is stolen, the optional comprehensive coverage of your automobile insurance policy should cover you. If a thief breaks into your car and steals personal property, your renters insurance provides coverage.
- Riot or civil commotion: If your personal belongings are damaged due to public disturbances such as riots, vandalism, or any other type of “civil commotion,” your renters insurance should provide coverage.
- Credit card or check forgery: If someone steals and uses your credit card or forges a check, your renters insurance may cover a limited amount of your loss.
Property Outside your Dwelling: Surprisingly, renters insurance covers more than just the belongings inside your home. Did you know those possessions may also be covered when you are on the go or storing your belongings outside of your apartment or house?
For example, you are out to eat with friends at a busy restaurant. While you are enjoying dinner and chatting with friends, your phone is stolen from the edge of the table. Your renter insurance policy might cover the cost of replacing the phone. Similarly, your bike may be vandalized or damaged while you are in class. The cost of replacing or repairing it may be covered by your renters insurance.
Should someone break your lock and steal your bike from a storage unit, it might be covered under your renters insurance. For example, you might use a bike to get around town in nice weather. When temperatures cool, you store it in a storage unit.
However, there are limits to what your renters insurance policy will cover for damaged or stolen items kept outside your dwelling, such as in a storage unit. Coverage generally involves a percentage of your personal property insurance.
Loss of Use: What do you do if your rental suddenly becomes unfit for living? An electrical fire might cause damage to your apartment building and you must leave during the repairs. The house you’re renting might have a pipe burst and flood the home, making it unlivable. Fortunately, many renters insurance policies have coverage for additional living expense, which can pay for your necessary basic necessities if you’re forced out of your rental while it is under repair and uninhabitable.
This benefit is especially helpful if you are going to be out of your rental for an extended period of time. If the repairs take a couple of months, the cost of living in a hotel or other temporary housing, the extra cost of food while you’re out, and even the need for pet boarding, can add up quickly.
Dog bites: In 2024, California had the highest number of insurance claims involving a dog bite in the United States. It also happens to be the state with the largest canine population. As a strict liability state for dog bites, there is no "one free bite" rule. This means that even if a dog with no history of aggression bites someone, the owner can still be held liable. As long as the victim can prove the dog bit them, the owner is liable.
Dog bites are a common accident that can lead to expensive medical bills and possibly legal action against the owner. Even the friendliest of dogs may act unexpectedly. If you are a renter and dog owner, your renters insurance may cover your defense and liability if your dog bites someone.
To qualify for coverage under your renters insurance policy, your landlord must know a dog is on the premises. The policy may contain certain breed restrictions.
Medical and legal liability for guests on premises: Liability coverage also covers you for physical injuries to others for which you are legally liable. If you accidentally cause a fire while cooking and your neighbor gets hurt, your renters insurance can then protect you against legal action if taken by your neighbor. The protection provided by liability insurance can safeguard you should an accident occur. This coverage does not extend to you, any family members living with you, or roommates, as they’re not guests.
A standard renters insurance policy offers at least $100,000 in liability coverage. Tenants can also purchase additional coverage — which can be a smart move if you host guests frequently or have a dog.
What Does Renters Insurance Not Cover?
Generally, renters insurance does not cover certain natural disasters like floods or earthquakes, nor does it cover properties or items that you rent to others. These natural disasters are considered “acts of God,” which refer to events beyond human control or intervention, such as a pandemic.
Renters insurance does not cover certain situations that are considered your landlord’s responsibility. For instance, you can’t file a claim if bedbugs infest your bedding and furniture. That’s part of maintaining the premises.
If you have high-value items like expensive jewelry or electronics, the cost to replace them may exceed the special limits coverage of your renters insurance.
It’s important to know that each unrelated roommate or tenant in a rental must purchase their own renter's insurance. If you have a roommate, always make it clear who owns any higher-value items you share. The good news is that, in many cases, you can purchase additional coverage for these situations.
Get Covered with Renters Insurance
Renters insurance covers a wide variety of physical items and provides a layer of protection against unfortunate accidents like fires or injuries on the property. Knowing all of the benefits of renters insurance can help you decide if your current renters insurance is right for you. To find out how affordable the protection of renters insurance is, get a free quote today with Wawanesa.
FAQs
Does renters insurance cover fire?
Yes, renters insurance likely covers damage to your belongings caused by fire, again subject to your deductible and coverage limits. It does not cover a tenant’s personal property if the tenant set the fire deliberately.
Does renters insurance cover relocation?
If your rental dwelling becomes uninhabitable due to a covered event, renters insurance should cover temporary hotel relocation and possibly meals. Keep in mind that the key term is “covered event.” For instance, relocation is likely covered if your rental is damaged due to fire. Tenants may not receive relocation coverage for flooding unless they purchase a separate flood policy.
If you live in a high-cost area, you may want to increase the amount of your renters insurance coverage to prepare for a worst-case relocation scenario.
Does renters insurance cover a power outage?
Generally, renters insurance does not cover losses from a power outage unless the outage is confined to the property. For example, if your entire area loses power, renters insurance will not cover losses. If your home is struck by lightning, your renters insurance should cover damage to your personal property.
It is possible to purchase additional coverage to protect electronic devices if damaged from a widespread power surge, but that’s not standard renters insurance coverage. However, we cover sudden and accidental damage from artificially generated electrical currents under a standard policy at Wawanesa.
Does renters insurance cover food loss?
Under certain circumstances, renters insurance does cover food loss. However, this doesn’t apply if your food is spoiled due to a widespread power outage. It does apply if the refrigerator breaks or if another issue directly related to your rental occurs. For example, a broken water pipe flooding the kitchen and damaging the refrigerator could qualify.
