A landlord policy is designed to protect you, the property owner. It typically covers the structure, your landlord liability, and may include loss of rental income if a covered claim makes the home unlivable during repairs.

Renter's insurance, on the other hand, protects your tenant. It usually covers the tenant's personal belongings, their personal liability, and sometimes temporary living expenses if they have to move out due to a covered loss. It does not insure your building—so even if your tenant has a great renter's policy, you still need landlord insurance to protect your investment.

In most cases, yes—requiring renters insurance is one of the simplest ways to reduce headaches and protect everyone involved. Renter's insurance helps your tenant cover their personal belongings and can provide liability coverage if they accidentally cause damage or someone is injured due to their actions.

It also helps prevent common disputes after a loss. For example, if there's a kitchen fire or water damage, your landlord policy is focused on the building and your liability, while the renter's policy helps handle the tenant's contents and liability exposure. The result is usually a cleaner claim process and fewer "back-and-forth" arguments about who is responsible.

A strong risk plan starts with a few practical steps that dramatically lower your exposure. First, require renters insurance for every tenant. This helps ensure the tenant has their own liability coverage and protection for personal property—so minor incidents don't automatically become your problem.

Second, ask to be listed as an Additional Interest on the tenant's renter's policy. This doesn't give you coverage under their policy, but it does give you something extremely valuable: notification. If the tenant's policy is cancelled or lapses, you can be notified—so you can enforce your lease requirements before a claim happens.

Call us first—you won't be stuck calling a random 1-800 number and hoping for the best. We'll walk you through everything.

In a claims situation, we sit on your side of the table