- Landlord insurance protects the rental property owner's building, along with any appliances, furnishings or other property the landlord provides; renters insurance protects the tenant's belongings, additional living expenses and liability after a covered loss.
- Landlord insurance typically does not cover a tenant's furniture, clothing, electronics or hotel stays after a covered loss.
- Renters insurance may include "liability to landlord" coverage for tenant-caused damage to the landlord's property, depending on policy terms.
- After damage in a rental unit, tenants should contact the landlord immediately, document damage with photos, keep receipts and notify their renters insurer.
What Is Landlord Insurance?
The short answer is that it’s a policy designed to help protect the property owner’s rental building, certain landlord-owned property and some liability exposures. It is not the same as renters insurance. A tenant’s policy is generally designed to help protect the tenant’s belongings, temporary living and liability costs after a covered loss.
Key Takeaways
Many renters assume the landlord’s insurance covers everything inside the rental unit. In many cases, it does not. Understanding what does landlord insurance cover – and what it usually does not – can help both landlords and tenants avoid surprises after a loss.
Quick takeaway: Landlord insurance usually protects the rental property owner’s interests. Renters insurance usually protects the tenant’s belongings and certain tenant-related liability risks.
What is landlord insurance?
Landlord insurance is a type of property insurance for people who rent out a home, condo, apartment or other residential property they own. If you’re wondering what insurance do I need as a landlord, landlord insurance is often the starting point because a standard homeowners policy may not be the right fit once a property is being rented to tenants.
In general, landlord insurance is meant to help protect the structure, certain landlord-owned items kept at the property and liability risks related to renting it out. Coverage details vary by policy and state, so it’s important to review the policy terms carefully.
| Policy type | Who it is for | What it may help protect |
|---|---|---|
| Landlord insurance | Property owners renting out a home or unit | The building, certain landlord-owned property and some landlord liability risks |
| Renters insurance | Tenants renting the home or unit | Personal belongings, tenant liability and additional living expenses after a covered loss |
What does landlord insurance cover?
In many cases, landlord insurance is focused on the owner's side of the risk — the building, not the tenant's belongings.
For example, in the event of a fire, vandalism or certain types of water damage, landlord insurance may help cover repairs to the rental structure and possibly some landlord-owned items used to service the property. But it typically won’t pay to replace a tenant’s clothes, furniture, electronics or other personal belongings. It also usually won’t pay a tenant’s extra living costs after a covered loss — that is often where renters insurance may come in.
Landlord insurance may also help cover lost rental income — often called fair rental value — if a covered loss makes the unit uninhabitable and the tenant cannot pay rent while repairs are being made.
| Loss or expense | Does landlord insurance help with this? | Does renters insurance help with this? |
|---|---|---|
| Damage to the rental building | Yes, depending on the cause of loss and policy terms | Usually no |
| Tenant’s furniture and clothing | Usually no | Yes, if covered under the tenant’s policy |
| Tenant’s hotel stay after a covered loss | Usually no | May be covered under loss of use or additional living expense coverage |
| Landlord liability related to the property | May be covered, depending on the situation | Usually no for the landlord’s liability |
| Tenant liability for covered damage or injury | Usually no | May be covered under the tenant’s liability coverage |
What does renters insurance cover?
Renters insurance is designed for the tenant rather than the property owner. It may help protect your personal belongings, provide liability coverage and help with extra living costs if a covered loss makes your home uninhabitable.
Key protections in a renters policy:
Personal belongings: Clothes, furniture, electronics, kitchen items
- Additional living expenses: Hotel and other costs if your home becomes uninhabitable after a covered loss
Liability coverage: Legal responsibility for covered bodily injury or property damage you or a family member cause to others
Your belongings can add up quickly, even if you feel like you don’t own much. Clothes, furniture, electronics, kitchen items and other everyday essentials can be expensive to replace out of pocket.
Related reading: Benefits of Renters Insurance, How Much Renters Insurance Do I Need? and Renters Insurance Coverage Options.
In addition to coverage for personal belongings, renters insurance may include additional living expense coverage, also called loss of use, if your home becomes uninhabitable after a covered loss. While your unit is being repaired or rebuilt from a covered disaster, this coverage may help pay for necessary increases in living expenses so your household can maintain its normal standard of living.
Finally, renters insurance typically includes liability coverage, which may help in situations where you or a resident family member are legally liable for covered injuries or damage. Learn more about insurance options, such as renters insurance protection and how to bundle insurance.
Why this matters: A landlord’s policy and a renter’s policy usually work side by side, not as substitutes for each other. One protects the owner’s interests; the other helps protect the tenant’s.
What is liability to landlord insurance?
Liability to landlord insurance generally refers to a renters policy feature that may help cover certain damage a tenant causes to the landlord's property, depending on policy terms. This can vary by policy wording, but it generally relates to tenant-caused damage for which the tenant is legally responsible.
It is not the same as the landlord’s own liability coverage. Instead, it may be part of the tenant’s renters insurance and can apply in specific covered situations where the tenant is liable for damage to the landlord’s property.
| Liability question | What it usually means | Which policy may apply |
|---|---|---|
| Landlord liability | The property owner’s responsibility for covered injuries or property-related claims | Landlord insurance |
| Tenant liability | The renter’s responsibility for covered injury or property damage they cause | Renters insurance |
| Liability to landlord | Covered tenant-caused damage to the landlord’s property, depending on policy terms | Renters insurance, if included and applicable |
What should I do when filing a claim for damage in my unit?
Start by contacting your landlord immediately. If the issue involves your neighbors, make sure to loop them in as well. If the damage affects your personal property, also notify your renters insurance provider. Document the damage by taking photos and keeping receipts for loss-related expenses. Maintain a detailed list of your belongings with estimated values and replacement costs so you're prepared if and when you need to file a claim.
| Step | What to do | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Contact the landlord | Report the damage right away | The landlord may need to inspect the property and file their own claim |
| 2. Contact your insurer | Report damage to your belongings or liability-related issues | Your renters carrier can explain what information is needed |
| 3. Document everything | Take photos and keep receipts | Records can help support your claim |
| 4. Coordinate with others involved | Include neighbors if their unit or actions were involved | It may help clarify responsibility and next steps |
For more on the process, see what to expect when filing a personal property claim.
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FAQs about landlord insurance and renters insurance
Landlord insurance is a policy designed to help protect a rental property owner’s building, certain landlord-owned property and some liability risks related to renting out the property.
It may help cover damage to the rental structure, some landlord-owned property and certain liability claims, depending on the cause of loss and policy terms. It usually does not cover a tenant’s personal belongings.
Landlord insurance is usually focused on the owner's building, landlord-related liability risks and loss of rental income (fair rental value) if a covered loss makes the property uninhabitable. Renters insurance is usually focused on the tenant's personal property, liability and additional living expenses.
If you rent out a property you own, landlord insurance is often the policy type to review first because a standard homeowners policy may not be the right fit for a tenant-occupied property.
It generally refers to protection within a renters policy that may help cover certain covered damage a tenant causes to the landlord’s property, depending on the policy terms and the circumstances of the loss.
Usually no. A landlord’s insurance policy generally protects the owner’s interests, not the tenant’s furniture, clothes or electronics.
Renter’s Insurance, Investopedia, 2021.
Facts + Statistics: Renters Insurance, Insurance Information Institute.
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