Can My Landlord Make a Claim on My Renters Insurance?


Updated: October 3, 2024

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Your landlord cannot make a claim on your renters insurance, because it's designed to protect your personal belongings and provide liability coverage for you as the tenant. For a landlord to make claims related to the rental property, they would need their own insurance. But you can add them as one of your policy's interested parties, which is a third party who gets updated on the status of your policy, whether there are coverage changes or cancellations.

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Key Takeaways

Your landlord cannot make a claim on your renters insurance. They would need their own landlord or home insurance policy for that.

Only you, as the tenant, and any other listed parties on the policy can make a claim on your renters insurance.

Instead of making a claim on your policy, landlords can be added as an interested party, which lets them know when coverage changes or cancellations occur.

Who Can Make a Claim on Your Renters Insurance Policy?

Renters insurance is designed to protect you if you are responsible for causing bodily injury or property damage to someone else, and this "someone else" can include various entities such as individuals, such as your family or friends, LLCs and corporations.

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    Individuals

    This includes people who may suffer bodily injury or property damage on your rented property, such as friends, family or other guests. For instance, if a friend accidentally falls down the stairs and they decide to hold you liable, your renters insurance can step in to pay for their medical bills and your legal expenses if they decide to sue.

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    Businesses

    Business owners can also file a liability claim against your policy if they experience injury or damage due to your negligence. If you accidentally start a fire in your apartment that spreads to their business, for instance, renters insurance can help pay for any injuries, property damage or legal expenses.

In cases where damage occurs to the rented property itself, however, such as damage to the building or its fixtures, renters insurance typically does not cover structural damage to the landlord's property. It primarily covers the tenant's personal belongings and liability for injuries or property damage to others.

If there is damage to the rental property, the landlord's recourse would typically be through their own property insurance, commonly referred to as landlord insurance. Landlords often have insurance in place to protect their investment in the property, including coverage for structural damage, liability related to the property and loss of rental income.

Difference Between Landlord Insurance and Renters Insurance

Both the landlord and the renter need to have their own insurance policies for protection. Here's a side-by-side table to highlight the key differences between the two types of insurance:

Aspect
Landlord Insurance
Renters Insurance

Coverage Purpose

Protects the landlord's rental property, including the building and landlord's liability.

Protects the tenant's personal belongings and liability for injuries or property damage to others.

Property Coverage

Covers the structure of the rental property, including walls, roof and fixtures. May also cover the landlord's personal property.

Does not cover the structure of the rental property; focuses on the tenant's personal belongings inside the rental unit.

Liability Coverage

Provides liability coverage for the landlord in case of injuries or property damage that occur on the rental property due to maintenance issues.

Provides liability coverage for the tenant in case of injuries or property damage for which the tenant is responsible.

Policyholder

The landlord or property owner is the policyholder.

The tenant or renter is the policyholder.

It's important for both landlords and tenants to understand the distinctions between these two types of insurance and ensure they have the appropriate coverage in place to protect their interests in a rental property.

Adding Your Landlord as an Interested Party

An interested party in renters insurance refers to an individual—in this case, your landlord—who is designated to receive notifications about any alterations to your policy. This person or entity may also be termed as an "additional interest" or a "third-party designee," and their role involves staying informed about updates, renewals or terminations of the policy.

Depending on your rental agreement, landlords usually request to be included as an interested party to guarantee that tenants uphold adequate coverage, thus safeguarding the financial interests of both parties.

Can a Landlord Require Me To Have Insurance?

Landlords can require tenants to have renters insurance as a condition of the rental agreement and lease terms. Many rental agreements include clauses that address insurance responsibilities.

Lease agreements often include a clause that requires tenants to maintain renters insurance throughout the duration of the lease. This clause typically specifies the minimum coverage amount and may require tenants to provide proof of insurance before moving in.

These things should be discussed by both the landlord and the renter to ensure a peaceful rental agreement. These agreements also outline the consequences of failing to comply with the insurance requirements. This may include fines, eviction or other penalties, so it's better to have a clear discussion on this matter with your landlord.

Understanding How Renters Insurance Works

Renters insurance is a comprehensive tool that protects your belongings against unforeseen circumstances. It's an important safety net that provides peace of mind while you're renting your home.

Generally, renters insurance covers three things:

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    Personal property coverage

    Protects your personal belongings such as furniture, electronics/gadgets, clothing and other items.

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    Personal liability coverage

    Covers your legal exposure against liability claims or lawsuits.

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    Loss of use coverage

    Providers for your additional living expenses (ALE) in the event that you cannot live in your rented space due to a covered incident.

Renters Insurance Exclusions

While renters insurance provides a wide range of protections, there are also several exclusions and limitations to be aware of as it does not usually cover these things:

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    Certain natural disasters

    Most renters insurance policies do not cover floods or earthquakes. For these specific perils, a renter usually needs to purchase additional, separate policies or endorsements.

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    Routine wear and tear

    Normal wear and tear or deterioration of the rented property or personal belongings are not covered.

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    Intentional damage

    If a renter intentionally damages their own property or someone else's, the insurance won't cover those damages.

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    Valuable items beyond limits

    High-value items like jewelry, fine art or collectibles might need additional coverage.

FAQ About Landlord Renters Insurance Claims

Navigating renters insurance with your landlord can be challenging. Understanding how landlords can interact with your insurance policy is important, and our frequently asked questions section touches more on how they work together.

Can my landlord file a claim on my renters insurance if there's damage to the rental property caused by me or my negligence?
Is it common for landlords to require tenants to list them as an interested party on the renters insurance policy?
What should I do if my landlord is requesting that I file a renters insurance claim for damage I caused to the property?
Can your landlord evict you for not having renters insurance?

About Mark Fitzpatrick


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Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.