Renter’s insurance protects the tenant from loss of personal belongings and from liability that could be incurred from property damage or bodily injury to others. A renter’s policy is called an HO-4 Contents Broad Form (Apartment Dweller’s Coverage).
PROPERTY COVERAGE
Property coverage covers personal property, wherever it is located, that is owned or used by the insured and insured’s relatives who live in the household. Personal property is insured against natural or man-made damage or loss. Man-made perils include fire, theft, falling objects, explosion, riot or civil commotion, aircraft, vehicles, vandalism or malicious mischief, theft, accidental discharge or overflow of water or steam from within a plumbing or sprinkler system, and sudden and accidental damage from artificially generated electrical current lightning. Natural perils include windstorm, hail, smoke, weight of ice or snow, and volcanic eruption. Some states have mandatory or additional amendments that cover natural disasters in those states, such as earthquakes in California, and hurricanes or sinkholes in Florida. Also, it is important to note that renter’s insurance policies do not cover damages caused by flooding, back up of sewers or drains, war, nuclear hazard or intentional loss created by the insured.
Some of the included perils are subject to limitations. Theft, for example, covers loss from attempted theft and loss of property from a place where the property is likely to have been stolen but does not cover a mysterious disappearance, theft committed by the insured or at construction sites. Watercraft, related equipment, trailers and campers are not covered away from the residence. Certain personal property, such as jewelry, cash, coins, collectibles (such as stamp collections), and silverware, is only insured to a limit. Many people opt to list these items individually as “scheduled items” with a specific value for each.
Another coverage for renters is “loss of use”, which covers increases over normal living costs if damage or loss renders a residence unfit for occupancy. Loss of use will cover an increase in costs for food and shelter, for example, if the residence is damaged from an included peril. Loss of use usually only covers these increases for a certain period of time while the residence is being repaired.
LIABILITY COVERAGE
The liability coverage protects the policy holder from legal liability for bodily injury or property damage to others, and pays for medical or other related expenses for others who are injured through personal activities. Liability coverage does not include liability as a result of business activities, motorized vehicles and watercraft.
Renter’s insurance covers damages and loss from a number of perils and helps renters stay on their feet in the event their home becomes uninhabitable. A comprehensive insurance policy tailored to the renter’s needs will offer the best coverage at the most affordable price.