Landlord Insurance FAQ

• Q.What Does Landlord Insurance Cover?
• Q.Do I Have to Have Landlord Insurance?
• Q.Is Landlord Insurance Tax Deductible?
• Q.Can Landlords Require Renters Insurance?

Q.What Does Landlord Insurance Cover?

Landlord insurance provides several important types of coverage. Depending on the insurance company you work with and the options you choose, your policy may consist of some or all of these types of insurance:

• Property damage: This covers damage to your buildings and personal property due to fire, storm damage, theft, vandalism and tenant damage. Ideally, your landlord insurance will cover the replacement costs for your entire rental property in the event of a total loss.
• Liability insurance: This coverage protects you against liability claims and lawsuits. Whether a tenant, visitor or even a trespasser is injured on your rental property, you could find yourself in a legal mess. Your liability insurance will help you cover the costs associated with bodily injury claims on your property. These costs can include medical payments, funeral costs, legal fees and judgment or settlement costs. You will also be covered if you, as the landlord, are found responsible for another person’s property damage. For example, if you neglect to fix a leaking water pipe and mold damage destroys a tenant’s expensive collection of vintage albums, a liability claim can be filed against you by the tenant.
• Loss of income: This insurance will help compensate you for lost income in the event that a rental property becomes uninhabitable due to a covered loss, such as a storm or apartment fire. Your loss of income coverage, or “rental reimbursement,” will prevent you from losing the income you would have had if you were collecting rent.
• Optional coverage: As a landlord, you can buy additional coverage, such as rent guarantee insurance, natural disaster insurance, employer liability insurance and landlord contents insurance to cover your personal property items such as furnishings or carpet in the rental property. Contact an independent agent in the Trusted Choice network for complete information on the types of coverage available.

Q.Do I Have to Have Landlord Insurance?

Landlord insurance is not required by law, but you would be wise to carry it if you’re collecting rent and managing a property.  Building fires, tropical storms, tornadoes, vandalism and liability claims are some of the key things you want to be prepared for as a landlord. If your property experiences $100,000 worth of damage and you do not have insurance to cover it, those costs must come out of your pocket.

You need landlord insurance when you do not occupy the same residence as your tenant. You will also need landlord insurance if you are renting out your own home temporarily or sharing accommodations, such as your basement level, with a renter.

Some landlords rely on their homeowners insurance to cover their rental units. It is important to know that your homeowners policy most likely will not cover damage to your rental property, unless you are only renting out a portion of the home you are living in. It will also likely not provide coverage for liability claims.

Q.Is Landlord Insurance Tax Deductible?

Yes, you can deduct landlord insurance premiums you pay on your rental property, including any landlord insurance policies on the building, contents and liability. Because being a landlord is a business endeavor, your landlord insurance can be considered a business expense.

Q.Can Landlords Require Renters Insurance?

Although there is no federal or state law requiring tenants to have renters insurance, as a landlord it is fully within your legal rights to require this as part of the rental agreement. Stipulated in a rental agreement, this requirement must apply to every tenant. A landlord can also require that a tenant have a specific amount of insurance, provide proof of coverage and require that the tenant maintain the policy for the duration of a lease.