Renting a house or apartment means you must adhere to certain standards. Other things are optional, such as renter’s insurance. Some landlords make renter’s insurance mandatory, but even if yours doesn’t require it, it’s wise to have the coverage. Here are three reasons why you need renter’s insurance.
Protect Your Belongings
You never know what might happen in your home. Natural disasters can occur without a moment’s warning, meaning you can be affected by a flood, hurricane, wildfire, or other natural weather event. Fires are also common in homes and can cause significant damage to your property. Unfortunately, your landlord’s standard homeowner’s insurance policy does not cover damage to your personal belongings—only the rental property itself is covered. Luckily, renter’s insurance can cover the cost of the damage to your belongings.
Additionally, if your home is broken into by burglars, or if you let someone in and they end up stealing something valuable, your renter’s insurance policy can cover the cost of replacing those items as well.
Liability
Renter’s insurance is essential protection. It’s important if you have a guest visiting you at your home and they suffer an injury while there. You are protected against liability in that situation. In other words, if a friend or associate visits you at your home and trips and falls while walking on your brand new carpeting, or if your dog bites them, you are covered. Your renter’s insurance can cover the costs of that person’s medical expenses and other damages if they sue you.
Emergency Coverage
If you have an emergency in your home that causes extensive damage to the point where you need to temporarily vacate, renter’s insurance is a lifesaver. It can cover the costs of additional living expenses if you have to stay somewhere else while repairs are made in your home. For example, if you have a house fire and are left with smoke and water damage, your home will be unlivable, and you’ll need to stay at a hotel or other place until things are fixed. In some cases, your landlord may be responsible for covering these costs, but it’s worth having renter’s insurance if that’s not the case and you would otherwise have to cover the expenses yourself.
At the end of the day, having renter’s insurance should be a big priority for you. It can give you much-needed peace of mind in the event that something goes wrong at home. Contact your local insurance agent today to see what kind of coverage they can offer.