Is It Legally Possible To Just Cover One Occupant With Renters Insurance?

RyanD
September 20, 2012

(A US perspective) Renters insurance is an important and relatively inexpensive aspect of rental life, but there is still a large percentage of renters who do not take advantage of this potentially life-altering program. Things can get tricky when there are two roommates living together and only one of them is willing to pay for renters insurance, especially if something tragic like a fire happens.

What is Renters Insurance?

Many people have the misconception that their personal belongings are covered by their landlord’s property insurance, but this is not true. If a fire, flood, robbery or other issue negatively impacts any of your belongings, you will be out of luck if you do not have renters insurance. There are several different policies that you can purchase, but a basic renters insurance policy will cover up to $10,000. In addition to covering your belongings, a renters insurance policy will also provide protection in the event that you cause the fire, flood or other issue. Your landlord and your neighbors will have the option to sue your insurance company for any injuries that occur. Due to this, it is becoming increasingly common for landlords to require their tenants to have a renters insurance policy.

What if my Roommate Does Not Want a Policy?

Unless your landlord requires it, your roommate is under no obligation to get their own renters policy. If something happens to your apartment, however, they will not be able to utilize your policy to cover their lost belongings. Some insurance companies allow roommates to have a joint renters policy in which all of their names are listed, but this is not a standard practice. Unless you are married, it is highly recommended that each person carry their own renters insurance policy.

How Will My Insurance Provider Know the Difference?

It is standard procedure for an insurance agent to determine how many people will be living in your apartment before they issue a policy. As soon as they learn that you have roommates, they are going to inform you that your policy will only cover your belongings and potential liability. To ensure that this is exactly what happens, they will most likely ask you to compile a list of the things that you own. You will not have to list out every single item individually, but you will need to provide estimates for things such as the value of your clothing. If you end up needing to make a claim and the items that you seek recovery for are not on your list or seem excessive for one person, then your claim might be denied. Rather than attempt to file a fraudulent insurance claim, you should simply explain to your roommates what their personal responsibility is, and let them know that you absolutely will not make a claim for their belongings.

How do I Find the Best Deal?

One of the reasons why people fail to get renters insurance is because they believe that it will be expensive. The truth, however, is that a renters insurance policy is one of the least expensive investments that you can make. Most insurance companies offer renters policies, and you may be eligible for a multiple policy discount if you use the same provider as your car insurance. Even if you are not eligible for a multiple policy discount, however, most providers start their renters insurance options around $15 per month. At an average cost of only .50 per day, it really makes no sense not to sign up for a policy.

This article was written on behalf of http://www.rentersinsurance.net/, a great source for more information on renters insurance.