Personal & household line

Renters insurance

InsuranceFinder coverage guide · Updated September 2026

Renters insurance protects your personal belongings inside a rented home or apartment against fire, theft, and storm damage, and provides personal liability protection and temporary living expenses if the rental becomes uninhabitable. It does not cover the physical building structure, which remains the landlord’s responsibility.

Renters coverage breakdown: belongings, liability & loss of use

A typical renters policy focuses on what you own and your personal liability inside a rented home. The building itself usually stays on the landlord's policy.

1. Personal property

Pays to repair or replace your belongings (furniture, clothing, electronics) after covered perils such as fire, theft, or certain storm damage, subject to your deductible and policy limits.

2. Personal liability

Helps pay if you are legally responsible for injury to someone else or damage to their property arising from your occupancy, subject to the policy's liability limit.

3. Medical payments to others

May pay limited medical costs for a guest injured in your rented space, often without a determination of fault, subject to the medical-payments limit.

4. Loss of use / additional living expense

May help with hotel and related living costs if a covered peril makes the rental uninhabitable, subject to policy terms.

Important renters exclusions to know:

A standard renters policy usually does not cover the building structure (landlord's policy), flood, earthquake or ground movement, or damage from poor maintenance or wear-and-tear. Valuable items may need higher limits or scheduled endorsements. Always read the policy form for the governing exclusions.

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Who typically uses renters insurance

Renters insurance is typically carried by people who rent an apartment, house, or similar dwelling and need coverage for their personal belongings and personal liability. A landlord's property policy usually covers the building, not the tenant's furniture, electronics, or liability if someone is injured in the rented space. Flood and earthquake are usually excluded and need separate coverage or endorsements when available.