Updated: June 22, 2025
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Landlords can be listed as interested parties on your policy. This gives them visibility into your coverage status but doesn't give them the right to make a claim.
Renters insurance protects your personal property and liability but not the landlord’s building. If the structure is damaged, your landlord must use their own insurance.
Accidents involving guests or neighboring businesses may be covered. Your renters policy may pay for injuries or damages you’re liable for but not structural repairs.
No, your landlord can’t file a claim on your renters insurance. This type of policy is meant to protect you, the tenant, by covering your personal property and liability.
If your landlord needs to file a claim related to the building or structure, they must do so through their own landlord insurance. However, you can add them as an interested party so they receive updates about your policy status, including lapses or cancellations.
Renters insurance primarily protects you, the policyholder, but others may benefit from its liability coverage. This includes individuals and businesses that suffer injury or property damage due to your actions.
If a guest, like a friend, neighbor or family member, is injured in your rental (e.g., slipping on a wet floor), they may file a liability claim against your renters insurance. The policy can help cover their medical bills and your legal expenses if you’re sued.
A business can also file a liability claim if your actions cause them harm. For example, if a fire you accidentally start spreads and damages a nearby store, renters insurance may cover the resulting property damage or injury claims.
Renters insurance does not cover structural damage to the rental unit itself. If the building or its fixtures are damaged, your landlord must file a claim through their own landlord insurance, which covers the structure, fixtures and rental income loss — not your personal property or liability.
An interested party in renters insurance refers to an individual (in this case, your landlord) who is designated to receive notifications about any changes to your policy. This person or entity may also be called an "additional interest" or a "third-party designee," and their role involves staying informed about updates, renewals or terminations of the policy.
Depending on your rental agreement, landlords usually request to be included as an interested party to ensure that tenants maintain adequate coverage, thus safeguarding the financial interests of both parties.
Renters insurance is a comprehensive tool that protects your belongings against unforeseen circumstances. It's an important safety net that provides peace of mind while you're renting your home. Generally, renters insurance covers three things:
Protects your personal belongings such as furniture, electronics, gadgets, clothing and other items.
Covers your legal exposure against liability claims or lawsuits.
Pays for your additional living expenses (ALE) in the event that you cannot live in your rented space due to a covered incident.
While renters insurance provides a wide range of protections, there are also several exclusions and limitations to be aware of, as it does not usually cover these things:
Most renters insurance policies do not cover floods or earthquakes. For these specific perils, a renter usually needs to purchase additional, separate policies or endorsements.
Normal wear and tear or deterioration of the rented property or personal belongings are not covered.
If a renter intentionally damages their own property or someone else's, the insurance won't cover those damages.
High-value items like jewelry, fine art or collectibles might need additional coverage.
Both the landlord and the renter need their own insurance policies for protection. The table below highlights the key differences between the two types of insurance:
Aspect | Landlord Insurance | Renters Insurance |
|---|---|---|
Coverage Purpose | Protects the landlord's rental property, including the building and landlord's liability. | Protects the tenant's personal belongings and liability for injuries or property damage to others. |
Property Coverage | Covers the structure of the rental property, including walls, roof and fixtures. May also cover the landlord's personal property. | Does not cover the structure of the rental property; focuses on the tenant's personal belongings inside the rental unit. |
Liability Coverage | Provides liability coverage for the landlord in case of injuries or property damage that occur on the rental property due to maintenance issues. | Provides liability coverage for the tenant in case of injuries or property damage for which the tenant is responsible. |
Policyholder | The landlord or property owner is the policyholder. | The tenant or renter is the policyholder. |
It's important for landlords and tenants to understand the distinctions between these two types of insurance and ensure they have the appropriate coverage in place to protect their interests in a rental property.
Landlords can require tenants to have renters insurance as a condition of the rental agreement and lease terms. Many rental agreements include clauses that address insurance responsibilities.
Lease agreements often include a clause that requires tenants to maintain renters insurance throughout the duration of the lease. This clause typically specifies the minimum coverage amount and may require tenants to provide proof of insurance before moving in.
Insurance requirements should be discussed by both the landlord and the renter to ensure a smooth rental agreement. These agreements also outline the consequences of failing to comply with the insurance requirements. This may include fines, eviction or other penalties, so it's better to have a clear discussion on this matter with your landlord.
While renters insurance offers valuable protection for tenants, it’s not a policy landlords can tap into for their own claims. Your landlord can require you to carry renters insurance and be listed as an interested party, but they can’t file claims on your policy.
To stay protected, make sure you understand what your renters insurance covers and what it doesn’t. If required by your lease, keep your policy active and share proof of coverage to avoid issues with your landlord.
Understanding how landlords can interact with your renters insurance policy is important. Our frequently asked questions section explores how they work together.
In most cases, landlords cannot directly file a claim on your renters insurance for damage to the rental property itself. They typically rely on their own landlord insurance to cover structural damage.
Landlords often request to be listed as an interested party on renters insurance policies to stay informed about policy changes and ensure compliance with their requirement for tenants to maintain active coverage. This fosters transparency and trust in the landlord–tenant relationship. However, this requirement varies by landlord and lease agreement.
It depends on who is at fault. If you caused the damage but it was accidental or unintentional, you can file a claim under your liability coverage. However, if you damaged it due to negligence, you may have to pay out of pocket. On the other hand, if the damage was caused by your landlord's negligence, they will need to pay using their insurance.
Landlords can evict you for not having renters insurance, but it depends on the stipulations of your rental agreement. For instance, if it's explicitly stated that you need renters insurance to lease the unit, and you are found to be violating the agreement by not having coverage, this may give your landlord grounds to evict you.
Why Trust MoneyGeek?
MoneyGeek developed this guide using a combination of national insurance data, expert insight and standard renter profiles. To evaluate renters insurance policies, we analyzed rate information from Quadrant Information Services and reviewed performance scores from trusted industry sources, including J.D. Power (customer service), AM Best (financial stability) and NAIC (complaint index).
We created a proprietary scoring model that graded renters insurance companies on four weighted criteria: affordability, customer satisfaction, financial strength and coverage options. Each company received a total score out of 100 based on these factors.
Sample Renter Profile
To collect pricing and coverage details, we used a standard renter profile:
Where applicable, we adjusted coverage amounts or renter attributes to reflect different tenant needs and scenarios discussed on the page, such as when landlords require proof of coverage or request to be listed as an interested party.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.
