Renters insurance provides financial protection against the loss or destruction of your possessions when you rent a house or apartment. While your landlord may be sympathetic to a burglary or a fire cause by your iron, destruction to your household goods is not usually covered by your landlord’s insurance. Since renters insurance covers only the value of your belongings and not the physical building, the premium is reasonably inexpensive.
By purchasing renters insurance, your possessions are covered against losses from fire or smoke, lightning, vandalism, theft, explosion, windstorm and water damage (not including floods). Like homeowners insurance, renters insurance also covers your responsibility to other people injured at your home or elsewhere by you, a family member or your pet and pays legal defense costs if you are taken to court.
Renters insurance covers your additional living expenses if you are unable to live in your apartment because of a fire or other covered peril. Most policies will reimburse you the difference between your additional living expenses and your normal living expenses but still may set limits as to the amount they will pay.
There are two types of renter’s insurance policies you may purchase:
Actual Cash Value: Pays to replace your possessions minus a deduction for depreciation up to the limit of your policy.
Replacement Cost: Pays the actual cost of replacing your possessions (no deduction for depreciation) up to the limit of your policy.
With either policy, you may want to consider purchasing a floater. A standard renter’s policy offers only limited coverage for items such as jewelry, silver, furs, etc. If you own property that exceeds these limits, it is recommended that you supplement your policy with a floater. A floater is a separate policy that provides additional insurance for your valuables and covers them for perils not included in your policy such as accidental loss.
Have more questions about renter’s insurance, making an inventory of your belongings, or a supplementary policy for your valuables? We’re here to provide those answers and more.
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Source: Insurance Information Institute, www.iii.org
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