Landlord insurance for the properties you rent out
A homeowners policy is built for the home you live in, and typically offers only limited coverage once a property is rented. We place landlord coverage for single-family rentals, duplexes, small apartment buildings and mixed-use properties.
Rental owners of every size
Single-family rentals
One house or a portfolio of scattered-site homes and condos.
Duplexes to fourplexes
Small multi-unit buildings, often owner-occupied in one unit.
Apartment buildings
Five units and up, written on commercial property and liability forms.
Mixed-use properties
Retail or office on the ground floor with residential above.
Short-term and furnished rentals
Furnished units and shorter stays, which many standard forms restrict.
LLCs and family partnerships
Ownership entities, property managers and lenders named correctly.
What landlord coverage can include
Smaller rentals are often written on dwelling policies; larger buildings on commercial property and liability forms. Forms, perils and exclusions vary by carrier and policy.
Building / dwelling
The structure itself. Dwelling forms range from named-peril (basic and broad) to open-peril (special) coverage; ask which you have.
Other structures
Detached garages, sheds and fences on the property.
Landlord's personal property
Appliances, furnishings and maintenance equipment you own and keep at the property.
Ordinance or law
Added cost to rebuild to current code after a covered loss, plus demolition of undamaged portions.
Equipment breakdown
Boilers, HVAC and electrical systems in larger buildings.
Loss of rents / fair rental value
Rent you lose while the property is being repaired after a covered loss.
Premises liability
Injuries to tenants and visitors from conditions on the property, plus defense. On dwelling policies, liability is often added separately.
Umbrella
Additional liability limits across several properties.
Earthquake and flood
Typically excluded and written separately or by endorsement.
Water backup
Sewer and drain backup is often excluded unless added by endorsement.
Tenant belongings
Not covered by your policy. Tenants need their own renters insurance.
Vacancy between tenants
Property policies commonly restrict coverage when a building sits vacant. Under the standard ISO commercial building form, for example, if a building has been vacant for more than 60 consecutive days before a loss, there is no coverage for vandalism, sprinkler leakage (unless the system is protected against freezing), building glass breakage, water damage, theft or attempted theft, and payment for other covered losses is reduced by 15 percent. Dwelling policies and carrier forms have their own vacancy wording.
If a unit will be empty during a long turnover, a renovation or a sale, tell us before it happens. A vacancy permit or a vacant-building policy may be available, and simple steps such as winterizing plumbing and scheduled inspections reduce the risk.
How a rental becomes a claim
Three illustrative examples with round, hypothetical figures.
A tenant's cooking fire closes a duplex unit
A stovetop fire damages the kitchen and smoke spreads through the unit. The tenants move out during four months of repairs.
- Kitchen and smoke repairs$65,000
- Lost rent (4 months)$10,000
- Debris removal$3,000
Illustrative example. Real outcomes depend on the facts and your policy terms.
From property list to policy
List your properties
Addresses, units, construction year, roof and system updates, occupancy and who owns each property.
Match the form to the building
Dwelling forms for smaller rentals, commercial package policies for larger buildings, and one umbrella over the portfolio.
Compare carriers
We approach carriers that write rental property and compare valuation, perils, loss of rents and liability terms.
Keep it current
Add and remove properties as you buy and sell, update lenders and manage certificates for property managers.
Landlord insurance questions
Can I keep my homeowners policy after I move out and rent the house?
Usually not. Homeowners policies are written for owner-occupied homes and typically offer only limited coverage for rentals. Tell your insurer or broker before the first tenant moves in so the property can be rewritten on a landlord form.
Does my policy cover my tenants' belongings?
No. A landlord policy covers your building and your property. Tenants need renters insurance for their belongings and their own liability. Many landlords require it in the lease; ask your attorney about lease wording.
Will insurance pay my rent if the unit is uninhabitable?
If you carry loss of rents (fair rental value) coverage and the damage comes from a covered cause of loss, it typically pays the rent you lose during repairs, subject to the policy's limit and time period.
Are earthquake and flood included?
Generally no. Both are typically excluded and purchased separately or by endorsement. In the Puget Sound area earthquake coverage is worth a conversation for any rental portfolio.
Does landlord insurance cover damage a tenant causes on purpose?
It depends on the policy. Some forms cover vandalism or malicious mischief by tenants; others restrict it. Normal wear and tear and unpaid rent from a defaulting tenant are not property losses.
I own several rentals. Can they go on one policy?
Often, yes. A schedule of properties on one dwelling or commercial package policy, with one umbrella over everything, is usually simpler to manage and can make coverage more consistent.
Get a landlord insurance quote
Send your property list, unit counts and current policy expiration. We'll compare options for the whole portfolio.
Coverage descriptions are general summaries for education. They are not legal, tax or coverage advice, a statement of coverage, an offer or a binder. Scenarios and dollar figures are illustrative examples, not representations about any business. Coverage, limits and eligibility are governed by the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies issued and are subject to underwriting.