When managing rental properties, a lot of things can go wrong; accidents, criminal activity, lawsuits, property damages, injuries, and a lot more.
It is undeniable that there are a lot of risks involved in the business. But that is just a normal part of any entrepreneurial venture. The key is to manage the risks and minimize potential loss.
Having insurance is one way to protect your investment from suffering financial losses due to unfortunate circumstances. For rental properties, having landlord insurance, and requiring tenant insurance is one of the best ways to increase the chances of business success and longevity.
What is landlord insurance and its coverage?
As the term suggests, it is insurance purchased by the landlord for himself and his rental home. The coverage usually includes the cost of repair for damages caused by fire, flooding, vandalism, and other forms of destruction.
Other landlord insurance policies could cover the repair and replacement of appliances, furniture, and other contents of the rental property that are owned by the landlord. You also have the option to have liability coverage in case you’ll need to pay for legal damages or fees if you get sued by your tenant.
For example, if a tenant injured himself because he fell down the broken stairs that you failed to repair.
What is tenant insurance and its coverage?
Also known as renter’s insurance, it is insurance purchased by the tenant for himself as an occupant of a property he doesn’t own. It will financially protect them for repair costs for damages they have (intentionally or unintentionally) inflicted on the property they are renting. The coverage could also include their valuable possessions like jewelry, gadgets, and clothes.
A tenant’s liability for legal damages and unintentional injury they caused to other tenants may also be covered.
Are you legally allowed to require tenant insurance?
Most states (except Oklahoma) allow landlords to require tenant insurance on the lease. They can even require a minimum coverage amount. The tenant may negotiate the terms with you, though.
Requiring a tenant insurance along with your landlord insurance is especially important if your tenants own pets. Pets can cause damage to property and can harm other tenants. Dog bites, for example, can lead to costly lawsuits. Even the landlord can be liable for dog bites in certain circumstances. Having both insurance can help you handle dog bite incidents in the future.
Renter’s insurance is a sign of a responsible tenant.
When marketing your property through Padleads, you may receive applications from different tenants, even bad ones. If you require them to have renter’s insurance and they are willing to comply, then that’s a good sign that they take the welfare of your business as well their own seriously.
If they refuse to get renter’s insurance, which isn’t usually expensive, then it may be a red flag and reflects how low they value safety, security, and their responsibility as tenants.