What is renter’s insurance exactly?

If you have a child headed off to college this year, it’s time to put together a list of things to pack up before they move out of your house. While packing up their laptops, clothes, desk and other belongings, you should also check into is renter’s insurance, especially if they are living off campus. 

Most students living in college dorms are protected under their parent’s homeowners insurance policy but once they move out of the dorms into an apartment or house, they should be carrying renters insurance to help protect their belongings. 

Here is everything you need to know about your college student and renter’s insurance:

What is renter’s insurance exactly?

While your landlord carries insurance to cover the apartment building or house, your belongings are not covered by their policy and it is your responsibility to protect them. Basically, renter’s insurance is designed to protect your personal possessions from theft, damage, destruction and even vandalism. 

Renters insurance is usually sold at specific coverage levels and you can choose how much coverage you need for your specific situation. The majority of renter’s policies come with $15,000 to $30,000 in protection for your possessions and $100,000 in liability insurance which steps up if someone is injured in your home. 

In addition, most renter’s insurance policies come with additional living expenses coverage which kicks in to cover expenses if you are forced out of your home due to a covered peril. It will help pay hotel and restaurant bills as well as other expenses if you cannot stay at your home due to damage.

Like homeowners policies, renters insurance often comes with a coverage cap on expensive, specialty items such as jewelry, artwork, musical instruments and even wine collections. While most students aren’t hauling priceless artwork to college, you should check with your insurer about coverage caps to make sure all of their possessions are covered. 

How much does renter’s insurance cost?

Renters insurance is very affordable for the protection it provides. While pricing can vary depending on your location, according to the Insurance Information Institute, the average cost of an renters insurance policy is roughly $180 a year or $15 a month. This is an absolute bargain to protect your belongings and renters insurance also comes with a limited amount of liability coverage.

Premiums will vary based on a number of factors such as the location of your rental, the amount of coverage you request as well as your credit score and whether you own a pet or not. 

According to the Insurance Information Institute, these are average premium for renters insurance by state:

For renters insurance rate quotes with the best companies, please give us a call at 855-463-8553. We look forward to working with you!

Should all college students have renters insurance?

In most situations, if a student is living in a dorm, they probably don’t need to carry renters insurance as their belongings are covered by a parents homeowners insurance policy. However, this is not always the case, so it is a good idea to call your insurer to make sure your college student is covered and if there is any additional paperwork that needs to be done. 

Once your student makes the move off campus, they should have a renters insurance policy. A renters insurance policy typically covers one person’s belongings, which means that if you have roommates, everyone should have their own policy in place. 

If you are a college student and have questions about renters insurance, please give us a call at 855-463-8553. We look forward to helping you find the best rate and coverage!

Renters insurance covers some water damage

Renters insurance doesn’t cover flood damage (just like homeowners) but it will cover damage caused by sudden or accidental water issues. This could be a broken pipe, issues with a heating or AC unit and even if the sprinkler system in your apartment building goes off for some reason and soaks all of your belongings.