Monday, October 8, 2007

The Truth about Renter's Insurance

Many renters mistakenly assume that they do not need renter's insurance, only to find out the truth when it is too late. Many of them are under the assumption that their landlord's policy will cover them or that the landlord, and not they, would be liable if someone were to be injured while in the rental property. The sad truth is that renters have very few rights in the majority of states, and renters should never assume that their belongings are covered in the event of a disaster or that they have no liability for injury just because it is not their property.

In most states, if someone is injured or if they incur damage to their property while within a rented dwelling, it is in fact the renter, not the property owner or landlord, who is liable for damages. For example, if you have a guest in your rented property and the guest manages to fall or otherwise injure themselves, you may be surprised to find that you, the renter, are liable for the damage. Likewise, if the guest damages some of his or her property in an accident in your rented dwelling, the renter is responsible for the damage to the item. Renter's insurance provides protection against liability in cases of personal injury or personal property damage that occurs in a rented dwelling.

In the case of fire, flood, theft, or other natural disaster, a renter's property is not protected by the insurance coverage that the landlord or property owner carries. Many renters are surprised to find that, after a disaster, they have no recourse to recoup damages caused to their belongings. The only way to have some level of protection is to purchase renter's insurance.

Clearly, anyone who rents a property should have renter's insurance protection. Renter's insurance is quite affordable, and the peace of mind that it offers is well worth the relatively small premiums.

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