Personal insurance guide
Landlord insurance for rental homes
A homeowners policy is written for a home you live in. When you rent a house, duplex, or small multi-unit building to tenants, a dwelling or landlord policy is commonly used instead. It covers the building, rent you lose while it is being repaired after a covered loss, and your liability as the owner.
What landlord commonly covers
Who usually carries it
- Owners of single-family rentals, duplexes, and small multi-unit homes
- People who moved and kept their old house as a rental
- Owners of short-term or vacation rentals (often with special wording)
Commonly covered
- The rental building and attached structures (dwelling)
- Detached garages and sheds
- Rent you lose while the home is unlivable after a covered loss (fair rental value)
- Your liability as the owner, when added or included
- Appliances and furnishings you provide to tenants, up to a limit
Commonly excluded or limited
- Your tenants' belongings (that is their renters insurance)
- Damage while the home is vacant beyond a set number of days
- Wear and tear and damage tenants cause on purpose, in many policies
- Short-term rentals, unless the policy allows them
- Flood, unless covered by a separate flood policy
This page is general information about how these policies commonly work. Every policy's own forms, endorsements, and exclusions decide what it covers. For advice about your situation, talk with a licensed insurance agent.
Before your renewal
What to check on your own policy
- Whether the policy is written for a rental and not as an owner-occupied home
- Covered causes of loss: basic, broad, or special form
- Fair rental value limit, and how many months it pays
- Landlord liability limit
- Vacancy rules if the home sits empty between tenants
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