The basics of renters insurance

By Insure.com

Renters face the same risk as homeowners in cases of disasters striking their dwelling. Your landlord or condo association may have insurance, but this only protects the building, not your things in it. Renters insurance can protect your belongings in case of disaster.

What standard policies cover
One thing you want to look at is whether the insurance company will be writing "actual cash value."

There are several types of residential insurance policies. The HO-4 policy is designed for renters, while the HO-6 policy is for condo owners. Both HO-4 and HO-6 cover losses to your personal property from 16 types of perils:

* Fire or lightning
* Windstorm or hail
* Explosion
* Riot or civil commotion
* Damage caused by aircraft
* Damage caused by vehicles
* Smoke
* Vandalism or malicious mischief
* Theft
* Volcanic eruption
* Falling objects
* Weight of ice, snow, or sleet
* Accidental discharge or overflow of water or steam from within a plumbing, heating, air conditioning, or automatic fire-protective sprinkler system, or from a household appliance.
* Sudden and accidental tearing apart, cracking, burning, or bulging of a steam or hot water heating system, an air conditioning or automatic fire-protective system.
* Freezing of a plumbing, heating, air conditioning or automatic, fire-protective sprinkler system, or of a household appliance.
* Sudden and accidental damage from artificially generated electrical current (does not include loss to a tube, transistor or similar electronic component)

Floods and earthquakes aren't on the list. If you live in an area prone to either, you'll need to buy a separate policy or a rider. In some coastal regions, where hurricanes might pose a threat, you might also need to buy a separate rider to cover wind damage.
Actual cash value vs. replacement cost
Make sure you let your agent know about any particularly valuable items you have.

One thing to look at is whether the insurance company will offer "actual cash value" (ACV) or "replacement cost coverage" for your belongings. As the name implies, ACV coverage will pay only for what your property was worth at the time it was damaged or stolen. So, if you bought a television five years ago for $500, it would be worth significantly less today. While you'd still need to spend about $500 for a new TV, your insurance company will pay only for what the old one was worth, minus your deductible.

Replacement cost coverage, on the other hand, will pay what it actually costs to replace the items you lost, again minus the deductible.

In some regions, most insurers write ACV coverage. In others, they'll quote you replacement cost coverage by default. Replacement cost coverage will cost you more in premiums, but it will also pay out more if you ever need to file a claim.

Let your agent know about any particularly valuable items you have. Jewelry, antiques, and electronics might be covered up to a certain amount. If you have some items that are unusually expensive, such as a diamond ring, you'll probably want to purchase a separate rider. If you don't talk to your agent about an expensive item when you buy the policy, you probably won't be able to recover the full loss.

Take inventory

To ensure you are compensated for any belongings you lose from a fire, storm or other catastrophe, you should inventory all of your personal belongings. Your inventory should list each item, its value, and serial number. Photograph or videotape each room, including closets, open drawers, storage buildings, and your garage. Keep receipts for major items in a fireproof place.

Footing the bill when your home is unlivable

If your apartment or condominium becomes uninhabitable due to a fire, burst pipes, or any other reason covered by your policy, your insurance will cover your "additional living expenses." Generally, that means paying for you to live somewhere else.
Liability protection is also standard with most renters policies.

This coverage has a limit of about 30 to 50 percent of the total value of the policy. So, if you're insured for $100,000, your "additional living expenses" limit will be $30,000 to $50,000, depending on your policy terms. Your insurance company will continue to pay while your home is being repaired or rebuilt, or until you permanently relocate. Sometimes 12 months is the longest an insurance company will continue paying. With some policies, you're limited to what the insurance company considers a "reasonable length of time."

Additional benefits

Liability protection is also standard with most renters and condo policies. This means if someone in your unit slips and falls, you're covered for any costs, up to your liability limit. If this person sues you, you're covered for what they win in a court judgment as well as your legal expenses, up to your policy's limit.

Keeping your premium low

Just like any other type of homeowners insurance policy, your premium depends on a number of factors: where you live, your deductible, your insurance company, and whether you need any additional coverage.

There are ways to reduce your renters or condo owners insurance bill.

Increasing your deductible (the amount you pay before your coverage kicks in) is one strategy. Make sure you can afford whatever deductible you choose.

If you're thinking about getting a dog, you might want to think twice. Some insurance companies are reluctant to write policies for owners of certain breeds.

Most insurers offer a discount for "protective devices," including smoke and fire detectors, burglar alarms, and fire extinguishers.

Some insurers might offer discounts to policyholders who are over age 55 and retired. Others might offer a discount if you buy both an auto and renters policy (called a multi-line discount).

Renters Insurance

Renter sitting Even renters are owners.
#1 in Renter's Insurance

You may not own the place where you live, but you still need insurance protection.

State Farm® renters insurance is for anyone who rents a home, be it a house or an apartment.

Renters insurance can protect your personal property against fire, theft and vandalism.

Renters insurance can help protect you in case of a liability lawsuit against you.

This could occur in a situation where you are held responsible for:

* Injury to another person
* Damage to another person's property

Whether the incident occurred within your rented residence, or elsewhere.

You may be eligible for premium discounts on both renters and auto insurance when you purchase both policies from State Farm. Not available in some states or provinces.