What Is Renters Insurance and What Does It Cover?

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Key Takeaways

Renters insurance, meaning a policy that provides protection if you rent your home, is often a smart choice as it provides vast coverage without breaking the bank.
Specifically, the renters insurance definition is a home insurance policy that helps cover your belongings from a range of events, like theft or fire. It also provides liability protection if you get sued by someone who gets hurt on your property. Renters insurance can help pay any medical expenses as a result.
AARP^® Home Insurance from The Hartford¹ offers exclusive AARP member benefits and savings to help cut costs on your renters insurance, while ensuring you have the protection you need to enjoy peace of mind at home.

What Does Renters Insurance Cover?

Are you wondering, “What’s renters insurance and how does it help protect me?” We’ve outlined these key policy coverages in detail:

Coverage	Details
Personal Property Coverage	Helps protect your belongings like furniture, clothing and appliances if they’re damaged by a covered event.
Personal Liability Coverage	Helps cover any legal fees, up to your policy limits, if someone who doesn’t live with you gets hurt on your property or if you damage someone else’s property.
Additional Living Expenses (ALE) / Loss of Use Coverage	Helps pay your living expenses, such as hotel fees or food costs, if a covered loss prevents you from living in your rental.
Medical Payments Coverage	Helps pay someone else’s medical expenses if they get hurt in your rental, no matter who’s at fault.²

The Hartford offers additional renters insurance coverages, so you can have confidence knowing you’re covered. For example, our “New for Old” Protection^‡‡ helps replace your destroyed belongings with new ones of the same quality.

Examples of What Renters Insurance Covers

Renters insurance helps protect you from everyday accidents, from vandalism to a delivery driver’s twisted ankle. Common questions we get are:

Does renters insurance cover theft? Yes. If someone steals your belongings, whether it’s a laptop, TV or piece of jewelry, renters insurance will help cover the costs to replace it.
Does renters insurance cover fire? Yes. If a fire breaks out in your unit, renters insurance will help pay to repair or replace your belongings that are damaged from fire or smoke. This coverage applies whether the fire is caused by nature or human error.
Does renters insurance cover roommates? Most renters insurance policies will provide liability and personal property coverage for your roommates as long as they are listed on your policy. The best way to know for sure what is and isn’t covered is to speak directly with your insurer.
What weather-related events does renters insurance cover? Renters insurance covers damage to your things caused by lightning, windstorms or hail.
Will renters insurance cover improvements I’ve made? Policies from The Hartford help cover the costs of any built-in improvements you’ve made to your rental, such as bookshelves or wallpaper, for up to 10% of your personal property coverage. So, if you have $15,000 in personal property coverage, your policy could cover up to $1,500 in damages to your built-in improvements.

Tip:

The Hartford’s renters insurance offers protection for your things if they’re stolen or damaged, no matter where you are. For example, if your watch is stolen at the beach, your renters insurance will help pay to replace it, up to your coverage limits, as long as it’s on your policy.

What Does Renters Insurance Not Cover?

While renters insurance helps protect you from many things, it doesn’t cover everything that might happen at your rental. Excluded events include:

Damage to the apartment building itself: Your renters policy only covers what you’re responsible for. So, if your building’s roof or shared lobby gets damaged, that won’t be part of your policy since you’re not on the hook to fix it. Instead, that’s covered by the property owner under their landlord insurance policy.
Flood: Most home insurance policies, including renters insurance, don’t help cover damage caused by flooding. Instead, you’ll need to purchase a separate flood insurance policy.
Normal wear and tear: If your couch shows signs of damage after years of use, that won’t be covered by your insurance company, as typical wear and tear is not included.
Specific catastrophes: Some nature-caused events, like an earthquake, are also excluded by most home insurance policies. Call your insurer directly to understand what is and isn’t included in your policy and how you can purchase additional coverage. The Hartford’s customers can learn more and get help from our Catastrophe Information Center.

Important:

While renters insurance helps cover your belongings, if you have high-end valuables, you may want to extend your protection. Valuable items blanket coverage with AARP Home Insurance from The Hartford increases your coverage for each of your valuable items, including jewelry, cameras, musical equipment or crystal.

couple researching renters insurance definition online

Does Renters Insurance Pay Your Rent?

Renters insurance won’t cover your monthly rent, but it can help pay for temporary living costs if you can’t stay in your rental after a covered loss while repairs are being made.

What Are the Most Common Renters Insurance Claims?

While unexpected issues can come up at any time, the most common renters insurance claims are typically caused by:

Fire and smoke damage, whether it’s a kitchen fire or caused by external factors like lightning.
Theft and vandalism of your personal belongings.
Water damage, like if the unit upstairs has a leaking shower that damages your property.
Liability, whether you accidentally damage someone else’s property or if someone gets hurt at your home.

How Does Renters Insurance Work?

Simply put: A renters policy, meaning the insurance plan you purchase as a renter, helps pay expenses after a covered loss. Whether it’s a liability claim, medical bill or damaged personal property, your renters insurance company will reimburse you, up to your policy limits, after you file a claim.

If you’re wondering how to get renters insurance, it’s quick and easy with The Hartford. Call us today at 877-422-2345 or get a quote online in minutes to start customizing your coverage options.

What Is a Renters Policy?

Learn how The Hartford can help protect you, your guests and your personal belongings with renters insurance.

What’s the Point of Renters Insurance?

Renters insurance covers you from a broad range of events, like if someone gets hurt while visiting and sues you, or if your belongings are damaged in a fire or theft. It’s an affordable way to ensure long-term protection for you, your things and your guests.

Is Renters Insurance Worth It?

For many people, renters insurance is entirely worth it and provides peace of mind without breaking the bank. The cost of renters insurance is typically less than what you’d pay to replace or repair your things if something were to happen. Medical expenses and legal fees can also get expensive after an accident.

female customer happy to know what is renter insurance

Get a Renters Insurance Quote

For over 40 years, The Hartford has proudly protected AARP members, their prized possessions and their visitors with quality renters insurance. From customizable coverage options to exclusive benefits and discounts, we can help you save on your renters insurance cost. We’re here to ensure you have the coverage you need at a price you deserve. To get your personal AARP member price, call The Hartford at 877-422-2345 or get a quote online in minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions: What Is Renter Insurance?

What Is the Meaning of Renters Insurance?

Renters insurance helps safeguard your belongings in a rented apartment, condo or home by covering losses caused by unexpected events like theft or fire. It reimburses you for items that are damaged or stolen and provides liability coverage if you’re sued after an accident.

Do I Need Insurance When Renting?

It’s typically not legally required, but having renters insurance is usually a smart choice as it helps protect you, your guests and your belongings from a range of events.

What Is Renters Insurance for an Apartment?

If you live in an apartment, renters insurance will help cover the cost to repair or replace your things if they’re damaged or stolen. It also provides liability protection to help pay legal fees if someone gets hurt at your property and sues you.

What Kind of Insurance Do Renters Need?

Renters need renters insurance to help protect them, their guests and their things. Renters insurance policies from The Hartford come with customizable coverage options to meet the unique needs of any renter, whether you live in a condo, apartment or townhouse.

Can Renters Insurance Cover Pets?

If your pet accidentally bites someone who’s visiting your rental, your renters insurance can help pay their medical expenses or your legal fees if they sue you. But if your pet damages your property or unit, that typically won’t be covered.

Does Renters Insurance Cover Property in Self-Storage Units?

Renters insurance will likely cover your things that are stored in self-storage units, but the limits may be different. Call your insurance company directly to make sure you have the coverage you need.

Renters Insurance Cost

How to File a Renters Insurance Claim

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² Medical benefits are calculated on the basis of usual, customary and reasonable charges.

** Average annual savings are based on information reported by customers who switched to The Hartford’s newest rate plan between 9/1/24 and 8/31/25. Average auto insurance savings $597 and average home insurance savings $366. Your savings may vary. Rate differences for AARP members and non-members vary by state and AARP membership tenure. Auto/Home discount is available only to policyholders who have both their auto and home (or condo or renters) insurance through the AARP Auto & Home Insurance program from The Hartford. The Hartford does not write new business in all areas, including the states of CA and FL.

^§ Availability of RecoverCare benefit and benefit levels vary by state. The Hartford RecoverCare Advantage^® is a registered mark of The Hartford.

^§§ Terms and conditions apply.

^‡ Terms and conditions apply. Accident Forgiveness and the Disappearing Deductible are not available to CA policyholders.

^‡‡ Terms and conditions apply. Availability varies by state.

^‡‡‡ Based on one car and driver; individual rate/premium/savings will vary based on actual coverage selections and characteristics of vehicle(s)/driver(s).

Additional disclosures below.

What Is Renters Insurance?