Can a landlord require renters insurance in Pennsylvania?

Answer 1

If you have a lease, that's a contract. If your contract specifies that you must carry renters insurance, then yes.

Most landlords do this (and hey, it's about $150 a year, ya know?) because it prevents headaches with tenants later on.

Answer 2

YES, the landlord CAN and SHOULD ask that all tenants have renters insurance. Even if you don't think you have anything of value, how do you intend to pay for a motel or other expenses if your place burns down? You would be the first person I bet with your darn hand out expecting the landlord to give you $$$ for living arrangements.. or wanting to sue the landlord.. LOL Renters insurance is like $10 a month. If you can't afford that, you really shouldn't be renting a place. And, your comment about them requiring it so they don't have to pay for things is completely false! If there is an apartment fire or some act of God that ruins your stuff, the landlord would NOT be held accountable to replace your things. He also would not be accountable to put you up in a motel etc. So, your argument holds no water here. Go get the insurance. If you don't want it, go find a place that doesn't require it. But, don't complain or whine when something happens and all your stuff is lost. You are obviously typing on a computer right now.. I guess you wouldn't want that replaced if there were an accident, right?

Answer 3

Any landlord can require renters insurance and as long as it's in the lease agreement, you need to carry it or face a possible eviction for breach of contract. Most areas of the country charge less than $300 a year for renters coverage, although I've written policies under $80, so it is inexpensive.

Even if your landlord doesn't require renters insurance, you should still carry it. If you choose not to cover your property and a total loss occurs from a fire or other peril, you loose everything. Who would you expect to pay for all of your belongings? Most companies write a minimum of $10,000 of contents coverage for clothes, furniture, electronics, pots & pans, towels, etc. Only you know how much you need-and trust me it adds up very quickly. If your toilet overflows and damages the unit below you, your insurance policy would pay, or if you don't carry insurance, you could be sued to pay all of the damages out of your pocket.

The renters policy covers only your contents, loss of use (if you need to live somewhere else while the building is being repaired after a loss), liability, and medical payments, while your landlord covers the actual structure. It's worth it to pay a little now than pay a lot later trying to put yourself back together with your belongings. If you have auto insurance, check with that insurer to get a renters policy and that way you would be eligible for a multi-line discount on both your auto and renters policies.

Answer 4

As many have pointed out, a landlord can require renters insurance. What the other answers have not pointed out is that your landlord is doing you a favour. Your landlord's insurance will cover the building and its fixtures (such as lights or kitchen sink and built-in cupboards) only. That means that if anything happens to the building and it burns to the ground, your landlord's policy doesn't cover your things. All your belongings would be excluded from any claim that your landlord makes. So, if you have your own contents insurance (which is the predominant reason for renters insurance), your belongings are protected in the case of the basic "perils", including theft.

Do keep in mind that a basic policy will not cover you in case of flood, earthquake, or a number of other "perils". You may need some additional coverages if you live in an area that is prone to certain kinds of natural disasters.

As someone else pointed out, renters insurance also covers you in case of liability, if someone is hurt while in your apartment. You need this, because your landlord's liability will not cover inside your apartment, especially if the person is hurt because of your belongings! (For instance, if someone tripped over your skis while in your place, your landlord's liability would not pay. However, if someone was hurt walking up the walkway into your place, that would normally be your landlord's liability.)

Not only is this insurance typically inexpensive, you can qualify for discounts (if you insure your car and home with one insurer, for instance). You can also use other approached to reduce your costs, such as increasing your deductible.

Answer 5

A landlord can require you to carry renters insurance but unlike the comment below, it does not cover you for flood, that is a separate policy. Renters insurance only covers you for a fire (personal property only- aka contents). Its also covers liability so that if you have a guest over and they slip and fall on a small puddle of water in your kitchen and break their neck you are covered in a lawsuit. You landlord should carry his own Liability insurance which is on the commercial side (completely different then what you would carry)

Answer 6

If your landlord or rent/lease contract specifies, then you must have renters insurance.
I used: http://rentersinsurance.nightbirdssolutions.com/quotes.html or http://rentersinsurance.nightbirdssolutions.com for quotes.

RE:
Can a landlord require renters insurance in Pennsylvania?
Can a landlord require renters insurance in Pennsylvania?

Answer 7

Landlords can require Renters Insurance anywhere ... the insurance is to protect you in case of damage to the home / apt and/or in case of theft ... if your place gets flooded and you don't have it your out the money not the landlord and because he's requiring it you have to have it to live there and it saves him from a lawsuit.

Answer 8

I would recommend that you visit this internet site where onel can get quotes from different companies: http://insure-cheap.info/index.html?src=5YAojmqfNU741

RE :Can a landlord require renters insurance in Pennsylvania?
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Answer 9

well, actually it covers you for more than fire. it covers theft, which in my opinion is big reason for you to want to carry renters insurance. it is really inexpensive, so its worth it to cover your belongings

Answer 10

This is a good question, and one that has been the source of confusion for me for a long time.