I am being required to buy renters insurance by the owners of the?

Question

apartment I will soon be moving into. How can I be required to insure my own stuff? If I challenged this requirement in court, would I win? I am inclined to think so.

Spare me any answers that discuss the merits of renters insurance. That is not the question!

Answer 1

Renter's insurance not only covers your possessions, it also covers the structure that you're living in.

So if you accidentally burn down the building, although you may be full liable for the damage, you may be sufficently broke that the landlord is screwed. This gives him someone else to recover from.

Answer 2

It's 12 dollars a month, so a judge would probably just laugh it off. You're moving into a place that has requirements bound by contract. They likely also have other requirements as well, like no charcoal grills, no exotic animals, no people not on the lease living there, etc. Renters insurance protects the complex from being sued by renters.

Answer 3

The good news (for you at least) is that a property owner can't force you to insure your personal property as a condition of leasing to you, but they can require that you purchase liability coverage.

The price difference between liability alone and liability plus contents is nominal, but you will have the ability to feel like a real renegade by only purchasing liability insurance.

Of course this won't do you any good in the event something happens, but you will be able to revel in the fact that you took a stand against the system by shooting yourself in the foot.

You have two choices; purchase insurance and rent from this landlord or find another place to live that does not require insurance. It's not an unusual or unreasonable for a landlord to require this. I doubt very much that you would win, and your costs, even pro se, will far outweigh the cost of a policy.
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You have received a message from another user!

From: sam s

Subject: renters insurance

Message:

"You claim in one of your answers that requiring renters insurance is legal."

I said that requiring LIABILITY insurance is legal. I also said that no one can force you to insure your possessions.

"I suspect by the evasiveness and stupidity of your reply that you are in the real estate rental business."

Either you have the poorest reading and comprehension skills in the country or you are just plain stupid. One thing is for sure though ... only a complete and total @ss would insult people who took the time to write a legitimate reply.

"On what basis do you claim to know that requiring renters insurance is legal? "

Because I have filed complaints in this issue several times before, and had to do legal research regarding same.

"Are you a lawyer? "

I have been a paralegal for over 20 years and am returning to law school in the fall.

"Have you personally been involved in a lawsuit involving the requirement that tenants obtain renters insurance? "

Wrong term. I have personally filed complaints several times and won on every single one.

On what basis in law do you plan on filing a "lawsuit"? Notice I said basis in law and not your personal opinion on the way things work.

Answer 4

Renters insurance also covers any damage to a building that occur from your stuff. The biggest thought on renter's insurance was to cover satellite dishes from coming off a balcony or upper patio. The property owner has that right and if it is in your contract there is nothing you can do in court.

Answer 5

I have renters insurance and let me tell you it's a smart thing to do because:
what if the building caught fire and you lost all your stuff - the landlord would not be responsible for your loss you would be.
almost had that happen - trust me - get renters insurance. It's relatively cheap and totally worth it.
Sorry but if you challenged this in court you would not win.

Answer 6

i don't think of the vendors of the home are hectic approximately your own stuff. they're greater fascinated in circumstances such as you by twist of destiny letting the tub overflow and it detrimental your house and the home under and your friends' possessions. no count if it somewhat is pronounced in the lease which you're required to purchase Renters insurance and you signed the lease then i don't think of you're able to win in courtroom. Ask the vendors what area of the Renters insurance is needed.

Answer 7

Renters insurance also includes liability coverage. For example, if you cause a fire in the building, it covers damage to the neighbors possessions. The landlord may require it for this reason. Try and see if you can get a policy with only liability coverage.

Answer 8

Your city should have an office that deals with renters issues. Check with them first. They'll be able to tell you whether or not is it legal for the landlord to require such insurance.

I know for some items (such as a waterbed), some landlords require insurance. Do you have anything like that that would apply? Make sure to tell your city's renter's office.

Answer 9

The landlord is requiring you to have renters liability insurance to benefit him, not to insure your stuff. His insurance company probably requires him to do it. They want to be sure that if you burn the place down or if one of your guests get injured inside your apartment that they don't get left with the bill. It's all perfectly legal and quite common.

Answer 10

The way I see it is this..You know that it is required. If you have a problem with it, don't waste the people's time that you are renting from by putting through some crazy hoopla. Just don't rent the place! This is something that you should had addressed before you decided to rent it not after.