North American Mutual

Landlords Insurance Coverages

Explore what each type of coverage protects

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Liability

Coverage A: Dwelling Coverage

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Uninsured Motorist

Coverage B:
Other Structures

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Medical Payments

Coverage C: Contents Coverage

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PIP

Coverage D:
Loss of Rental Income

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Landlords Liability Insurance

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Comprehensive

Optional Endorsements

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Landlords Insurance Informational center

A landlord insurance policy, also known as a dwelling fire policy (DP-1, DP-2, or DP-3), is designed to protect property owners who rent out homes, apartments, or other residential units. Unlike homeowners insurance, which covers both the structure and the owner's personal property, landlord insurance focuses on the rental property itself, landlord liability, and loss of rental income. Here are the key coverages typically included in a landlord policy:

Coverage A: Dwelling Coverage

Coverage A: Dwelling Coverage is the foundation of any homeowners insurance policy. It protects the structure of your home, including the walls, roof, floors, and any built-in fixtures like cabinets or plumbing systems. If your home is damaged or destroyed by a covered peril—such as fire, windstorm, hail, lightning, or vandalism—Coverage A helps pay for the repair or rebuilding of your home. This includes not only the physical structure but also attached components such as a garage or deck.

The amount of dwelling coverage you carry should reflect the full replacement cost of your home, not its market value. Replacement cost considers what it would take to rebuild the house with similar materials and quality at current labor and material prices. Many insurers offer options like Extended Replacement Cost or Guaranteed Replacement Cost, which provide additional funds in case construction costs rise unexpectedly after a loss.

Coverage A typically excludes certain types of damage, such as floods, earthquakes, or routine wear and tear. These risks require separate policies or endorsements. Additionally, detached structures (like a shed or a standalone garage) are not covered under Coverage A—they fall under Coverage B: Other Structures.

Properly evaluating the right amount of dwelling coverage is essential for ensuring you’re not underinsured in a disaster. Homeowners should periodically review their policy to account for home improvements, inflation, or changes in building codes that could impact rebuilding costs. START A QUOTE⮕

Coverage B: Other Structures

Coverage B: Other Structures provides protection for structures on your property that are not physically attached to your main dwelling. This includes things like detached garages, sheds, fences, gazebos, guest houses, driveways, and even in-ground swimming pools. If these structures are damaged or destroyed by a covered peril, such as fire, wind, or vandalism, Coverage B helps pay for their repair or replacement.

This coverage is usually automatically included in a standard homeowner’s policy and is typically set at 10% of the Coverage A (Dwelling) limit. For example, if your home is insured for $400,000 under Coverage A, Coverage B would provide $40,000 in protection for your other structures. However, you can often increase this limit if you have more valuable or extensive structures on your property.

Like other parts of your homeowner’s insurance, Coverage B excludes damage from certain perils such as floods, earthquakes, or neglect. If you’ve added any significant structures to your property, like a detached studio or a new garage, it’s a good idea to check with your insurer to make sure your coverage is sufficient.

Maintaining an accurate and updated inventory of all detached structures ensures you’re fully protected in the event of a loss. Even small buildings like tool sheds or fences can add up in value, and Coverage B gives you the peace of mind that they’re not left out of your policy. START A QUOTE⮕

Coverage C: Contents Coverage

Coverage C: Personal Property in a landlord insurance policy provides protection for the landlord’s personal belongings that are used to service or maintain the rental property. This includes items like appliances, tools, lawn equipment, or furniture that the landlord owns and leaves at the rental for tenant use. Unlike a homeowners or renters policy, this coverage does not protect the tenant’s belongings—those are the tenant’s responsibility and must be covered by their own renters insurance policy.

The amount of Coverage C provided in a landlord policy is typically much lower than in a homeowners policy because landlords usually don’t leave many personal items in a rental property. However, it’s especially important if the rental unit is furnished or if the landlord supplies appliances like a washer, dryer, or refrigerator. If those items are stolen or damaged due to a covered peril such as fire, theft, or vandalism, Coverage C helps pay for repair or replacement.

Coverage C is usually optional and may not be included automatically in every landlord policy. Landlords who rent out fully or partially furnished homes should consider adding or increasing this coverage to avoid significant out-of-pocket expenses if something is damaged or destroyed. It’s also important to keep an inventory of any personal property kept at the rental, including serial numbers and receipts when possible, to make the claims process easier and more efficient.

While Coverage C provides peace of mind for landlords who include personal items with the rental, it’s also important to clearly define in the lease what belongs to the landlord and what is the tenant’s responsibility. This can help prevent confusion or disputes in the event of damage or loss, and ensures that both parties have the appropriate insurance in place. START A QUOTE⮕

Coverage D: Loss of Rental Income

Loss of Rental Income is a key component of landlord insurance that helps protect your financial stability when your rental property becomes uninhabitable due to a covered loss—such as a fire, storm damage, or other insured peril. If your tenant is forced to move out while the property is being repaired, this coverage will reimburse you for the fair rental value of the lost income during the period of restoration. It does not pay your tenants directly, but instead compensates you, the landlord, for the rental income you would have received.

This type of coverage is essential for landlords who depend on rent to pay the mortgage, taxes, insurance, or other ongoing expenses related to the property. Without it, an unexpected disaster could result in a significant financial gap, especially if repairs take weeks or months. Loss of Rental Income ensures you continue receiving income while the property is uninhabitable, based on the lease terms in place before the loss occurred.

It’s important to note that this coverage only applies if the loss is caused by a covered peril listed in the policy. It does not cover vacancies due to tenant nonpayment, lease cancellations, or normal turnover. Additionally, the reimbursement period is typically limited to the time it reasonably takes to repair the property—not necessarily until a new tenant moves in.

Overall, Loss of Rental Income coverage acts as a financial buffer, helping landlords maintain cash flow during periods when their property cannot be rented due to covered damages. It’s a smart and often necessary protection for property owners who rely on consistent rental income. START A QUOTE⮕

Landlords Liability Insurance

Landlord liability insurance is an important part of a landlord insurance policy that protects property owners from financial loss if they are found legally responsible for injuries or property damage occurring on their rental property. For example, if a tenant or visitor slips on an icy sidewalk or falls down a broken staircase, this coverage helps pay for medical expenses, legal fees, and any damages awarded in court.

This liability protection also covers claims related to negligence, such as failing to maintain safe conditions or address known hazards. It typically includes coverage for legal defense costs, even if the lawsuit is groundless. Liability limits often start around $100,000 to $300,000, but landlords can choose higher limits or add umbrella policies for extra protection, especially if they own multiple rental properties.

In addition to covering bodily injury and property damage claims, landlord liability insurance often includes medical payments coverage. This helps cover minor medical expenses for injuries that occur on the property without the need for legal action. Having this coverage is essential for landlords to protect their personal assets and continue managing their rental business with peace of mind.

Because accidents can happen unexpectedly and legal costs can be high, landlord liability insurance offers crucial financial security. It safeguards landlords against potentially devastating lawsuits and helps ensure their rental investment remains protected over time. START A QUOTE⮕

Optional Endorsements

Optional add-ons to a landlord insurance policy allow property owners to customize their coverage to better fit their specific needs and risks. These endorsements or riders can provide extra protection beyond the standard policy limits and help cover gaps that might otherwise leave landlords vulnerable. Adding these options often means paying a higher premium, but many landlords find the additional peace of mind well worth the cost.

One common optional add-on is vandalism and malicious mischief coverage, which protects against intentional damage caused by tenants or intruders. Another popular endorsement is equipment breakdown coverage, which covers the repair or replacement of essential appliances and systems like heating, cooling, and plumbing if they fail due to mechanical issues.

Landlords can also add building ordinance or law coverage, which helps cover the extra costs associated with rebuilding or repairing a property to meet current building codes and regulations. This can be especially important for older properties that might require costly upgrades after damage.

Other add-ons include water backup coverage to protect against damage from sewer or drain backups, and tenant move-back expenses, which help cover the costs of getting a tenant back into the property after repairs are completed. These optional coverages enable landlords to tailor their insurance to the unique challenges of managing rental properties. START A QUOTE⮕

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