Your landlord's policy does not cover you
The building is insured. Your belongings, your liability, and your living costs after a loss are not.
A landlord's policy covers the structure and the owner's interest in it. It does nothing for the tenant. Renters coverage is inexpensive and frequently required by the lease, but the limits people accept by default are often well below what they would actually need.
Three things worth getting right
Personal property
Furniture, clothing, electronics, and everything else you own. Most people underestimate the replacement cost of a full household by a wide margin. Coverage can be written on a replacement cost basis rather than actual cash value, which matters considerably when the claim arrives.
Personal liability
If someone is injured in your unit, or you cause damage to the building or a neighboring unit, this is the coverage that responds. It also supports an umbrella policy above it, which is relevant for renters with meaningful assets or income.
Loss of use
If the unit becomes uninhabitable after a covered loss, this pays the additional cost of living elsewhere while it is repaired. In a tight Florida rental market that figure can be significant, and the limit is worth checking rather than accepting.
Scheduled items
Jewelry, watches, cameras, musical instruments, and similar property carry low sublimits under a standard renters policy. Anything of real value should be listed separately with a documented value rather than left inside the general contents limit.
Flood is separate here too
A renters policy excludes flood exactly as a homeowners policy does. Tenants in ground-floor or low-elevation units can insure their contents against flood separately, which is often overlooked because the building is not theirs.
Roommates and lease requirements
A policy generally covers the named insured and household relatives, not unrelated roommates. Many Florida leases now require renters coverage with a specified liability limit, and confirming the policy meets the lease terms is worth two minutes.
What we actually look at
We check the contents limit against a realistic replacement cost rather than a default figure, confirm the policy is written on a replacement cost basis, and look at whether liability is high enough for your circumstances and for any umbrella above it. We also identify property that should be scheduled separately and confirm the policy satisfies your lease.
How umbrella coverage works for renters →Renters coverage, answered plainly
Doesn't my landlord's insurance cover me?
No. Your landlord's policy covers the building, for the owner's benefit. It does not cover your belongings and it does not cover your liability. This is the most common misunderstanding in renters insurance.
How much personal property coverage do I need?
More than most renters estimate. Add up furniture, mattresses, televisions, computers, phones, kitchen equipment, clothing, bicycles, tools, and sports equipment as though you were replacing all of it at once. The total is usually a five-figure number.
What does the liability portion actually do?
It responds if you are found responsible for injury to someone else or damage to their property, and in some circumstances damage to the rental unit itself. A cooking fire, an overflowing tub that reaches the unit below, or a dog bite can each generate a claim well beyond the value of your belongings.
Does a renters policy cover flood?
No, any more than a homeowners policy does. Renters in flood-prone areas can purchase contents-only flood coverage separately, which is worth knowing about if you are on a ground floor.
More on renting in Florida
Make sure the limits are realistic
No cost, no obligation, and no pressure to move anything.
Request a coverage review
4830 W Kennedy Blvd #600
Tampa, FL 33609
(813) 925-6000
Fax (813) 499-1980
Coverage descriptions on this site are general and do not amend or alter any policy. Availability, terms, and conditions vary and are subject to underwriting approval. Refer to the policy for complete details.