Owning a rental property comes with unique risks, from property damage and liability to vacancies and lost rental income.
Our Landlord Insurance FAQ Center provides clear answers to help you better understand your coverage and protect your investment.
Our Landlord Insurance FAQ Center provides clear answers to help you better understand your coverage and protect your investment.
Last Updated: September 2026
Does landlord insurance cover a detached garage, shed, or other structure?
It may. Detached garages, sheds, fences, and other structures on a rental property can be covered differently from the main dwelling, with separate limits and policy conditions.
If your rental includes additional structures, tell us what they are and how they’re used. We’ll help you understand how they're insured and whether your current limits provide appropriate protection.
If your rental includes additional structures, tell us what they are and how they’re used. We’ll help you understand how they're insured and whether your current limits provide appropriate protection.
I’m increasing the rent on my property. Should I update my landlord insurance?
It’s worth reviewing. If your policy includes loss of rental income coverage, a significant increase in rent could mean your existing coverage no longer reflects the income the property generates.
Let us know when your rental income changes substantially. We’ll help you review your limits and make sure your insurance continues to reflect the property and its current rental value.
Let us know when your rental income changes substantially. We’ll help you review your limits and make sure your insurance continues to reflect the property and its current rental value.
What happens if a tenant moves out unexpectedly and my rental sits empty?
An unexpected vacancy can change the risks associated with your rental property. An empty property may be more vulnerable to theft, vandalism, water damage, or problems that go unnoticed for an extended period.
If your property becomes vacant, let us know rather than waiting for the next tenant to move in. We’ll help you understand any vacancy provisions in your policy and whether your coverage needs to change.
If your property becomes vacant, let us know rather than waiting for the next tenant to move in. We’ll help you understand any vacancy provisions in your policy and whether your coverage needs to change.
What is landlord insurance, and how is it different from homeowners insurance?
Landlord insurance is designed for residential properties you own and rent to tenants. Unlike a standard homeowners policy, it addresses risks associated with owning an income-producing rental property.
Coverage can include the building, certain landlord-owned property, liability, and loss of rental income following a covered loss. We'll help you understand which protections make sense for your rental property.
Coverage can include the building, certain landlord-owned property, liability, and loss of rental income following a covered loss. We'll help you understand which protections make sense for your rental property.
What does landlord insurance typically cover?
Landlord insurance typically provides coverage for the rental dwelling, certain structures and property you own at the premises, and liability exposures. Some policies may also provide protection for lost rental income after a covered loss.
Coverage varies by policy and insurance company. We'll help you review your limits, deductibles, exclusions, and available options so you understand exactly how your rental property is protected.
Coverage varies by policy and insurance company. We'll help you review your limits, deductibles, exclusions, and available options so you understand exactly how your rental property is protected.
Do I need landlord insurance if I only own one rental property?
Yes, even one rental property can create risks that are different from those of a home you personally occupy. Property damage, tenant injuries, liability claims, and lost rental income can all create significant financial exposure.
Whether you rent a single-family home, condo, or another residential property, we'll help you find coverage that reflects how the property is actually being used.
Whether you rent a single-family home, condo, or another residential property, we'll help you find coverage that reflects how the property is actually being used.
Does landlord insurance cover my tenant's belongings?
Generally, no. Landlord insurance is primarily designed to protect the property owner's interests and usually doesn't cover a tenant's furniture, electronics, clothing, and other personal belongings.
Tenants can purchase renters insurance to protect their own belongings and provide personal liability coverage. Landlord insurance and renters insurance work together by protecting different interests.
Tenants can purchase renters insurance to protect their own belongings and provide personal liability coverage. Landlord insurance and renters insurance work together by protecting different interests.
Should I require my tenants to carry renters insurance?
Many landlords choose to require renters insurance as part of their lease agreement. It can help protect a tenant's belongings and provide personal liability coverage that isn't typically provided by the landlord's policy.
Requiring renters insurance doesn't replace your own landlord coverage. Instead, it can help make sure both you and your tenant have insurance designed for your respective risks.
Requiring renters insurance doesn't replace your own landlord coverage. Instead, it can help make sure both you and your tenant have insurance designed for your respective risks.
What happens if a tenant or guest is injured at my rental property?
If you're legally responsible for an injury at your rental property, landlord liability coverage may help with certain medical expenses, legal defense costs, or settlements, depending on the circumstances and your policy.
Because tenants, guests, contractors, and others may regularly visit the property, liability protection is an important part of landlord insurance. We'll help you review your limits and determine whether additional protection should be considered.
Because tenants, guests, contractors, and others may regularly visit the property, liability protection is an important part of landlord insurance. We'll help you review your limits and determine whether additional protection should be considered.
Does landlord insurance cover damage caused by tenants?
It depends on what caused the damage and the terms of your policy. Certain sudden and accidental losses may be covered, while normal wear and tear, neglect, or intentional damage may be treated differently.
If tenant-related damage occurs, document what happened and contact us before assuming it's covered or excluded. We'll help you understand how your policy may respond and what your next steps should be.
If tenant-related damage occurs, document what happened and contact us before assuming it's covered or excluded. We'll help you understand how your policy may respond and what your next steps should be.
What happens if my rental property is damaged and I lose rental income?
If a covered loss makes your rental property temporarily uninhabitable, your policy may provide coverage for eligible lost rental income while covered repairs are being completed.
The amount and length of coverage can vary, so it's important to review your limits before a loss occurs. We'll help you understand how your rental income is protected and whether your current coverage is sufficient.
The amount and length of coverage can vary, so it's important to review your limits before a loss occurs. We'll help you understand how your rental income is protected and whether your current coverage is sufficient.
What happens to my insurance if the property is vacant between tenants?
Vacancy can affect your insurance because an empty property may have a greater risk of theft, vandalism, water damage, and other losses going unnoticed. Some policies may limit certain coverages after a property has been vacant for a specified amount of time.
If you expect your rental to remain vacant for an extended period, let us know. We'll help you understand your policy's vacancy provisions and whether different coverage may be needed.
If you expect your rental to remain vacant for an extended period, let us know. We'll help you understand your policy's vacancy provisions and whether different coverage may be needed.
Do I need umbrella insurance if I own rental properties?
Umbrella insurance may be worth considering because owning rental property can increase your overall liability exposure. A serious injury or lawsuit could potentially exceed the liability limits provided by an underlying landlord policy.
An umbrella policy may provide additional liability protection above qualifying underlying policies. We'll help you review your rental properties and existing limits to determine whether additional protection makes sense.
An umbrella policy may provide additional liability protection above qualifying underlying policies. We'll help you review your rental properties and existing limits to determine whether additional protection makes sense.
What insurance do I need if I'm renting out a home I used to live in?
Once you move out and begin renting the property to tenants, your insurance needs can change. A standard homeowners policy is generally designed for an owner-occupied home and may not be appropriate for a full-time rental.
Let us know before your tenants move in. We'll help you transition to coverage that accurately reflects the property's new use.
Let us know before your tenants move in. We'll help you transition to coverage that accurately reflects the property's new use.
Does landlord insurance cover appliances I provide for my tenants?
It may. Appliances and other items you own and provide for tenant use may be covered depending on your policy and what caused the damage.
If your rental includes a refrigerator, washer, dryer, furniture, or other landlord-owned property, we'll help you understand how those items are protected and whether your coverage limits are appropriate.
If your rental includes a refrigerator, washer, dryer, furniture, or other landlord-owned property, we'll help you understand how those items are protected and whether your coverage limits are appropriate.
Do I need different insurance if I rent my property short-term?
Possibly. Short-term and vacation rentals can create different risks than traditional long-term rentals, and a standard landlord policy may not be designed for frequent guest turnover.
If you're considering changing how you rent your property, contact us before accepting short-term guests. We'll help you understand which coverage options may be appropriate for the new arrangement.
If you're considering changing how you rent your property, contact us before accepting short-term guests. We'll help you understand which coverage options may be appropriate for the new arrangement.
I'm renovating my rental property. Should I update my insurance?
Yes, significant renovations are worth discussing with your insurance agency. Improvements can change the cost to rebuild your property, while construction may introduce additional risks during the renovation.
Contact us before major work begins and again when it's completed. We'll help you review your coverage so it reflects both the renovation and the updated value of the property.
Contact us before major work begins and again when it's completed. We'll help you review your coverage so it reflects both the renovation and the updated value of the property.
I own several rental properties. Should I review them together?
Yes. As your rental portfolio grows, so can your property values, rental income, and overall liability exposure. Reviewing each property separately may not always give you a complete picture of your insurance needs.
We'll help you look across your rental properties to identify potential coverage gaps, inconsistent limits, and opportunities to better coordinate your insurance.
We'll help you look across your rental properties to identify potential coverage gaps, inconsistent limits, and opportunities to better coordinate your insurance.
Our FAQ is built from the questions our clients ask every day, and we're always adding new topics.
If you don't see the answer you're looking for, we'd love to hear from you.
If you don't see the answer you're looking for, we'd love to hear from you.
Every home is different, and so is every insurance policy. Whether you're buying your first home, reviewing your current coverage, or insuring a seasonal or coastal property, we're here to help you make informed decisions.
If you'd like personalized guidance, contact Arthur D. Calfee Insurance Agency.
We'll take the time to review your coverage, answer your questions, and help you find protection that's right for your home and your family.
If you'd like personalized guidance, contact Arthur D. Calfee Insurance Agency.
We'll take the time to review your coverage, answer your questions, and help you find protection that's right for your home and your family.
