According to the law, can they ask for this insurance as a requirement otherwise they do not rent? But I am in the apartment already
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According to the law, can they ask for this insurance as a requirement otherwise they do not rent? But I am in the apartment already
July 30th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
If it is in the lease agreement, yes they can require that. If they are adding a new requirement not listed in the lease after you already moved in, they cannot make you, though they can terminate the lease by following any provisions laid out in it for doing so.
Renter’s insurance is pretty cheap… $15/month or less for a bare minimum.
July 30th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
I don’t think so. Renter’s insurance covers your belongings and not the apartment.
July 30th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
I’m not a lawyer, but I doubt it.
Renter’s insurance typically covers your belongings, not the unit you are renting.
July 30th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
Yes. If you have a lease in place that does not require it they will have to wait until the lease period ends. if you are month to month then he can add that requirement with 30 days notice.
July 30th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
The law in each state is probably different. When I owned a rental, I didn’t require it but I was very clear that my insurance does not cover their things and if I remember correctly, many insurance companies won’t give you coverage for rentals if your tenants don’t have rental insurance.
July 30th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
Absolutely – I always write in my leases that the tenant is to obtain and maintain valid insurance.
It is extremely irresponsible not to carry renters insurance.
July 30th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
I did some brief research, but am not an expert.
It appears that if you have a lease (that doesn’t require it), they can require it when the lease comes up for renewal and can be changed. If you don’t have a lease but a renter’s agreement, which is month-to-month, they can.
Laws may vary by state, so I suggest you contact a local tenants rights organization for further info.
July 30th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
Unless your state explicitly says that a landlord CANNOT do such a thing, it is very likely an enforceable part of the contract.
Many insurance companies that insure multi-family residential housing will offer a discount to landlords who require their tenants to have renter’s insurance, actually. Although it is not common to see, it does happen and you can pretty much count on it being enforceable in a court of law, so you may be evicted if you do not show proof in the near future.
July 30th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
They can put anything they want that is not agents the law. You have the CHOICE of renting there.
July 30th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
If it is in the lease, they can make you do it. I currently have renter’s insurance which costs me a whopping $68 per year through the same company I have car insurance through. I receive a $100 per year discount on my car insurance for having two policies with this company so in the end, I am ahead about $32 per year.
July 30th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
You haven’t said where you are, but I’ll give you as much of a general answer as I can. If the lease agreement says you are required to obtain renter’s insurance, then yes, you have to obtain it or you are in violation. I don’t think most residential leases do require it, I think most just contain language saying the tenant is responsible for insuring their own belongings, being sure it’s spelled out for you that the landlord’s insurance on the building doesn’t cover your personal belongings and if you want renter’s insurance to cover them, it’s your responsibility to get it and pay for it. If the lease doesn’t require it, I don’t think they can suddenly tell you you have to obtain it in the middle of a lease term, but they can insist on adding it when your lease comes up for renewal. Renter’s insurance is pretty cheap so why would you want to not have it and risk losing all your stuff in a fire or flood or something?
July 30th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
Yes, if it’s in the lease then they can require it. It doesn’t just cover your belongings it also covers if you have something that causes damage to something else.
If you have a large aquarium for example and it leaks to a lower apartment. I’m sure your lease will say you are responsible for the damages to the lower apartments belongings.
In that case your renter’s insurance would cover it.