Are Roommates Covered Under Renter’s Insurance?

Dividing the cost of a Los Lunas rental house with a roommate can be a great way to save money on rent, utilities, and more. But what about renter’s insurance? Is it possible for roommates to share a single renter’s insurance policy? To answer that question, we need to have a clear understanding of what a renter’s insurance policy does, who it covers, and what the pros and cons are of sharing a policy.

Many landlords require tenants to buy renter’s insurance. The property owner likely has insurance covering the rental property, but that policy does not protect a tenant’s personal property. In the event of a fire or burglary, a renter’s insurance policy will help a renter replace personal items that were damaged or stolen, and also protects a tenant against liability claims should someone injure themselves while visiting the property.

For the most part, individual tenants carry their own renter’s insurance policy. Renter’s insurance generally only covers you and your personal property; it does not include other people living in the house. Now and then though, it is possible to share renter’s insurance with a roommate. Even when state laws vary, some states do allow you to add a roommate to a renter’s insurance policy. In most cases, to share a renter’s insurance policy, each person covered by the policy would need to be listed on the lease as well as listed on the insurance policy itself.

There are times when sharing a renter’s insurance policy makes sense. If you are sharing a Los Lunas rental home with a relative or with a partner in a stable, longstanding relationship, it may be worth it to help reduce the cost.

But just because you can share renter’s insurance doesn’t essentially mean that you have to. If you share a renter’s insurance policy with a roommate, you likewise share their insurance history. If your roommate files a claim, that claim will reveal on your insurance record too. That could mean increased insurance rates in the future, even though you were not the one who filed the claim.

There are many other important things to ponder upon before sharing a renter’s insurance policy. The cost of renter’s insurance is usually based on how expensive your personal possessions are. If one roommate has far more valuable things than the other, then the roommate with the budget furniture will end up paying more than they should in a 50/50 split.

Furthermore, it’s important to keep in mind that roommate arrangements can alter pretty abruptly. If one roommate has to move because of a new career opportunity or other reasons, the cost of the renter’s insurance policy may be placed on the remaining roommate. This can lead to paying far more than you should for that policy.

If you are thinking about sharing a renter’s insurance policy with a roommate, it’s important first to consider your individual situation first. Then, talk to both an insurance agent and your roommate. Having an honest conversation with everyone involved can help you make the right choice.

If you’d like to talk to an expert on the matter, contact Real Property Management Albuquerque and ask one of our Los Lunas property managers. From owners to tenants, we can help. Contact us online or call us at 505-831-8700 today.