 TITLE: How to Get Renters Insurance CONTENT: What Is Renters Insurance?\n--------------------------\nIn the example above, you might expect the landlord's insurance to pay for your ruined furniture. After all, it's their fault the pipe burst, isn't it? Unfortunately for you, the landlord's insurance covers the damage to _their_ property—the pipe and the building—but not to _your_ property. That's where renters insurance comes in.\nRenters insurance generally includes three main types of coverage: property, liability and loss of use.\n**Property insurance** pays to replace your personal belongings. This can include clothing, furniture and electronics that are stolen or damaged by a covered risk. Your policy could cover fire or smoke damage, theft or vandalism, lightning, windstorms and water damage that's caused by structural issues (that burst pipe, for example). Items may also be covered for theft outside your home, such as a laptop stolen from your car or your hotel room.\nRenters insurance typically doesn't cover flood or earthquake damage; however, you may be able to buy separate policies for these. It also usually doesn't cover certain high-value items, such as antiques, expensive jewelry, computers or collectibles; you'll need to buy a separate endorsement or rider to cover these items.\n**Liability insurance** protects you against liability if someone is injured while in your living space. If someone slips and falls in the lobby, they might sue your landlord, but if they slip and fall in your kitchen, they might sue you. Renters insurance generally covers legal costs and sometimes even medical costs related to an injury.\nSome renters insurance policies also cover damage someone in your household causes to another tenant's property. For example, if your daughter breaks a neighbor's window while practicing her softball pitch, renters insurance may cover that cost.\nFinally, **loss of use** coverage pays your living expenses if the property becomes uninhabitable due to a covered risk. For example, insurance would pay for you to stay in a hotel and feed yourself while your landlord repairs covered damage.\nThere's no law mandating that tenants carry renters insurance. Your landlord may, however, require you to have some level of renters insurance coverage in order to rent their house, apartment or condominium. Check your lease agreement to see if renters insurance is required and what level of coverage your landlord requires you to have. END