Are Roommates Covered Under Renter’s Insurance?

Sharing the expense of a North Ogden rental house with a roommate may be a fantastic way to save money on rent, utilities, and more. However, what about renter’s insurance? Can roommates share a single renter’s insurance policy? To answer this question, we need to comprehend 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 case a fire or burglary, a renter’s insurance policy will aid a renter to replace personal items that were damaged or stolen, and also protects a tenant against liability claims if somebody gets hurt while visiting the property.

In most instances, individual tenants take their own renter’s insurance policy. Renter’s insurance typically only covers you and your personal property; it does not include other people living in the house. But it is sometimes possible to share renter’s insurance with a roommate. Although state laws vary, sometimes, you can add a roommate to a renter’s insurance policy. Usually, to share a renter’s insurance policy, each person covered by the policy will have to be listed on the lease as well as on the insurance policy itself.

There are scenarios when sharing a renter’s insurance policy makes sense. If you are currently sharing a North Ogden rental home with a relative or with a partner in a stable, longstanding relationship, it could be worth it to reduce the cost.

But even though you can split renter’s insurance, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you should. If you share a renter’s insurance policy with a roommate, you also share their insurance history. The claim will also appear on your insurance record If your roommate files a claim. That may mean increased insurance rates in the future, even when you weren’t the one who filed the claim.

Before sharing a renter’s insurance policy, there are several other vital matters to consider. The cost of renter’s insurance always depends on how high the sum of your assets is. 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.

Besides, it is vital to keep in mind that roommate arrangements can change suddenly. When a roommate needs to relocate due to a new work opportunity or other considerations, the expense of the renter’s insurance policy may be dependent entirely on the remaining roommate. It can add a significant burden to your spending budget because of that policy.

If you are considering splitting a renter’s insurance policy with a roommate, it is essential to understand the individual situation first. Then, talk to both an insurance agent and your roommate. You will make the correct decision by genuinely talking to everyone involved.

If you’d like to talk to an expert on the matter, contact Real Property Management Northern Utah and ask one of our North Ogden property managers. From owners to tenants, we can help. Contact us online or call us at 801-546-1770 today.