1.The reason you should have this insurance

You will need it if you start renting your home to someone else as your policy coverage will no longer apply. Therefore in case of any damage, your tenant will not be held responsible. Damages may include the damaging of a large appliance or even a fire outbreak. It also covers you in case of a temporary in habitability. This means you are the one who will be at a loss as a landlord. For this reason, you should consider protecting your rental property.

2. About the insurance

Landlord insurance is a type of insurance policy that protects landlords who rent out their own homes. This type of insurance is divided into two categories the liability and property protection. The goal of this coverage is to protect you as the landlord from incurring any financial losses.

Most landlords, especially those who are new to the industry, will tend to think that the homeowner’s insurance will cover them in case of a disaster or a damaging event. The truth is that insurance won’t cover you.

3. What insurance you need

Before you choose the type of coverage, you need you should evaluate your rental property first. If you are renting out a building that is not furnished, then liability cover might be the most suitable for you as a landlord. However, if you are renting out a furnished property, the most suitable insurance coverage will be contents insurance. You can also choose to add other insurance coverage depending on the type of risks you are most likely to face. This may be determined by the location of your property and the type of tenants you are likely to get.

4. What the insurance covers

There are three essential protections covered by this insurance.

• Property damage is where there might be damaged by natural disaster or careless tenants or even vandalism. Some tenants may even decide to damage the properties intentionally if issued an eviction notice. You should consider choosing a policy that provides replacement cost rather than actual cash value.
• Rental default coverage will cover you if your rentals are not occupied for one reason or another. It might be an infestation by pest or mould coverage that is keeping tenants away. You will be paid the rent the tenants should be paying by this coverage; thus, you will avoid the losses when your property is vacant.
• Liability protection- this type of coverage ensures the tenant in case of an accident caused by technical errors or even architectural. This protection will also cover the compensation charges in case of any damage and any legal charges in the care of a disaster.

5. Additional coverage you should consider

This may not be necessary as the provisions mentioned above, but they will save you some money in the long run.

• Guaranteed income insurance will cover you as a landlord if the tenant comes short of rent.
• Flood insurance-if your property or rentals are in the flood-prone zone; you should consider having this coverage.
• Addition construction expense- this will cover you in the case of rebuilding or renovating your property.

6. The cost of this insurance

The prices of this insurance coverage policy vary from one estate to another. National Association of Insurance Commissioners estimated the cost to be $1,211, depending on the estate. According to statistics, rental houses are more prone to damages and accidents. Therefore, you might have to pay 15%more to protect a similar property. Another thing that may cause the price variation is the period in which the property is in service. 

For example, if you rent your house for a shorter period, you will be expected to pay more. The reason behind this is that the short term tenants are more likely to cause damages than long-term tenants. The short term tenants may ignore mentioning simple maintenance practices like plumbing issues. This may increase the risks for more damages.

7. What the insurance doesn’t cover

You must know what the insurance will not cover. The insurance policy does not cover your tenant’s property. These include their furniture, car, or any disaster such as fire or an earthquake; the insurance will not be responsible. As a landlord, you are encouraged to advise your tenants to consider applying for renters’ insurance coverage to protect their properties.

The insurance will also not be responsible for repairing items such as washing machines in case of any breakage. As a landlord, you should be ready to cater for such costs of repair.

Buying this insurance will be the safest way to protect your rentals to avoid any kind of loss. It is not easy to own and manage a rental property; therefore, making sure it is ensured will be the best thing for you to make sure you are always covered.